I need the low down on guppies

[LizStreithorst]

I looked around the net but I have gotten conflicting info.  The guy I'm buying them from says he keeps in BB tanks but I've read elsewhere that the tank should be planted.  I think that I'm safe to go with the breeder's recommendation on this.

Then there's the breeding part.  I need to get some of those clear things that lets the new born fry fall to the bottom after the mama gives birth, right?  I've read that when new born their mouths are too small for BBS and that they should be feed infusora.  I've also read that they should be fed BBS when newborn.  Can I feed BBS?  I have San Fran BBS which are smaller than normal ones.

The fish will be shipped tomorrow so I want to be ready for them.  I thought that I had 3 10 gallon tanks but I only have 2 so I'll be running into Hattiesburg to my LFS after work tomorrow to pick one up.  I can also buy whatever else y'all say I need.

[BillT]

I always though that baby guppies could eat bbs. That's what I did as a kid.

Some guppy strains have been selected to not eat their young, but I don't think this is common.

I used to breed lots of livebearers in a bare tank with a lot of bunch plants like hornwort which grew well in the hard water in Maryland.

[Mugwump]

I looked around the net but I have gotten conflicting info.  The guy I'm buying them from says he keeps in BB tanks but I've read elsewhere that the tank should be planted.  I think that I'm safe to go with the breeder's recommendation on this.

Then there's the breeding part.  I need to get some of those clear things that lets the new born fry fall to the bottom after the mama gives birth, right?  I've read that when new born their mouths are too small for BBS and that they should be feed infusora.  I've also read that they should be fed BBS when newborn.  Can I feed BBS?  I have San Fran BBS which are smaller than normal ones.

The fish will be shipped tomorrow so I want to be ready for them.  I thought that I had 3 10 gallon tanks but I only have 2 so I'll be running into Hattiesburg to my LFS after work tomorrow to pick one up.  I can also buy whatever else y'all say I need.

Guppies come flying outta 'mama' on the run....and they'll need a place to hide before they become snacks...we've used guppy grass and fake grass with duckweed on top with very good success....I feed bbs and micro worms without problems...also, they'll feed off the microbes in the guppy grass/duckweed....all our guppy tanks have gravel and the above plants.....multiply like crazy....temps are mid 70's, ph mid 7's.... 

[LizStreithorst]

Thanks Muggers.

[GraphicGr8s]

My guppy breeding tanks are all bare bottom.
I have corner filters in all of them. While I'd like to say there is a scientific reason it's more that they were $1.87 each and I got 20 of them.
While I have a couple of the breeder traps I don't use them. I've got a bunch of guppy grass in each tanks.
I vac the uneaten food every night. Or I try to anyway. I've got snails in the tanks so it's not too bad if I miss a day or 5. I use a small diameter hose and a light color bucket. If any fry are siphoned out I can find them, net them and get them back in the tank. .
Line breeding, harem breeding etc is pretty much the same as every other type of fish you want to keep up the quality of. Serious breeders will separate the male and female as soon as you can tell so the females don't get knocked up. Keeping them separate will allow you to breed back the fish with the best features.

I feed all my livebearers flake food. I put a few full flakes for the adults and just crush some for the fry. Livebearer fry have larger mouths and can eat the flakes. Many times I see the fry eating the full flakes.

I hope if this is quoted I don't find the mistake.

[Rjb3]

Do you have any of the powdered food left? Guppy Magic, Egg Foo Young, and Top Secret are all small enough for guppies and guppy fry. And, you can't go wrong with micro worms.

[Mugwump]

Do you have any of the powdered food left? Guppy Magic, Egg Foo Young, and Top Secret are all small enough for guppies and guppy fry. And, you can't go wrong with micro worms.

Thanks Bob, your powdered foods are the food of choice here for daily feedings.....water becomes a froth as they hammer it....

[LizStreithorst]

The only one I have left is the Bug.  I put the rest in my turkey mix.  I'll try it

[Ron Sower]

The only one I have left is the Bug.  I put the rest in my turkey mix.  I'll try it

And served over rice? Anything turkey sounds good to me!!!   

[Mugwump]

The only one I have left is the Bug.  I put the rest in my turkey mix.  I'll try it

And served over rice? Anything turkey sounds good to me!!!   

LOL....during a moon mission, right??? ....

[Ron Sower]

The only one I have left is the Bug.  I put the rest in my turkey mix.  I'll try it

And served over rice? Anything turkey sounds good to me!!!   

LOL....during a moon mission, right??? ....

Hmmmmm....I haven't been on a mooning mission in a loooooooong time!