Breeder Trap Tank Didnt Work....

[mike_nofx]

Ok, so i set up a tank with a home made breeder trap.

It had a mesh sitting about 2" off the bottom of the tank. Only fry would be able to fit through, not a full sized guppy.

My plan was to put a pregnant guppy in there, she would have babies and they would fall below the mesh, then i fish out the mother.

She had fry, about 16-17 and i fished out the mother, but only like 1 or 2 were below the mesh, most were above the mesh and swimming around with the mother. So she could have already eaten half a dozen for all i know.

Does anyone know why they were above the mesh? it was quite large mesh which fry could easily get through. Do propper tanks with traps actually work, or do they do what mine did?

Thanks
Mike

 

[Kame-San]

If fry can fall through it, it can come back up through it as well. My guppy fry, at the age of two weeks, can still fit through the grates of a breeder trap easily (not home made, though). It does work to keep the mother out, but that doesn't mean the fry are going to stay in.

Oh, and congrats

 

[Stone Warior]

Its not smart to put the female in a breeder too much stress and they hardly ever stay down there just let the female have babies and fish the babies out there is much more chance of surviving if you have pletly of floating plants. Plus it takes 2-4 hours before the females can eat again so babies will be safe

 

[mike_nofx]

Its not like a small box or anything, Its a proper tank. Why would she be stressed out in a whole tank to herself?