Guppy Tank

[IovaykInD]

I have a bunch of 3 gallon tanks lying around, and I decided to start a guppy tank. How many guppies can I put in there? I'm a total newbie with guppies so can you please tell me about filtration requirements? If anyone has a 3 gallon tank with guppies, please tell me about your experience. Was it hard to cycle, etc?

Isaac

 

[ScoutCarcer]

Guppies need atleast a ten gallon

 

[IovaykInD]

I have a friend who has a 3 gallon, with 6 guppies with bunch of fry. I asked him to tell me about his tank, and he said it was a secret Anyone try it?

 

[ScoutCarcer]

Have you ever hearde of the one inch of fish per gallon? Your friends tank way overstocked.

 

[IovaykInD]

Anyone else able to help me? His tank is overstocked, that's his problem.

Isaac

*EDIT*
I'm probably just gonna keep one or two guppies in it, because I don't want overstocking like my friend. What filter would you guys recommend? I don't want to use an air powered filter, because I don't want to buy an air pump.

 

[Annastasia]

In a 3 gallon? I'd say 3 Guppies, max. Bigger tank is better, though. If you do go for the 3, then you have the problem of fry. If you get a male and 2 females, you will definitely have fry. If you get 3 females, you'll probably have fry. And 3 males will not work together, especially in a tank that small.

A filter for that tank could be hard...you don't want anything that will blow the Guppies around, and weaken their tails, or them. And there won't be much space to get away from the filter in that size tank....maybe try what I have in my Guppy tanks...Whisper Internal Filters. Just make sure to keep the water level almost up to the filter, otherwise if will be too strong. The only downside to this filter, is you can not adjust the flow rate. Another filter I use for my bigger Guppy tank, is the Aquaclear HOB. Then you can adjust the flow rate, to just high enough.

And yes, your friend's tank is preeeetty overstocked. And it will keep getting more and more overstocked, as long as he has Guppies, because they will keep having fry. Maybe tell him about these forums, and let people help him out?

Also, if you have a bunch of 3 gallon tanks, have you considered making one a Betta tank? Betta's are gorgeous fish, and they will absolutely love to have 3 gallons to themselves. Just be careful to not put any other fish in with one. Just to clarify...it has to be ONE Male, or ONE female. Just 1 Betta, per 3 gallon.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Scout, 1 inch per gallon is a guideline, not a rule... and the fact that you said 10 gallons for guppies, that would make it 1 inch to 10 gallons, since getting only one guppy was a possible choice for the stock.

You could get a few males, which would be smarter than trying to breed the fish.

How many empty 3 gallons do you have? If you have a few, you could put fry in the others...

Bettas: wonderful idea.

 

[Annastasia]

You could get a few males, which owuld be smarter than trying to breed the fish.

Mmmm...I'd be careful with that. Males will pick on each other, sometimes...and in that small of a space, they won't have much room to get away from each other. You'd need to get a fair amount of males, to make sure they don't all gang up on one, too. And that many may be too much for your tank.

You could try having 2 males in one tank, but have another tank ready for one male if it doesn't work out. It will all depend on the personality of the males.

I do like Tempestuousfury's idea about using other 3 gallons as fry tanks, if you do get fry...but they will outgrow those quickly too..and you'll probably have more fry then you have 3 gallons.

 

[IovaykInD]

Not having enough tanks is not a problem with me I have three 3 gallon tanks, two 20 gallon long tanks, and two 29 gallon tanks

What I am mainly concerned with is filtration. I really need to find a filter that is good for a 3 gallon tank, maybe no filtration? Am I being stupid?

Isaac

*EDIT*
I set up the tank with gravel, and two plastic plants. I added salt and put in dechlorinator. I will probably get one or two guppies tomorrow.

And also,
I don't want bettas because of personal reasons...sorry, can't really explain

 

[afireinside]

hmm, i have to try making guppies have fry, i'll have to different types of guppies, or three. *waits till birthday $$ comes so i can buy a three gallon tank, betta, and a one gallon tank for my betta*

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Spammer. :shakes fist:

I would think an adjustable-ointake 5-gallon filter would work in there. Or you could try a UGF.

IMO, you need the filtration, and of course, you will cycle the tanks. *not a question*

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Dont put ANY guppys in a tank less than 10gallons, the 1inch of fish per gallon is only a rule of thumb but does not aply in this case- guppys need alot of swimming space and due to them being sociable fish and thus needing groups, they have pecking orders and anything less than a 10gallon does not provide them with the space they need to avoid over harrassment and conflict. The only fish you can put in a 3gallon tank is a betta, and guppys simply are not bettas.
I would be very annoyed to hear if you did go ahead and put any guppys in anything less than a 10gallon minimum, and that realy is the minimum. If you put 2-3males in a 3gallon they would rip each other apart and if you put females and a male the females would get harrassed to death over time and be constantly stressed out.

 

[Annastasia]

Now that I think about it, Toxis is right. Sorry, last night I was tired and pre-occupied, because I have a big horse competition today and...I got myself messed up.

Anyway, 10 gallons would be the minimum to have full grown Guppies in for life. But then you will also have the same problem of fry. It sounds like you have a lot of tanks, but do you really want them all full of Guppies? And then if the babies start breeding when they are older, you'll have even MORE babies.

If you don't want Bettas...then I don't know what to tell you for the 3 gallons. If you get Guppies, you could grow up the fry a little bit in them...but that's about it.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

No problems, don't worry about it annastasia

 

[IovaykInD]

Alright, I won't put them in there. I really want to know how my friend got it to work though. He had 2 male, and 4 female guppies. Then, he got them to mate, and now he has a bunch of guppy fry. His tank is planted pretty well, maybe that's why the fry are surviving.

I talked to my friend last night, and he said he might trade his 3 gallon tank for my extra 20 gallon long tank. I think it's a bad trade, but I really want a small tank, not a large one.

Isaac