Guppy breeding questions .

sakura.seppun · Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 4:25 pm Post subject: Guppy breeding questions .

I would like to start breeding guppies, for this short time that my local petstore actually has some females.

I would like to know what kind of conditions that they would breed in best. I have an extra 10 gallon tank, with filter.

What kind of decorations would they use the most, how many should I start with, and any other suggestions that you may have.

Aqueous · Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 5:33 pm Post subject:

With guppies you'll need a 3:1 ratio of females to males, just to keep the male from harassing a single female all the time.

Guppies aren't really hard to breed and if the females at the store are in tanks with males chances are they're already pregnant. If they're seperated just put them together. I also find a little aquarium salt in the water helps things along.

grnlemonade · Super Senior Member Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 1027

hmmmm....as far as decorations go you would want some thick plants for the guppy fry to hide out in since after they are born the parents will eat them if given the chance. either that or you can use a breeding net.

kc5gvn · Moderator Joined: 15 Mar 2004 Posts: 1147

With Guppies basically if you have a male, a female and water you have babies. They aren't finnicky at all. When I was raising Guppies I would float Hornwort on the top 1/4 to 1/3 of a 10 gallon tank. When the fry are born they can hide in the Hornwort and it is also a food source for them. They seem to breed more prolifically at 80F, close to neutral PH and 1 teaspoon of aquarium salt per 5 gallons of water. Good luck.

sakura.seppun · Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 1:17 am Post subject:

So I bought 3 male guppies today, they are living in my 20 gal. I thought that I could have them in my tank, while the females are in the 10 gal. And just introduce one male, then after he breeds, move him back and introduce another male.

Is this acceptable? I chose the 3 different males for their different colors, so I would like to breed all three of them.

kc5gvn · Moderator Joined: 15 Mar 2004 Posts: 1147

Trying to run 3 different color strains I would suggest getting 3 females for each male and put 1 male and 3 females in a 10 gallon tank. Put the 2nd male and 3 other females into a 2nd 10 gallon tank and then place the 3rd male and 3 other females into a 3rd tank. The way you are planning on breeding them you will have a hard time knowing when to replace the males. Also with all of the fry from each of the color strains in the same tank you will end up with cross-breeding of the fry and lose the pure color strain.