I Want To Breed! (fish, That Is)

[iairj84]

Hey!! Thanks for all the great input, I will seriously consider getting a bigger tank in the future, and maybe just start with a few livebearers or something. I do have places for the fry to go especially since livebearers tend to have a bit less offspring than the egg-layers. Thanks for all the awesome ideas everyone, you really got the wheels turning.

This is partially true although some livebearers can upwards of 60 fry per drop! That's a lot of fry!!! haha I would stick with the 10, it will like you said get the wheels turning. I started with a 10 myself a long while ago and it only went up from there! I believe I'm still using that original 10 gallon for a fry tank too! 10 gallon tanks are wonderful for fry and thats a great place to start. As long as you fishless cycle it and everything is well then you should be happy with it

 

[Chuka1212]

This is partially true although some livebearers can upwards of 60 fry per drop! That's a lot of fry!!! haha I would stick with the 10, it will like you said get the wheels turning. I started with a 10 myself a long while ago and it only went up from there! I believe I'm still using that original 10 gallon for a fry tank too! 10 gallon tanks are wonderful for fry and thats a great place to start. As long as you fishless cycle it and everything is well then you should be happy with it

yeah, I guess that is true about livebearers and yep, my tank is ready, it has actually been housing fish for close to a year now, I just emptied the fish out a few weeks ago minus an otocinculus who will probably go to my 30 gal.

Anyways, I am going to the LFS tomorrow to pick out some fish.... wish me luck. I am thinking maybe some platies or swordtails at the moment. Would that work in a ten if I have a place to house the fry and proper male/female rations? and how often do swordtails and platies hybridize, if ever? No one mentioned mollies... are they pretty easy to get babies from? and thanks again for all the awesome ideas!

 

[dwarfgourami]

Anyways, I am going to the LFS tomorrow to pick out some fish.... wish me luck. I am thinking maybe some platies or swordtails at the moment. Would that work in a ten if I have a place to house the fry and proper male/female rations? and how often do swordtails and platies hybridize, if ever? No one mentioned mollies... are they pretty easy to get babies from? and thanks again for all the awesome ideas!

A 10 gallon is far too small for swordtails, and not enormous for platies. Both these fish can drop very big batches- and you need to check that your local shop will take them as these are some of the greatest producers of unwanted fry. Mollies are easy to breed to if conditions are right (hard alkaline water) but suffer the same problems of an easily surfeited market).

If I were you, I would look out for something a bit more unusual. You will still need it to be hardy and colourful if you are going to sell it in the shops- or you can check out aquarists society.

Suggestion no 1 has got to be endlers. Like guppies but more colourful, smaller, very fashionable atm. You may not be able to get them locally but have to order them- but that may make it even easier to sell them locally, if nobody else does them.

Heterandria formosa would also be good for breeding in a small tank, but check first that a shop would take them as they are less colourful.

I still think cherry barbs are a good suggestion, shops seem to sell loads of these, they are small and peaceful and not so many people breed them.