Guppy Breeding...

[enchanted]

I read somewhere that if a female is already pregnant, but is put in with another male that sometimes he can resperm the eggs and his sperm would take over??? I wanted to know about this.

Also, at what point would be good to move a female to a breeder tank for giving birth?

Thanks

 

[SnowyzMom]

Um once an egg is fertilized the outer cover of the egg hardens so no more sperm can get in, so whoever's little wiggler gets there first gets to do the baby making. Guppy females can store sperm a loooong time so they could have several males contributions inside them and you'd get babies from several daddies. At least that is my best guess on the topic since a momma can have several broods of fry from doing the fishy mambo with one daddy. Since dogs also can have puppies in one litter from several different fathers, why not guppies? Raunchy wildlife anyways.

I admit I've never moved my females into breeder tanks to give birth, as I watched my daughter's and they got sooooo stressed out being separated by plexi-glass from their tank mates. Mind you I have a heavily planted 25 gallon tank and the fry have many places to hide among the live plants and java moss and gravel. I also usually scoop some out and put them in the 10 gallon with the males where they seem to survive and grow faster. That makes no sense since the males tank is cooler than the bigger one. Oh well. I know Snowy would put her guppy females into the breeding trap/tank once they got really square, didn't eat and stayed near the top of the tank motionless near the heater. Any and all of the above is a sign of imminent little guys. Good luck!

 

[fishaholic]

It would be best to move the female 1-2 weeks befor you think it will give birth so that it will not be so stressed out and die. But if I could, I would not recommend moving her at all, maybe just into a breeding trap if you really think it is necessary.

 

[enchanted]

Well, I don't have a lot of ground cover yet in the Community tank.

I need to pull the baby hideouts out as they are plastic and I am getting more plants.

So, I was thinking the best option would just be to move her to the 10 or 29 and then after she gives birth I could move her back.

 

[bccromer]

I have been told this by several LFS and this is what I plan to do with mine as I don't have plants in my tank right now meaning not much cover for fry. If you get some plastic plants from the store, and they normally tear into small about 1 inch pieces. Just take those pieces, throw them on top of the water, and the fry will hide in there and have a much better chance for survival. I am going to get me some plants this weekend so whenever mine get ready to have fry everything will be setup. Good luck.

Brad

 

[enchanted]

I thought about that, but I am trying to make this tank "all natural". So, I'm not sure what to do entirely.

 

[willywonka099]

No, don't move the mother AT ALL not worth losing her for some fry if you get any IMOE and yes a female can abort her eggs and reinpregnate with another male but can only be fertilized by one males sperm at a time ... Even if you moved her a week or two before it would stress her ALOT and could lead to less healthy fry and then after she gives birth you would need to leave her in there for about another week to get over the stress and once ou move her back she will be stressed once again ..... IMOE rocks,decore,large gravel are best for fry survival ....


EX. my fry like to get into a plastic shoe in their tank,in the larger holes in the gravel,in the bottom plants,or inbetween a piece of slate leaning on a larger rock .... if they have floating plants they will surely be chased IMOE plants on the bottom/nottom hiding is the best for fry #'s

 

[jordanmom13]

i have molly fry and guppy fry right now and have mu tank heavyly plant with wisteria and java moss, great hiding places for the fry. havent movet moved my pregnat fish out of community tank. although some of the fry have been eaten, especially the fry by might white molly, the were quite stupid actually and didnt hide and swam around in open water. other wise the remainder are doing wonderfully.

Good luck and enjoy your babies.

Patty (jordanmom13)

 

[enchanted]

Well, I'm thinking of setting up the 29G I have just for guppy females... I can't decide if I should keep the females seperated from the males or not.

But from what you have said (and I really appreciate all the input. ) the Java Moss, Dwarf Sag, Anubas Nana, and all the other plants I have coming should be able to help out. Providing I get a better light.

 

[willywonka099]

No, don't seperate them that's silly I know this sounds crule but when your numbers are high let nature take its course and the strongest and quickest will survive too adult hood even in the main tank hopefully !! Of course then you have different size fry running around but you will generally know wich mom they came from I assume Just have a fry tank .......feed on BBS and small portions of blood worms when bigger. The thing about guppies is they will breed like rabbits and if you have anough yuo have a constent supply of fry .... after you grow the first few batches maybe you could sell the females unless you want more fry and sell the "ugly" males although I don't see very many ugly males And start a comm. or all male guppy tank with no females so they don't have any thing to figh over !!!!! that would be very nice all of those colors