fry seem to have reduced

[ruffmeister]

i started having like 30 fry from my guppies all the time every month for about 3 months, now i seem only to be getting about 5 from her each time, what do you think is wrong with them they all seem to be the same with only a few fry

water is the same temp is the same, the only difference is that i have added a couple more fish but not guppies?

whats up?

 

[JobySp]

Livebearers store sperm from previous "encounters" and every time they use this stored sperm, then the fry numbers are reduced from what I am lead to believe, but then again it could be possible that they are eating them - or the tank mates are eating them?

 

[ruffmeister]

i undersatnd they store sperm, but they only use that sperm if they don't have any males around, them but mine do, as for them getting ate i thought that until i realies this was happening for the last few moths, very starnage because in my tank the nig fish seem to leave the fry well alone, like they are scared or sumthing

 

[Rivermud76]

This could be an issue with feeding. Livebearers need plenty of protien and carbs to breed sucessfully. Often breeders will feed brine shrimp or worms to breeders. One thing to keep in mind is that brine shrimp will act like a laxative and allow for refeeding again quite soon, so it is best to feed live then flake. Experts say to feed multiple flakes so as not to bore the guppies. Try something like a flake then a couple hours later hit them with brine then hit them with say a spirulina flake then back to brine and so on.. you should get them to drop larger batches in this way..
Age could also be a factor. As with all animals pregnancy at older ages is just not as potent at older ages.
Just a few thoughts

 

[guppymonkey]

I agree with the live food suggestion. When I started breeding guppies I used mostly flake food. I got some fry but not a whole lot in each batch. After using live food (even freeze dried live food like freeze dried blood worms) the number of fry in each batch seems to have increased.

 

[snowyangel]

My very fertile guppies get fed brine shrimp pellets, tubifex, flakes and blood worms so no wonder im stuck at home with over 80 fry (Guess you learn something new every day) and all my females are healthier as ever. One female is gonna have her 3rd batch of fry while another is gonna have her 4th! On average i would say each female gives birth to aorund 23 fry each, no still borns.

But man, i never knew i was feeding them "laxatives"

 

[ruffmeister]

wow didnt really think that the food really mattered that much, i dont want live food because a) none of my lfs sell them B) no online store sells them c) i seem to put disease into tank when i do

so i think ill treat them to some dried tubiflex worms and some frozen daphnia next time i go fish shop
what you guys thinks