babies

[Ruth]

Hi
I have successfully over the last couple of years bred lots and lots of baby guppies and swordies. My question is though although my guppies thrive, my swordies take months and months to grow and some dont really reach full size like the ones you can buy. Now I suspect the pro breeders 'feed' them up and I woulod imagine they are genetically modified but has anyone got any ideas for me to help my babies grow quicker?
Cheers Ruth

 

[emma12321]

Hi Ruth,

Babies will always grow faster if they are in a large area if water, i have found that with my platy fry the ones left in the big tank have grown twice as fast as the ones i have put in a small tank. Also if the temp is slightly higher they will grow faster. My fry tank stays at 25 ish but the bigger tanks have been going up to 28 ish with all the hot weather we have been having.

Regular water changes help i change 30% of my fry tank water twice a week some people do it daily. Food is also important, i give liquid fry food to the really small ones then ground up flakes to the bigger ones. You could also get the food called first bites but i have yet to come across it in my lfs, or try giving them live foods.

Hope this helps

Emma

 

[Ruth]

Hi Ruth,

Babies will always grow faster if they are in a large area if water, i have found that with my platy fry the ones left in the big tank have grown twice as fast as the ones i have put in a small tank. Also if the temp is slightly higher they will grow faster. My fry tank stays at 25 ish but the bigger tanks have been going up to 28 ish with all the hot weather we have been having.

Regular water changes help i change 30% of my fry tank water twice a week some people do it daily. Food is also important, i give liquid fry food to the really small ones then ground up flakes to the bigger ones. You could also get the food called first bites but i have yet to come across it in my lfs, or try giving them live foods.

Hope this helps

Emma

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Hiya Emma
Ta very for the advice, I have 2 tanks, the 1 that they are in and another slightly bigger one which I dont have many fish in anymore so Im thinking I might move the few fish I have in there and put the babies in there instead, and Im going to take your advice and the advice of Anastasia (cos I posted this on the livebearer forum too) and move them and get them some gourmet food as well. Cheers for the advice. And nice to meet you
Ruthx