How long 'til gups are big enough to venture out

[Olive]

I cannot remember how long they need 'til they are big enough to venture out into the real tank and become members of guppy society? They are tired of being in the breeder and I cannot set up another tank to raise the fry.........too many tanks already?!?!?! They've been there a month.

 

[Annastasia]

Well, I let mine out when they are big enough to not fit in other fishies mouth.
None of my fish eat my babies, so now I just leave them in the tank where they are born. But, for yours, probably just until they don't fit that easily in other fish's mouths!

 

[jams.alaskan]

Olive, that's good advice. How big are they?

ALASKA

 

[snowyangel]

I would wait till their 2 months, but they may not grow too much bigger if they're in a breeder net . You can try releasing them now but make sure there's quite a few plants near the surface(moss is perfect) for coverage just incase.

 

[Olive]

I would wait till their 2 months, but they may not grow too much bigger if they're in a breeder net . You can try releasing them now but make sure there's quite a few plants near the surface(moss is perfect) for coverage just incase.

Well, I accidently tried to let them out (the breeder clamps broke) and they were chased and some were eaten. I hurried and scooped most back into the breeder........guess I will give them a little longer! Some are still hiding in the vast amount of plants that I have.........hope they don't get eaten 'cause I can't get them out!

Thanks for your help...........it has been so long since I have had livebearers that I have forgotten all of the necessary information!

 

[Annastasia]

I hope your little fishies live to see the great tank world!

 

[Olive]

I hope your little fishies live to see the great tank world!

Thanks!

 

[miniabbey]

We don't use breeder nets, some of the babies get eaten but most live to adulthood. We make sure there ar a lot of leafy plants and lots of nooks & crannies. At one point we had a pile of marbles that the little fish could hide in. They generally are very sensible and stay out of the way of the big ones. It is quite amusing to watch them dive into hiding as a bigger fish comes near and then pop up when it's gone.

In fact with swordtails & mollies, we see littlies and then they disappear for a while (we assume they have been eaten) then several weeks later reappear much bigger and safer.