When can Guppy Fry leave breeding trap?

Morgoth · Member Joined: 19 May 2008 Posts: 123 Location: Kingston

I bought the Marina floating 3 in 1 breeding trap when the guppies, i brought home from the store, looked like there were about the burst with babies. Since then I have tried to keep the fry alive by housing them in their five inch world, so they wouldn't get eaten by the parents.

In the beginning of week one I noticed some fry would be floating around the tank, assuming the females may still be giving birth I scooped the fry up and put them into the trap. After monitoring my tank closer I noticed the fry could get through the bottom holes! I didn't mind at this point as there were tons of fry, and it seemed only the smaller ones could get out. For most of week one and some of week two I kept up the practice of scooping up fry and putting them back into the trap once or twice a day depending on my schedule.

It's now halfway through week 2 and I noticed the fry weren't escaping the trap so easily, but I have noticed one or two fry hiding in the tank from time to time. I've witnessed a mother stalk and eat one of the escaped fry this week, so I am sure the fry are still too small to let them out of the trap. I was wondering how long other people waited before deciding to let their guppy fry swim free from the breeding trap?

I am not too concerned about their living conditions in this plastic trap, they all seem fairly content and love to just swim up to the surface when I open the lid to feed them finely crushed flakes. I am just wondering other people's first experiences with guppies and guppy fry. At what time should I expect to see some interesting growth for they're colour and gender? I have not seen any dead fry (random fish death) at all, would it be common to see any as time progresses?

I've done some research and got some answers, but I was wondering about personal experience, most of the answers I get are very text book, and don't give examples or stories.

I borrowed my girlfriend's camera so the following picture will be replaced by a better quality one as soon as she remembers to bring me the cable.
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~Morgoth
5 Gallon - Fish: 1 Female Tiger Barb
10 Gallon - Fish: 1 Male, ~16 Fry Guppies
30 Gallon - Plants: Corkscrew Val - Snails and Nematodes Sad

**ausername** · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 9:31 am Post subject:

The general safe time to let them go... when they don't fit in anyones mouth.. lol. If you get some floating plants for cover like riccia fluitans they have some cover and should survive. When they are too fast to be netted easily there probably safe to release. When i got rid of my guppies i had easilily 100 in my tank.. and never isolated them... survival of the fittest in my tanks.

Smurf · Member Joined: 21 Jul 2008 Posts: 56 Location: Trenton.

usually the breeding trap is just for breeding or birthing. I found it more neccessary to seperate the female into a 1-5gallon and allow her to give birth in the breeding trap, than removed her and put her back in her own tank while the guppies have the 1-5 gallon to themselves. Shouldnt take too long but you release them when they begin showing colors on their tails n such, but if you have other bigger fish its best to wait just a touch longer. I dont beleive keeping them in a breeding trap is healthy for their growth. Also, my trap came with mesh glued to the bottom so no fry excaped.
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To the fish in the bowl, we are the God above

nebthet · Member Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 376 Location: Belleville

I always seperate my guppy fry from the main tank if I want to keep them. Mainly because I have gourami because they actively hunt out anything alive and small enough to fit in their mouths.

When I had my first 10gallon with guppies in it, it was always survival of the fittest and at least 1 or 2 of the fry would live to adulthood.

Since this appears to be your first time, what I hve done is get a breeding basket and I put it at the side of the tank. This is the one with the netting sides. If you are handy you can make them yourself. I got mine for $5.00 at what is now Pet Smart.

I would put the baby fry in there and let them grow up for a least 2-3 months depending on the side of the fry and mothers. At this point of time they are well on their way and some of them should be starting to show their colours. You will also be able to start telling the difference between the males and females.

I hope this helps.

Smurf · Member Joined: 21 Jul 2008 Posts: 56 Location: Trenton.

I find this very surprising so many people say to keep the fry in the trap, i could not imagine all of my half grown fry fitting inside that tiny trap. Maybe im wrong but that seems horrible unhealthy, like putting a fullgrown oscar in a twenty gallon. but just my oppinion.
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To the fish in the bowl, we are the God above

Morgoth · Member Joined: 19 May 2008 Posts: 123 Location: Kingston

**ausername** · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 12:13 pm Post subject:

They should be fine in the trap.. newborn fry dont need or even seem to want to travel very far.. as long as the trap is seeing enough waterflow they will be peachy Smile

Smurf · Member Joined: 21 Jul 2008 Posts: 56 Location: Trenton.

i still think excersize does them good ha.
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To the fish in the bowl, we are the God above

**ausername** · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 4:01 pm Post subject:

lol

nebthet · Member Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 376 Location: Belleville

That is why I put them in an area where there is half direct current on them, that way they get good water flow and they have to swim against the current somewhat and get excercise depending on where they decide to swim in the trap.

Morgoth · Member Joined: 19 May 2008 Posts: 123 Location: Kingston

I'm still getting used to this camera, I will have to find out how to adjust the focus manually or something, but here is a good shot, as promised:
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~Morgoth
5 Gallon - Fish: 1 Female Tiger Barb
10 Gallon - Fish: 1 Male, ~16 Fry Guppies
30 Gallon - Plants: Corkscrew Val - Snails and Nematodes Sad

Roxtar · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 8:28 pm Post subject:

Maybe you should invest in a small 5-10G grow-out tank.

They will have lots of room to thrive and no worries about predators.
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Dave
Lake Malawi Cichlids

**FishEd** · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:34 pm Post subject:

Morgoth · Member Joined: 19 May 2008 Posts: 123 Location: Kingston

I do have an extra 10 gallon tank, I just need to buy a used filter and fill the tank about half way up (no rocks, no decorations)... And a place to put it.
I want to put the fry in the 5 gallon tank where my tiger barb is, but my 30 gallon isn't ready for me to move her over yet.
_________________
~Morgoth
5 Gallon - Fish: 1 Female Tiger Barb
10 Gallon - Fish: 1 Male, ~16 Fry Guppies
30 Gallon - Plants: Corkscrew Val - Snails and Nematodes Sad