Baby Fish - You Can't Keep All Of Them!

[Pips]

As a newcomer to fishkeeping, I'm very much looking forward to the day when I get babies; this might not be too far away from what I can tell with my girlie guppies.

I'd like to think that I'm a responsible owner and will obviously do the best I can to ensure the survival of any fry that I'm lucky enough to have, so in preparation I thought it would be a good idea to start thinking about what happens if I get an excess number of fish (which surely happens to everyone?). I asked at my lfs whether they take baby fish yesterday and was both horrified and upset to get the response: "nah, we only take a few of the bigger fish". Fine, completely understand that, they must get offered hundereds of things like guppies. The suprise came when I gently went on to ask what other people do and whether he had suggestions (thinking he might suggest another shop, the local paper...or hopefully something useful), his response was "dunno, most of 'em die anyway, people probably flush toilet" - excuse me but what an a*£&! How can a fish shop employee actually advise a conciencious owner to flush their fish?! Last time I go there.....

Anyway, I've digressed (and managed to limit my rage to one explotive - amazingly), so what does everyone do with their excess babies? I see people advertise the odd fish here, but there's obviously the location constraints; was this fish shop unusual, or does everyone keep adding more and more tanks?

I'd love to hear your opinions

 

[jwddboy]

well... you came up with a few answers yourself... Advertise, look for another shop etc

Generally if you cant find a shop close enough to take some or all of them then really advertising is a great idea. Ask the shops to display an advert in the window or near the tanks, put it in the paper or even online. Some people go so far as to use ebay and offer collection only.

Another thing to note is that there are many fish groups all over the world that include a variety of experienced and new fish keepers. You could see if there is one close by and offer them there.

If all else fails, yes you could get more tanks etc... but in all fairness maybe a fish that breeds so readlily is not right for someone who can't sell off fry.

Possibly consider changing to another type of fish or (i know you may not like this option but...) if you have enough space in the tank add a few angelfish, which will have a nice snack on any fry, getting them off your hands and feeding your angelfish in the meantime.

 

[DarkEntity]

If you have some larger fish i used Guppy babies as food. Very nutricous and the larger fish will enjoy the hunt.

 

[Pips]

Thanks everso for the advice, and I know this might sound really stupid, but I just couldn't raise them only to be eaten. I must be so naive not to have thought that folks use them as food for other fish, and I do hear your point that I shouldn't have such ready breeders if I can't home them. I have got a spare tank so if I can't rehome through adverts etc I can put one sex in the other tank and prevent the inevitable and yes, will learn my lesson and stick to less randy fish in future!

Thanks also for the suggestion of angels, I would love them but my tank is only about 30cm deep and I know they need a fair amount of space heightwise.

 

[dwarfgourami]

The overstocking problem may not be so bad as you think: a lot of guppies eat their own babies. On the other hand (the bad news coming here) female guppies can store sperm from a single mating and use it for several pregnancies, so even if you separate them, they won't dry up straightaway. The one thing you must do, is to be prepared to separate the male and female fry as soon as they become sexually mature (from 3 months of age); otherwise you will get an interesting illustration of the phenomenon of exponential growth.

 

[Pips]

The overstocking problem may not be so bad as you think: a lot of guppies eat their own babies. On the other hand (the bad news coming here) female guppies can store sperm from a single mating and use it for several pregnancies, so even if you separate them, they won't dry up straightaway. The one thing you must do, is to be prepared to separate the male and female fry as soon as they become sexually mature (from 3 months of age); otherwise you will get an interesting illustration of the phenomenon of exponential growth.

Thank you, I'd read this. They're separate now and I'm looking to rehome the girls; obviously if I can't then they'll live permenantly in their own tank but hopefully between fish shops, internet and friends they should go somewhere good.