Need Help!

[rarefish]

Ok, as long as I catch my fry, they grow up to be wonderful little guppies, platies, etc. But if I don't catch them, they don't have a chance in my tank. Anyone have ideas for a "nursery" tank" where I can place the female guppies to have their fry? I don't want them to be stressed like in a small "breeder". I was thinking a 10 gallon with a "V" slit in it. I've seen it somewhere in a book, but would have to build it myself. Of course after the first few weeks, the fry would be moved into a larger tank, but this one would be for first days and the first weeks of development where they can be safe. Any ideas and suggestions appreciated! Thanks!

rarefish

 

[Annastasia]

A "V" split as in you put the female on the top, and the fry go through the little holes to the bottom? Or am I missing the concept?

If I do have it right, personally, I don't think it would do all that much good. I'd just get a 10 gallon, plant and decorate it up, and then you'll still have lots of surviving fry, plus the female will have a place to hide and settle in before she gives birth. Another problem with the V-tank is how would you feed the fry? All Liquifry? As most other foods tend to float, and even if they fell you couldn't guarantee they would fall through. Also, the substrate cleaning could be a problem. It's an interesting idea though. Tell me if I'm mis-interpreting it, though!

 

[dwarfgourami]

Ok, as long as I catch my fry, they grow up to be wonderful little guppies, platies, etc. But if I don't catch them, they don't have a chance in my tank. Anyone have ideas for a "nursery" tank" where I can place the female guppies to have their fry? I don't want them to be stressed like in a small "breeder". I was thinking a 10 gallon with a "V" slit in it. I've seen it somewhere in a book, but would have to build it myself. Of course after the first few weeks, the fry would be moved into a larger tank, but this one would be for first days and the first weeks of development where they can be safe. Any ideas and suggestions appreciated! Thanks!

rarefish

Wouldn't a simple tank divider be easier?

Or, as Annastasia said, lots of plants.

How do you do the water changes and gravel cleans in a V-slit?

 

[Ddraig Goch]

I assume you are thinking of a huge version of a breeding trap?

A friend of mine had a similar idea a few years back using a 3(uk)gal tank, he made two dividers to fit the tank lengthways and fashioned two plant weights into a kind of double MM shape, (placing them on either side of the tank), then by slotting the dividers into the V at the top of the M shapes it left a small gap for the fry to fall through while still leaving enough space for the mother to swim around. There was no gravel in the tank and once the female had given birth she was removed allowing the dividers to be taken out, this then became the fry tank for the first couple of weeks.
It worked well, ensuring that most of the fry survived and the female didn't get too stressed. You might like to add some floating plants too, this will give the female somewhere to feel protected and also be an extra hiding place for the fry which do not fall through the slot.


Good luck.