I Want To Rescue But...

[Bluesand1313]

I keep seeing these poor heavily pregnant guppies at the pet store and for the longest time I've been wanting to bring some home and let them give birth in peace, maybe even raise the babies
 
The only thing is, the only tank I'd be able to put them in (probably only rescue two at the moment until I can get another tank or something) is Wendigo, my bettas tank. I tried looking up if guppies and bettas could be together but all that came up were for MALE guppies, which I already know can't due to them looking like mini bettas. 
 
But can FEMALE guppies be kept with bettas? They're neutral-coated so I'm not sure if yes or no. Wendigo doesn't seem aggressive (I've only ever seen him flare at the snail, who's about the size of a golf ball so that's understandable.) but I just don't want to bring home some rescued girls to have them beaten up by Mr. Wendigo here. 
 
Would it be able to pass or should I just wait?

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Some Bettas can be kept with Guppies. Like most things, it all depends on the Betta. 
The Betta is more likely to get on with the females over the males, however, the females still have rather big tails that might get nipped.

If not in a breeding trap, the fry may also get eaten.

 

[Bluesand1313]

Before I try anything, if the females were in a five gallon with their babies (once grown a little bit), would they still try to eat them?
 
I have a breeders trap, and I'd like to set up the five gallon and put the fry in there while they grow. And if it doesn't work out with Wendigo, I'd have to put them in the fry five-gallon.
(I had a 3.5 but I had to throw that out because the algae took over and we couldn't get it off.)

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Should be fine. As long as they're bigger than Wendigo's mouth they should be fine. 
 
Only thing is, you may become overrun with fry. The females can store sperm for up to 6 months which could mean that you MIGHT get 6-7 batches from each female. 
Just be prepared for lots of fry.

 

[Sophie]

I keep seeing these poor heavily pregnant guppies at the pet store and for the longest time I've been wanting to bring some home and let them give birth in peace, maybe even raise the babies

Depending how you look at this you could say that it is only natural and technically they don't raise their babies in any sense. As they store sperm it would suggest to me they are designed to be baby making machines and probably don't mind. Moving them while pregnant could stress them greatly and cause all sorts of problems. Just looking at the other side

 

[Bluesand1313]

 

I keep seeing these poor heavily pregnant guppies at the pet store and for the longest time I've been wanting to bring some home and let them give birth in peace, maybe even raise the babies

Depending how you look at this you could say that it is only natural and technically they don't raise their babies in any sense. As they store sperm it would suggest to me they are designed to be baby making machines and probably don't mind. Moving them while pregnant could stress them greatly and cause all sorts of problems. Just looking at the other side

 

 
I really just want to give the dry a chance to live, and not be eaten by other guppies/fish or die of disease/anything like that.
I've brought home pregnant platies before, but the babies died.
 
If I do bring them home, what should I feed the fry? Like I said, platy fry before but they died, I think it might have had to do with the food I was feeding them.

 

[Sophie]

Not sure if this is available over there but it's a complete feed for live bearers?
Not used it personally but I know of people who have had success with it.

 

[Bluesand1313]

I will look and see what I can find at my LFS, I'm sure they'll have good stuff there if they don't have that ^

 

[Sophie]

I will look and see what I can find at my LFS, I'm sure they'll have good stuff there if they don't have that ^

 
If not I am sure things like daphnia or artemia should be small enough? I know of people who just crush flake up really small also.
But I have never personally raised fry so just throwing out suggestions.

 

[fluttermoth]

Yeah, livebearer fry really don't need special foods. whatever the adults eat, crushed up small is fine for them.

What they do need is a cycled filter, in a tank that's big enough for them to grow properly. A five gallon tank is not going to be big enough for a brood of guppy fry (which could number 30+), unless you're prepared to do 90% water changes at least once a day.