When I have guppy fry I’m planning on having them in a fish bowl for as little time as possible. Would two weeks be enough time before putting the other two adult female guppies with them? One week even? I would like the majority of them to survive.
This picture is of a breeding separator. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v415/Okiimiru/April2nd2009004-1.jpg You put the pregnant female in it when she is about to give birth, and she has her babies inside it. It floats in the tank. When the babies are born, they drop through a separating slot in the bottom and are safe from being eaten from their mother. Then you remove her once she is done giving birth and let the fry grow up in there.
The advantages of raising the fry in a breeding separator instead of in a fish bowl are:
1. A breeding separator shares the same water as your large aquarium, meaning that the fry never have to deal with ammonia buildup from their food, are at lower risk for fungus because the water is not stagnant, and grow faster because the water is heated.
2. In small containers, it is easier for the fry to find their food. Releasing the fry immediately after birth into a large tank is unwise because fry don’t yet know what is edible and what is not. By placing them in a small container with lots of food, they are able to use their mouths for the first time and will fill their tiny bellies. Food is harder to find in large tanks, there’s longer to swim between bites, and the buildup of all that uneaten food often causes fungus.
The picture above is really the best way to raise fry because they have a place to hide (the green stuff is flame moss), food readily available, and cannot be eaten by larger fish. They also have zero ppm ammonia, heated water, and good oxygen levels. It’s and ideal way to raise tiny newborn fry.
If you raise them in the breeding separator where they will eat frequently and not have to swim against a strong current, then they will be ready to put in the main tank with their parents within two weeks. You’ll know they’re ready to put in the main tank when they are too large to fit inside their parent’s mouths. Release one or two fry when you think that they are all ready and then watch what happens to those "test" fry. They will hopefully not get eaten. Then you can release the rest of your fry.
Growth is slower after release into the main tank because they have to swim against the current and food is farther between bits.
Bowl is a sad idea, but the rule is simple; if the fry are too big to fit in their parents mouth they won’t get eaten.
References :
This picture is of a breeding separator. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v415/Okiimiru/April2nd2009004-1.jpg You put the pregnant female in it when she is about to give birth, and she has her babies inside it. It floats in the tank. When the babies are born, they drop through a separating slot in the bottom and are safe from being eaten from their mother. Then you remove her once she is done giving birth and let the fry grow up in there.
The advantages of raising the fry in a breeding separator instead of in a fish bowl are:
1. A breeding separator shares the same water as your large aquarium, meaning that the fry never have to deal with ammonia buildup from their food, are at lower risk for fungus because the water is not stagnant, and grow faster because the water is heated.
2. In small containers, it is easier for the fry to find their food. Releasing the fry immediately after birth into a large tank is unwise because fry don’t yet know what is edible and what is not. By placing them in a small container with lots of food, they are able to use their mouths for the first time and will fill their tiny bellies. Food is harder to find in large tanks, there’s longer to swim between bites, and the buildup of all that uneaten food often causes fungus.
The picture above is really the best way to raise fry because they have a place to hide (the green stuff is flame moss), food readily available, and cannot be eaten by larger fish. They also have zero ppm ammonia, heated water, and good oxygen levels. It’s and ideal way to raise tiny newborn fry.
If you raise them in the breeding separator where they will eat frequently and not have to swim against a strong current, then they will be ready to put in the main tank with their parents within two weeks. You’ll know they’re ready to put in the main tank when they are too large to fit inside their parent’s mouths. Release one or two fry when you think that they are all ready and then watch what happens to those "test" fry. They will hopefully not get eaten. Then you can release the rest of your fry.
Growth is slower after release into the main tank because they have to swim against the current and food is farther between bits.
References :
100% of the swordtail fry shown in the picture in the breeding separator survived childhood and grew up.