Whatta ya mean... crowded?

[vanalisa]

Oh wow, I'm flattered...

Well, it's not exactly commercial breeding. It's got also to do with research and preserving specific strains. For a number of them are endangered in free nature. I do support a project to release captive bred wild species into their natural habitat.
And yes, I do take care of all of my fish. Thusfar in a good manner, I think...
Most that will buy my fish are serious people who are active within the breeding program of rare livebearers and scientific field. I only sell to an lfs if cumstoners are asking for a specific strain that an average wholesaler won't provide to the lfs. Or if an lfs wants to offer a rare species. But also an overstock of my mutts are easy to sell to an lfs. For they know that I won't sell any rubbish.
I'm very stubborn in one specific thing. And that is that I won't sell (or donate) fish that are sick. Eventhough, one is begging me to sell them because they are rare. I know enough people that will sell them without any thoughts. A sick fish will stay at my place. That's final! I've got a reputation to protect. For my name does not apply to only my country but also abroad.

Hey, I just call it like I see it...
?

I had no idea you were involved in other areas besides breeding. That's impressive.
I do remember you were working on a specialized guppy...?
Maybe we could see a few pics?

 

[Back in the fold]

@emeraldking That's a good post on crowded tanks. It can be done. I have a small horde of fry in a 2 1/2 gallon tank right now and, to the casual observer, it looks like a disaster in the making. I change water a lot and they won't be in there forever. They'll get parceled out to grow out tanks pretty soon and all will once again be right. I've seen tanks in pet shops over the years that would make a lot of people wince but nothing bad happened except the shop sold them. Yes, it can be done.

 

[vanalisa]

@emeraldking That's a good post on crowded tanks. It can be done. I have a small horde of fry in a 2 1/2 gallon tank right now and, to the casual observer, it looks like a disaster in the making. I change water a lot and they won't be in there forever. They'll get parceled out to grow out tanks pretty soon and all will once again be right. I've seen tanks in pet shops over the years that would make a lot of people wince but nothing bad happened except the shop sold them. Yes, it can be done.

Any tips ot doing WCs on a small fry tank? I have a 3.5g, but I think they are technically no longer fry. So far I've just used a cup and have a few shrimp to help. It's only First Bites, but a few are bigger and I'm ready to add frozen Daphnia.

 

[Back in the fold]

@vanalisa You have to be very careful not to siphon your fry. I put the siphon hose right on the sponge filter so no fry get close. I don't worry about cleaning up detritus. I figure the water change will dilute the water clean enough. I don't have any snails as a clean up crew and everything seems fine. I feed my fry small amounts three times a day rather than one or two big feedings. That way they eat it all up and no waste to decay.

 

[vanalisa]

@vanalisa You have to be very careful not to siphon your fry. I put the siphon hose right on the sponge filter so no fry get close. I don't worry about cleaning up detritus. I figure the water change will dilute the water clean enough. I don't have any snails as a clean up crew and everything seems fine. I feed my fry small amounts three times a day rather than one or two big feedings. That way they eat it all up and no waste to decay.

They are on a 3.5g
I have just used a cup for 30% WCs
And a few shrimp.

It's now time to remove as the biggest may have eaten the last 2 timy fry.

Now, the e 3.5g is going to be used as am experimental breeding tank. My fish have been breeding in their main tank and I get the occasional fry. But I seem to be getting a lot of fungus-ed eggs lately.
@Colin_T sent a great post that I need to study more.
In addition, like I mentioned, I'm going to try to put a male and a couple gravid females into a 3.5g and see what happens!
Are you just using airline to siphon?

 

[emeraldking]

Hey, I just call it like I see it...
?

I had no idea you were involved in other areas besides breeding. That's impressive.
I do remember you were working on a specialized guppy...?
Maybe we could see a few pics?

Well, I also write articles for a dutch, german and french livebearer magazine. I run my own website (livebearer focussed). I use to give lectures and judge at livebearer shows in Holland and Germany. I'm also an editor for the Poecilia news overhere. I'm a board member of our national society of livebearers. And I am an exhibitor at relevant vivaristic events and offer rare livebearers overthere.
Well, I do work on multiple guppy and endler lines. Besides exsisiting lines, I've got also my own strains. So, which guppy line do you mean? Happy to post them if I know which line you meant...

@emeraldking That's a good post on crowded tanks. It can be done. I have a small horde of fry in a 2 1/2 gallon tank right now and, to the casual observer, it looks like a disaster in the making. I change water a lot and they won't be in there forever. They'll get parceled out to grow out tanks pretty soon and all will once again be right. I've seen tanks in pet shops over the years that would make a lot of people wince but nothing bad happened except the shop sold them. Yes, it can be done.

Oh yes, for sure it can... ?

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

They are on a 3.5g
I have just used a cup for 30% WCs
And a few shrimp.

It's now time to remove as the biggest may have eaten the last 2 timy fry.

Now, the e 3.5g is going to be used as am experimental breeding tank. My fish have been breeding in their main tank and I get the occasional fry. But I seem to be getting a lot of fungus-ed eggs lately.
@Colin_T sent a great post that I need to study more.
In addition, like I mentioned, I'm going to try to put a male and a couple gravid females into a 3.5g and see what happens!
Are you just using airline to siphon?

Would love to see the post Colin sent, if you're able to link it please? Just because I'm breeding cories lately, and learning more about preventing fungused eggs and things would be great!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Agreed with @emeraldking of course that you can keep fish healthy in an overstocked tank, but it is usually short-term for those individual fish. When you're experienced and know what you're doing in terms of feeding/filtration/water quality, then you can manage a tank when it's overstocked. When growing out guppies for instance, I've had 40 young male guppies in a 15 gallon tank without issues, they just needed more frequent water changes to keep the water good. But it was only temporary... I wouldn't keep them that way for their entire life.

I think on the forum we tend to advise not overstocking because people aren't talking about breeding or grow out tanks, it's people who are new to the hobby, and are shoving way too many fish into their display tank when it's still brand new, and they don't understand the nitrogen cycle yet even. If their tank isn't even established yet, and they're already struggling with ammonia spikes, then having an overstocked tank is just making their life (and those of the fish) even harder.

 

[vanalisa]

Would love to see the post Colin sent, if you're able to link it please? Just because I'm breeding cories lately, and learning more about preventing fungused eggs and things would be great!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Agreed with @emeraldking of course that you can keep fish healthy in an overstocked tank, but it is usually short-term for those individual fish. When you're experienced and know what you're doing in terms of feeding/filtration/water quality, then you can manage a tank when it's overstocked. When growing out guppies for instance, I've had 40 young male guppies in a 15 gallon tank without issues, they just needed more frequent water changes to keep the water good. But it was only temporary... I wouldn't keep them that way for their entire life.

I think on the forum we tend to advise not overstocking because people aren't talking about breeding or grow out tanks, it's people who are new to the hobby, and are shoving way too many fish into their display tank when it's still brand new, and they don't understand the nitrogen cycle yet even. If their tank isn't even established yet, and they're already struggling with ammonia spikes, then having an overstocked tank is just making their life (and those of the fish) even harder.

I agree totally. I have a 6g QT tank with eight 1 inch (plus for some) fish. Just two water changes a week and watching the feeding. I'll be moving them SOON !!!

I'll look for the fungus thread.
Found at least 8 today....think I need to switch out the Hornwort for the stuff in my shrimp tank. The shrimp will clean it then I'll switch around again. Maybe I'll get a fry or two in the shrimp tank!!!
But I'm pretty sure that isn't the only issue with the fungus. Time for a big 75% WC.