Houston We Have A Problem...

[OrkyBetta]

I recently rescued 2 female guppies from my lfs, they were in a feeder tank, and near death. They were the only two left ALIVE in the tank and so I bought them, and added them to the mini tank I set up for the female I already had (she was sold to me as a male, poor thing, I didn't know she was in my all male tank until I saw fry being eaten alive, and hunt and pecked for the female in the tank.

So I have three females, and I noticed, all three of them have gravid spots. I'm going to be a mommy! But uhh. I have NO plans! I have never raised a single spawn, what can I do? I don't want to let the fry get eaten, but I don't know if I can raise the fry, then sell them to the horrible LFSs around...

 

[Annastasia]

Well....if you don't want them to get eaten, and you don't know if you can deal with the fry...you don't have many choices left! I'd personally do a survival of the fittest. Or compromise, raise a few from each female, see how they turn out, and let the rest fend for themselves. For the ones you are raising, how do you plan to raise them? Seperate tank, breeding net, etc? If you tell me, I could probably give you more information.

As far as feeding goes, you have a lot of options. The first one would be the spoiling method, which is what I do. For the first month or so, I feed fry food. Tetramin fry food, or Hikari Fry food. But most any ones you find at your LFS are fine. After that, they move on to very finely crushed flakes. After that, they get slightly bigger flakes, and then I start supplimenting in some Frozen or Freeze-dried (Can do Live, I just don't have the heart) foods, but you have to make sure they are small enough for them to eat. As they grow, you can continue feeding them the same things, just bigger.

The next method, is probably the easiest. You just feed them crushed up flakes all the way through. I've done this before, and they grow up fine. Just not quite as fast.

And the last option, is the flake food with some BBS supplimented in. Or other Live/Frozen/Freeze-dried food.

Whichever one you pick, feed at least 3 times a day, preferably 4-6.

Best of luck with whatever you decide to do with the babies!

 

[OrkyBetta]

I think I COULD raise the fry, today is my birthday and I have some money, so I could try and raise the babies, and I am more than willing to do so. I am just scared out of my mind. I am also more than willing to buy each female their own little birthing tank if need be. I love my fish, but I am TERRIFYED to raise these fry, and I don't want to give them or sell them to my LFS. Any info I can get would be MUCH obliged.

 

[Annastasia]

Happy birthday!

If you could get 5-10 gallons for raising fry that would be the best. I'd personally go 10, gives you more room. And maybe get a 5 for a birthing tank.

For setting up the 10 gallon....

Temperature is good anywhere from 75-78 F or so. I think a sponge filter is best for a fry tank, so that they can't get sucked up. It's worked well for me in the past, so I would recommend it. Otherwise, you could use a HOB, or other filter and just cover the intake with a breeder net, or Pantyhose, or something similar so they don't get sucked up.

Ornaments can be anything you want...Plants are good, as are rocks, wood and general places for them to hide. Thick plants seem to be a favorite with mine. They can disappear into there, and fool their brothers and sisters as to where they are! Sand is the best substrate. With gravel, they can sometimes get stuck in between the pieces and get crushed. It's possible to use gravel though, don't get me wrong. Bare bottom also works, and some find it easier to clean.

Fry need good water quality, and they are sensitive so lots of water changes! Daily ones are okay, once every 2 days is okay too. Just make sure the tank is always clean. You can do water changes using a airline tubing siphon you make, or a turkey baster so you don't suck up the little babies. Acclimation to the tank is impotant too. Take a loooong time...and they'll be better off.


Calm down about raising them! It's really not that hard. I'd stick some Live Plants in the fry tank too, so they can eat the insofuria and yummy little buggies off it. Then you don't have to worry yourself if they don't seem to be eating. Most fry, once they get to a week or so...go RIGHT for the food. But Live Plants will insure they are eating.

And as always, don't EVER hesitate to ask questions. I'll be more then willing to help you through raising the fry, and I'm sure others will too.

 

[Rice]

Maybe you can give your fish to close friends or family. First you should teach them how to raise fish and the basics.
Raising fry is the best experience. My first time having fry is when i was around 7. I was clueless, didn't know about forums, and they all died. another 4 years later I came on the forums for help and they gave the same advice as Annastasia. Most of them survived.
Other then that, i think plants make a good hiding place since my planted tank had a higher chance of them living on there own. The other tank that only had rocks/structures to hide in had a lower chance since i rarely see any fry in that one.