Plastic, Net Or Freedom?

[stargirly1208]

so i have been reading some posts and i've been seeing different advice as to what you should put your baby fry in. my guppy starting having fry today and i have one of those plastic breeder boxes with the v-shaped slope thing and 2 were birthed and they both died not long afterwards. (well at least that's how the 2nd one was, not sure if the first was alive in the first place). i was just wondering if the breeder box was the cause of this.
also, i was wondering if just letting her out in the tank would be fine too... the only concern i have about that is the fact that she really isn't swimming, she's lying on her back/side the whole time and i'm worried that some of my other fish may bug her thinking she's sick. however i do have some really little bunches of plants i think that are made for hiding fry and those marble things on top of the gravel which would make good hiding spots. but i also have a frog so i'm not sure if he'll eat them or not, considering his mouth is way bigger than most of my fish's.
so i just have a dilemma and some advice would be much appreciated! i'm just worried that all the fry are going to die in the plastic breeder box if that is why the first 2 died. i wanna at least have some survivors!!! so let me know what worked best for ya'll!!

 

[juliehainsworth]

I've never had any problems with fry dieing in breeding traps! Most of my platy fry had been born in them! It sounds like your female guppy is having problems during this labour which could be the cause for the fry dieing (well thats my opinion but I could be wrong)! Most guppies swim about at least a little when giving birth and don't stay on their sides!

Is the breeding trap directly under the light? If so swithching off the light for a few hours might help as they could be getting too warm! It will also ease some of the stress your guppy might be under! Hope this is of some help!

 

[Annastasia]

The problem with breeder nets/traps, is that they can greatly stress out the mother. The only time I use them is when I have fry that I want to grow up a bit before they go back in the main tank. These should only be used for a few weeks at most for fry though, otherwise you risk stunting their growth. A seperate fry tank is always the best way to go.

As for your female, it sounds like she may be stressed. It would probably be best for you to put her back in the main tank. Or do you mean her back, as in, she's upside down? In which case it would sound more like swimbladder. Do you have a seperate tank she could go in? Any more information on her? What are your water parameters like?

 

[stargirly1208]

well today i tried to put her back into the main tank, which is a 10g and she lightly swam to the bottom.... but my gourami thought she was free meat and started picking on her.... so i might just get a small 2g tank to put her in for the babies since the breeder box seems to be stressing her out. she looks worse than yesterday.
she is upside down now, but it might just be because the breeder box is in a v-shape and she doesn't have a choice... the water temp is 80ºF. i did a partial water change before i put her in the box and dechlorinated it also. so i don't know how much more i can do.
so here's another question, i had been treating for ick, would that have killed the babies?

 

[juliehainsworth]

Not sure it could be possible! Do you have any tupperware that you could fill and float in the tank or can you take out the divider from the breeding trap and just place her in there with lights off so she doesnt get bullied? Also try lowering the temp a few degrees! And do another water change

 

[stargirly1208]

ok i took the divider out like u said and turned the heater down, turned the light off.... and i even stuck one of those baby plants in there for her. she's still laying on her side and breathing hard tho.... i hope she makes it! she's my favorite... i'd rather have her make it than the babies! lol

 

[juliehainsworth]

Hopefully she will! Unfortunately there isnt much else that can be done for her especially if she is having a bad labour! Just keep checking on her every couple of hours to make sure she's ok! If you can get her a small birthing tank soon that might help but at the moment you are doing everything that can be done for her!

 

[blitztidus]

I prefer to use another tank like many others here and it is also gives them more room to grow.

 

[clareriley]

Its a hard one. I dunno, its all to do with the person and if they HAVE the room to rear ALL the fry and places to put them when they are bigger.. I am going to rear 4 batches of fry in the nets if I can although I doubt I will be able too.. then let nature takes it course with the tank. I have 7 family members eagily awaiting big enough babies for there under stocked tanks haha.

 

[juliehainsworth]

So how's she doing today? Any better

 

[stargirly1208]

sorry to say it, but no she's not doing any better. in fact she hasn't even had any more fry. she'll only swim if u agitate her tank a little. poor girl, i'm not sure if she'll make it.

 

[stargirly1208]

yay!!! today i checked on my female and she's had more babies!! so far i see 2 that are alive... i'm not sure about others since they are hiding in the plant so at least something is happening, hopefully some will survive and even MORE hopefully the mother will survive or i will have to get more female guppies =o(