Guppy Fry

[xamy_valox]

Hi there,
I'd like some advice on how to help my guppy fry grow nice and healthy!
My female guppy has had quite a few fry over the past few months, but up until now Ive never been able to seperate them. As I have a Fluval Edge tank, the opening is too small to put a breeding trap or nursery in =\
So I have fashioned a little compartment for them out of a net, I have put all 8 fry in there and it is submerged in the water, and being held to the side with clothes pegs =P
I know this isnt ideal, but its all I can do for the moment to stop my betta eating the poor things.
How often should I be feeding them? As they are only in this small space for the moment, I dont want it to get too full of poop, but I want them to be getting as much food as they need.
Also, how long will it be before I can release them into the tank properly without fear of them being snapped up?
Thanks,
Amy.

 

[zuulan]

So I have fashioned a little compartment for them out of a net, I have put all 8 fry in there and it is submerged in the water, and being held to the side with clothes pegs =P

No, not ideal at all. I'd recommend a separate new tank. Fry should ideally be fed up to 4 times a day which would be too small for your normal fish but this would probably pollute your main tank quickly.

You can let them into the main tank as soon as they are big enough to not fit in the mouth of your biggest fish.

 

[xamy_valox]

So I have fashioned a little compartment for them out of a net, I have put all 8 fry in there and it is submerged in the water, and being held to the side with clothes pegs =P

No, not ideal at all. I'd recommend a separate new tank. Fry should ideally be fed up to 4 times a day which would be too small for your normal fish but this would probably pollute your main tank quickly.

You can let them into the main tank as soon as they are big enough to not fit in the mouth of your biggest fish.

Theres no way of me being able to get a seperate new tank unfortunately =[ It was enough of a battle to try and get this one. Can I not just do more water changes to ensure the pollution stays low?
Amy xx

 

[zuulan]

Theres no way of me being able to get a seperate new tank unfortunately =[ It was enough of a battle to try and get this one. Can I not just do more water changes to ensure the pollution stays low?
Amy xx

Ah OK. How big is your tank? It's an Edge isn't it? Is there any way to section off that tank in 2?

Yes, I'd say doing more water changes is your best option. Maybe feed them crushed adult growth food twice a day instead. Oldman47 in the Liverbearers section is the expert on this matter.

 

[BPB]

Separating them would be best if that is at all possible. I use a little 3 gallon with a small filter for guppy fry. I have had best success feeding them frozen brine shrimp. I am currently just using crushed flakes though. They are thriving but aren't growing quite as fast as previous batches of fry. It would be best to put them into something separate to grow a bit. Your betta will try to eat them until they are nearly adult size. I have had a betta eat an adult neon tetra on more than one occasion so I would air on the side of caution.

 

[xamy_valox]

Hiya,
Thanks for the replies.
At the moment I am feeding them crushed up flakes that I would normally give to my other fish, but obviously just smushed up really small for them. And Im doing that twice a day.
The only problem I have with sectioning off the tank is the fact that the Edge is so fiddley!!
They opening is only small, as the top part of the tank is all glass and filled to the top, if you see what I mean? So anything that it capable of getting through the very small opening, wont be wide enough to stretch across to the size of the tank.
I don't know if that makes any sense but if you google the Fluval Edge you might see my problem =\
I might be able to get a piece of flexible plastic and fold it to get it through the opening, then as it is in the tank it would spring back to full length to full seperate?
I don't know, I think I'll have to have a play around!
Thanks, Amy xx