Much Munch.

[randalthor]

I want to set up a live bearer set up in my 10g. I wish to have a survival of the fittest theme going so I dont have to constanly find new homes. Are there any fish that would eat lots of fry, yet have some still live?

 

[Annastasia]

Well, what kind of Livebearers were you thinking of getting? As the fish that are compatible differ from Livebearer to Livebearer. Most kinds of Livebearers will eat some of their fry. Tetras usually will eat fry. Basically any fish you get that will eat fry, isn't going to stop at one or two. It all comes down to which fry are smart enough to hide and such.

 

[Ddraig Goch]

A 10gal tank is a bit small for what you want to do whichever livebearer you choose, bearing in mind that if you only have 1 male you will need at least 2 or 3 females so that they don't get too stressed; this means that you will only have space for about 2 or 3 fry when they are full grown, and this is without any other types of fish.

The only suggestion I can make is if you buy just 1 female who is already pregnant (who hopefully won't get too lonely) and hope that she eats most of the fry.

Endlers are best suited to that size tank, but they are less likely to eat their fry, so you will be overrun in no time.

All in all I think you'll have to reconsider the size of tank AND find someone who will take the excess fry off your hands.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[randalthor]

"Endlers are best suited to that size tank, but they are less likely to eat their fry, so you will be overrun in no time.

All in all I think you'll have to reconsider the size of tank AND find someone who will take the excess fry off your hands.

"

That is what I posted about, what fish (non livebearer) would eat thier fry for them. How about a 2" angel?

 

[Annastasia]

Nope. Angels get way too big for a 10 gallon. Even though it might be small now, the small spaces will stunt it which will lead to a weaker and shorter lived fish. Angels do better in at least a 30.

I'd still say some kind of Tetra would be best...

 

[basia]

The problem is if you put a fish in to eat most of the babies, it will do just that. I have platys in with a dwarf gourami and I have never seen a single baby in my tank.

 

[Ddraig Goch]

A 10gal tank is a bit small for what you want to do whichever livebearer you choose, bearing in mind that if you only have 1 male you will need at least 2 or 3 females so that they don't get too stressed; this means that you will only have space for about 2 or 3 fry when they are full grown, and this is without any other types of fish.

The only suggestion I can make is if you buy just 1 female who is already pregnant (who hopefully won't get too lonely) and hope that she eats most of the fry.

Endlers are best suited to that size tank, but they are less likely to eat their fry, so you will be overrun in no time.

All in all I think you'll have to reconsider the size of tank AND find someone who will take the excess fry off your hands.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

"Endlers are best suited to that size tank, but they are less likely to eat their fry, so you will be overrun in no time.

All in all I think you'll have to reconsider the size of tank AND find someone who will take the excess fry off your hands.

"

That is what I posted about, what fish (non livebearer) would eat thier fry for them. How about a 2" angel?

My point was that you will not have enough space in a 10gal tank for the livebearers alone if you intend to breed them, (max 6, including fry if they are to grow to full size); if you intend to put other fish in as well then it will mean even less livebearers, (3 maybe 4 depending on other fish in the tank).
It's just going to be impossible to do what you want in one 10 gal tank.

 

[randalthor]

30 or 40g?

 

[Annastasia]

The rule of thumb is go for the biggest tank you can afford. Bigger tanks are easier to keep stable, and you have more options.

If you got a 30, you could do all Livebearers, or add in some Cories. But since you want a fish that will eat some fry...I'd say a nice school of Tetras. Angels would eat probably every single fry, leaving you with none. The problem is, though, any fish you introduce that's a fry eater probably won't stop at a few...they want them all.

What kind of Livebearers do you want?