Im a guppy and molly grandma

[jordanmom13]

thank to all that gave advice in the beginner forum for helping set up my new 20 gallon tank. Although it hasn't cycled long (brief history) 6 days now, used my established 10 gallon tank to help speed up the process, took gravel and hung it in a stocking near the filter, also rubbed the 2 filter sponges together (3 times now) to transfer good bacteria, and transfered most of the ornament to the new tank. Everything is doing good. Added fish. Water readinds are as follows:
ammonia 0.25ppm
nitrAte 20ppm
nitrIte 0.5ppm
hardness 120
alkalinity 80
ph 7.2
temp 80 degress
plants: large amazon sword, lots of wisteria planted in two corners (where the fry are safely hanging out in) and one other plant (I forget the name of)

Well GOOD news, last night around midnight I noticed 2 guppy fry, stayed up till 2:00am watching and noticed 3 more in the wisteris plant (they are small and orange). Today when I got up I noticed bigger fry that weren't orange but black and white (my mollies are dalmation and white) and figured out OMG the mollies are FINALLY delivering. All day I kept checking, and kept finding more of both species. I figure i have about 13-17 fry but not sure exactly.
At 6:00pm I did a 20 percent water change to keep the levels ok, hope this was alright to do. Was going to try and catch the fry and put the in the breeder net but they are all in the plants and didn't want to rip the plants up to get them. They seem preety safe there right now.

Any opinions, comments, suggestions?

Patty

20 gallon tank
5 guppies (2 males, 3 females)
3 mollies (1 male, 2 females)
2 danios

10 galon tank
3 goldfish

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Congrats.

Just leave the fry as they are. They should do fine in there with the plants. Just keep the water quality up and all your fish should be fine.

 

[willywonka099]

Well I think a community would be good for you right now ... the fry can stay but I don't think the danios are happy in there by themselves with not much space but they are so quick that if you get too many your fry will prbly b eaten

 

[jordanmom13]

willywonka you were right, got up this morning and alot of the guppy fry r missing, although the molly fry are ok? Should I move the danios back into the tthe 10 gallon tank for a lottle while (they lived with the 3 goldfish b4 i got the bigger tank)? I still have a pregnat guppy ready to go so will have more. I know it was the danios because the were swimming around the plants alot last night (stayed up till 2:00 am again, will I ever get sleep, guess not with newborns lol).
I'm so upset, but I guess we live and learn, and being a newbie I am learning alot.

Also, water is a little cloudy this morning, going to change 20 percent and rinse the filter cartridge in the water and again rub it on the established filter cartidge. Hope this is ok. I am getting another 10 gallon tank (does it ever end lol). I really thought that i planted really well with the wisteria and planted it dense for substantial hiding. Danios, were a bad choice but the kids wanted them,and yes I remember the r shoaling and should have more. My nieghbor across the street has an empty (no fish) cycled tank , i'll offer them to her and get her to get a couple more for her kids (good idea?)

Should I uproot the plants and catch remaining fry and put in the breeding net?
Even if I remove the danios? Temporaroly w/goldfish, hopefully to neighbors!

Please help

 

[Tempestuousfury]

What is in the ten gallon tank? If nothing, then just move the gestating livebearers there.

 

[jordanmom13]

tempest i have 3 goldfish in the 10 gallon, but the danios were in there b4 I got the new tank, can I put them back. My neighbor has a fishless up and running 10 gallon tank that i could give her the danios and tell her to get a couple more.
I just dont know what to do. uprooting all my plants to catch all the fry will upset the balance of the aquarium i am very reluctant to do this. I do have a net breeder and would like to catch them to save them. What would u do?

 

[sakaspuds]

put the net in your 20g and catch as many fry as you can see, some will still servive in your tank, just keep an eye out for stragglers, you will be catching the odd one or 2 for weeks also i find fry in my internal filter, next time you clean it have a good look in there for more fry

 

[Tempestuousfury]

It is not a good idea to have tropical and coldwater fish in the same tank. The goldfish require low temps which means more O2. The danios will become lethargic in low temps, and they need room to swim around in and push water through their gills, otherwise they asphyxiate.

Plus, 3 goldfish in a ten gallon is a bit much. These guys excrete a lot of waste, and at best, the fish you have will grow to 6-8". The tank you have cannot accomodate them for long.

Perhaps another ten gallon, if you can afford it. You could also get java moss for the fry to hide in. If you can, though, get another tank because that way you can feed the fry properly and their growth won't be stunted, not to mention the fact that more will stay alive that way.

 

[jordanmom13]

babies doing ok, added java moss. also got liquid fry food. its making my tank really cloudy. Followed the directions carefully. Sat and ground up fisk flake really really fine. Also have frozen baby brine shrimp to feed them. I am concerned that they are getting anything. I feed the bigger fish right b4 the babies as to distract them.

water qualities r all ok. Tried to get ahold of my neighbor, but wasn't home yesterday. I know she will take the danios. Found out that they are baby giant danios(OH GOD! What have i done, live and learn). They havent been as aggressive, since I added jave moss. Tank is heavily planted where fry are.

Hope this works.

thanks
Patty

 

[willywonka099]

I would suggest a simple ten gallon birthing/ fry tank for your next batch ... let the babies battle it out this time and be ready next time experiance is the key

 

[jordanmom13]

hi guys and gals, my white molly finally had her fry, and boy r they stupid, they swim in the open water and are getting eaten left and right. also, due to all the fry ( I suppose) my ammonia level spiked way up. Ive been doing water changes daily and got it down to 30ppm. NitrAte and NitrIte are ok and ph is 7.0.
Should I vacuum the gravel (and check for fry?). Tried feed liquid fry food and made tank very cloudy so ground up flake real small and also feed baby brine shrimp, after feeding adult flakes or some blood worms to distract. hope Im not feeding too much (twice a day) since ammonia went up.
any suggestions would be great
Thanks
Patty

 

[willywonka099]

BBS 2 times a day + java moss is plenty the BBS will make them grow quite fast IMOE try to cut the LF if you have enough BBS it cloudied my water and leaves more waste than live foods ... dont wory about flakes I am just deciding to feed my 1/2 inch sailfin fry that will just add to your delicate fry's waste problem