Baby Guppy Question...

[Infearno]

Hello all!

So, I've had my 64L tank for a few months and after a few problems of big fish eating little fish, everything has calmed down. I have 3 x Silver Sharks, 1 x Red Tail Shark, 2 x Angel Fish, 4 x Fan Tail Mollies 4 x Guppies, and a Siamese Fighting Fish. They all get along fine (although the Mollies tend to chase each other around a bit from time to time...)

I noticed one of the Guppies was getting very fat and realised she must be pregnant. I bought one of those plastic floating nursery tanks and put her in that. She has since given birth to about 19 little fry and she is now back in the main tank.

My question is... how many of them can I keep without overcrowding the tank, and how many should I take back to the shop? I would like to keep as many as possible as their mum is very pretty and I hope they will be the same, but I don't want to overcrowd or disturb the harmony that currently exists.

Final question (sorry!), but when can they be released into the main tank? The Angel Fish ate the tetra's that I originally had, so I know they need to be bigger than that to be able to defend themselves... any thoughts?

Thank so much!

 

[VaegaVic]

Hello all!

So, I've had my 64L tank for a few months and after a few problems of big fish eating little fish, everything has calmed down. I have 3 x Silver Sharks, 1 x Red Tail Shark, 2 x Angel Fish, 4 x Fan Tail Mollies 4 x Guppies, and a Siamese Fighting Fish. They all get along fine (although the Mollies tend to chase each other around a bit from time to time...)

I noticed one of the Guppies was getting very fat and realised she must be pregnant. I bought one of those plastic floating nursery tanks and put her in that. She has since given birth to about 19 little fry and she is now back in the main tank.

My question is... how many of them can I keep without overcrowding the tank, and how many should I take back to the shop? I would like to keep as many as possible as their mum is very pretty and I hope they will be the same, but I don't want to overcrowd or disturb the harmony that currently exists.

Final question (sorry!), but when can they be released into the main tank? The Angel Fish ate the tetra's that I originally had, so I know they need to be bigger than that to be able to defend themselves... any thoughts?

Thank so much!

Righty, where to start...

3 x Silver Sharks, Each will grow to 35cm long and need atleast 10 times the space you have for them.
1 x Red Tail Shark, Will again, outgrow that tank very easily.
2 x Angel Fish, A single angel would be fine in that tank, but a pair needs atleast 100L. Not to mention, they will eat any baby fish they can find.
4 x Fan Tail Mollies, Fine for this size, just be aware of any bullying
4 x Guppies, Above
and a Siamese Fighting Fish, should not be anywhere near the fish you have, they can attack guppies and mollies, not to mention get a nasty nip both due to their long fins.

I'm afraid sir, you have been dangerously mis-sold. The "harmony" you currently have is on borrowed time to be frank, those silver sharks will at the very least, double in size.

In answer to your question, your tank is already dangerously overstocked, not to mention, incompatible, I would take those sharks back at the very least and work it out from there.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but atleast you get decent information here rather than relying on the fish shop, which in most cases, just want the sale rather than caring about the pets they sell..

 

[orangefish]

I agree, your tank is very badly overstocked. Also, you won't be able to release the guppy fry back into the tank for probably 6 months with the stock you have. It wouldn't be practical releasing any of the guppys with the stock that you have at the moment. Sorry

 

[Harlequins]

The overstocking has already been mentioned,if you wanted to keep the fry,you would be better setting up another tank for them to grow in,they will need more room after a few weeks of being in the trap,and has mentioned with the current stocking you won't be able to release them into the main tank until they have reached at least to adulthood if they survive that long.

 

[OldMan47]

I will add my own observation. I disagree with VaegaVic on the Betta splendens monster in your tank. I have kept fish on and off for well over 50 years and have never seen a Betta splendens attack anything but another betta. I almost always have at least one betta since I love the look of them. At this moment, I have a nice 3 year old male living in my 45 gallon endler tank and must say he is a total failure. His job is to help hold down the number of fry in that tank and he is doing a terrible job of it.
As far as the sharks are concerned, I must agree that they are ill suited to anything but a very large tank.
Compatibility issues: the angels and sharks are both excellent hunters. Anything much smaller than an adult guppy will be in trouble in a tank with either one.
If you want to keep any of your new fry, a new tank is in order. It could be as small as 38 litres and work just fine for the short term with your guppy fry. It would give them a nice place to grow larger and become large enough to sell of before their numbers explode totally out of control. If you like the looks of the adults y0ou get, go ahead and keep a few so that you can continue to breed the colors you like in that second tank.

 

[VaegaVic]

I will add my own observation. I disagree with VaegaVic on the Betta splendens monster in your tank. I have kept fish on and off for well over 50 years and have never seen a Betta splendens attack anything but another betta. I almost always have at least one betta since I love the look of them. At this moment, I have a nice 3 year old male living in my 45 gallon endler tank and must say he is a total failure. His job is to help hold down the number of fry in that tank and he is doing a terrible job of it.
As far as the sharks are concerned, I must agree that they are ill suited to anything but a very large tank.
Compatibility issues: the angels and sharks are both excellent hunters. Anything much smaller than an adult guppy will be in trouble in a tank with either one.
If you want to keep any of your new fry, a new tank is in order. It could be as small as 38 litres and work just fine for the short term with your guppy fry. It would give them a nice place to grow larger and become large enough to sell of before their numbers explode totally out of control. If you like the looks of the adults y0ou get, go ahead and keep a few so that you can continue to breed the colors you like in that second tank.

On balance, I do agree that every Betta is completely different, some can be absolutely brilliant, others can be a nightmare.
I was recently called to a local fish keeper's house to try and find out what's wrong with their fish. I was greeted by a small 40L tank with 1 male betta and 7 endlers, it was originally 10 endlers but the betta had already killed 3 and was working on his 4th when I arrived.
Where as I've kept bettas before and they've been more peaceful than anything and actually trying to join in swimming in rough currents with my swords and the like.
It's hard to determine the character at the end of the day, so rather than say every single betta is peaceful, I'd rather say that they are problematic to say the least, just to be on the safe side.