Several Guppy Questions

[This Old Spouse]

Hi, everyone,

I have some concerns about the guppies I have. I inherited several guppies from a neighbor who was tearing down her tank. I have 2 mature females and 4 mature males.

I have had 4 rounds of births between the two females. The first group was born on January 3, and the next on the 6th. A total of 55, and both these groups are now in a 10 gallon with 2 mature males.

Next round of fry was born on the 25th, then another round on the 31st. There were only 16 fry between the two of them, and they are still in the 10g tank with the two mature females and one mature male.

Could someone please tell me what I should do from here?? I know this sounds really stooooopid, but I've NEVER done this before and have read such conflicting stuff on the web that I really need some guidance about the best thing to do with all of them !!

The first round of fry is coming into maturity, and their colors are starting to blossom. It's really fun to watch them growing and changing, but they're going to be getting too big to all be in that 10g and I really need a hand here ........

 

[fluttermoth]

Keep feeding them, do lots of water changes and start ringing round your LF shops and see if someone will take them off your hands!

Or make friends with somone who owns an oscar or other larger predatory fish...

 

[This Old Spouse]

There's the rub ... I don't have any LFSs! One might be opening but not until spring. What would happen if I put the oldest ones in my 55g? See my signature for what's in there.

I have been doing lots of water changes, and they eat like PIGS!!

 

[This Old Spouse]

Anyone?

I'm not sure if I ask too many questions here, or the wrong questions, or what.

I did do quite a bit of research about guppies, but mainly how to breed them and what happens right up until the fry arrive. I know about that! What I don't know is what I should do next! I have more than 100 fry in various stages of growth. The oldest are a month old and the youngest less than a week. The latest delivery produced more than 3 dozen, which are still in the original birthing tank.

I guess if I had one question only, it would be: at what point can I put the older fry into my 55g? I really don't want them all to be snacked on by the other fish ...

Any suggestions appreciated ...

 

[OldMan47]

Let me suggest that you drop the temperature of your main tank. A female that is dropping every 21 days is being kept in water that is really too warm. A guppy should only be dropping every 4 weeks if kept at ideal temperatures. Try dropping the temperature to about 20C, 68F, to slow things down a bit. Any 10 gallon with that many fish needs lots of water changes to keep everything healthy. Be sure to use any brand name dechlorinator along with the water changes to keep all in good health.

 

[Olivia 22]

you can add your fry when they are too large to easily be eaten. Depending on growth rate, I would say between 1-3 months. Also, keep you grown fish well fed so they won't be hungery and looking to snack on your fry.

 

[SlimboyFat]

I had several females drop over a couple of weeks, got most of them into a spare tank but later noticed that I had about 4 fry swimming around the main tank and nothing has touched them and they are starting to show colour etc.

The largest from the nursery tank have just been given to mates etc after approx 2 months, but they all have the standard community fish (guppies, neons, platties etc).

I have read in several places that they will be ok in the main tank once they are half the size of the mature fish.

Hope this helps.

 

[OldMan47]

Once you have near adult size fish, they will do fine in your larger tank.