Am I Being Cruel?

[iceband]

I knew my guppy was due to give birth, and I've got one of those little floating tank thingies, but rather than put her in there, I thought we'd let nature take it's course and see if any of the little ones survive. There's no sign of any babies yet, but I know a few will have made it into the gravel and be hiding there.

With so many people saying you should do this or that when there are fry around, i was just wondering if I'm being cruel to either the mother or the babies to let them fend for themselves

 

[kimmers318]

I feel it is up to the individual....in nature they wouldn't have anyone protecting them. Since we don't like the store bought feeder fish we allow our platy's to breed and when the babies are larger our fish get a treat. Not everyone agrees, but then again, you will never always get everyone to agree! If you don't have somewhere to rehome the fry you will soon be overrun with fish.

 

[smurfyy_2k3]

its fine i let mine do it though if i see the fry i do rehouse them so they dont get eaten but leaving them is fine no one is going to flame you for it

 

[Annastasia]

It's a matter of opinion. I have no issue with it, some people do. However, the "it's what happens in nature" statement is not exactly true. In nature, there are no glass walls confining the fry, half the fish in the tank would not be mixed together, and there would probably be more cover. The fry probably stand more of a chance, maybe not.

But either way, it's a matter of opinion. Here it's generally accepted.

*By the way, the nature statement wasn't provoked by anything in this thread...just something that's been buggin me for a while*

 

[Spader]

i dont think it is bad at all, because the fry wouldve been eaten in the store anyway....

 

[hot_hazza3]

no not cruel in my eyes either

 

[iceband]

Ok, thanks guys, I didn't think I was being cruel, but I wanted to be sure

 

[dwarfgourami]

IMO letting some be eaten is less cruel than letting the tank get overstocked=ammonia poisoning.

 

[smurfyy_2k3]

well ive just found another load of fry they were born in the tank and no harm has been done i dont think there is any problem with letting the fish eat them i only rescued them because im a nice guy

 

[diburning]

a few will survive by hiding in the gravel.... survival of the fittest lol

 

[Stone Warior]

I always pickthem up after they have been born. Float plants and you will have most survive

 

[iceband]

a few will survive by hiding in the gravel.... survival of the fittest lol

well it's been 3 days since mrs guppy gave birth and I haven't seen any yet


Had 4/5 baby swordies survive though and they're doing very nicely

 

[Miss Wiggle]

aye, I have this with my livebearers, I don't have enough room to raise all the fry so for me it would be worse to keep them in cramped and un healthy conditions than to allow nature to take it's course, if any survive I'll keep them if not then that's just life!

 

[ajbettle]

yep same ere, i came back off holiday to find 2 fry in my tank, my platy had given birth and obviously the others died or got eaten, but what amazed me was that the 2 left survived with no food for a week exept a food block! so i thought they were special (well to me they were very special) and i rescued them and bought a floating square net and there in there now munching on crushed flakes hiding under lilly leaves!!! it feels so good to rescue them

 

[Qays]

yep same ere, i came back off holiday to find 2 fry in my tank, my platy had given birth and obviously the others died or got eaten, but what amazed me was that the 2 left survived with no food for a week exept a food block! so i thought they were special (well to me they were very special) and i rescued them and bought a floating square net and there in there now munching on crushed flakes hiding under lilly leaves!!! it feels so good to rescue them

You dont have platies. thats what you told us.