I love the look of delta guppies i think some of them have really beautiful colors to them but i know they cant possibly survive in the tank setup i have because of other aggressive fish i have in it. However ive heard rumours of guppies being prolific breeders and was wondering about using them as feeder fish. If i buy about 20- 30 delta guppies and keep them in a five gallon tank will they breed , how long will it take them to begin breeding? And are they a suitable feeder fish for oscars and convicts?
feeding and breeding delta guppies
- Thread starter Hdeuce
- Start date
20-30 in a 5 gallon could be a lil much. They are perfect for con's and could be a lil small when oscar is full grown. Best thing to do to make them adequate feeders is to feed them what you'd feed your cichlids. High quality flake, pellets, etc.
I was trying to do the same for my Grammodes, but due to his aggressiveness i had to move a con and Rainbow cichlid to my 29g, which i was gonna use to breed guppies.
I started with 2 males and 6 females almost a year ago. The first batch of fry appeared just about 3 weeks to a month after being in my tank. Had it good for about 2 months, feed fairly large juveniles to my fish. Then i had to move fish around. THey continued to breed even with 2 CA's(albeit smaller, both around 3.5-4") cichlids. They did however kill/eat both males.
I currently have 1 male and 5 females. My current male is a full grown fry from my very first batch. I have atleast one female form subsequent batchs. i still get fry every few weeks, atleast once a month. The Rainbow cichlid and Convict keep population in check. Too well actually lol they've been clearing out fry pretty frequently none have lasted past 2 months.
Unsure how long you'd grow them out before you give them to your cichlids. But the key if you're grooming them for feeders is food must be high quality and good nutritional value for your cichlids.
lol sorry for such a long post but also to add definitely will want plants fake or real, guppies are known for cannibalizing their young.
I gotta admit when i seen my former large male eat guppies fry, i was impressed.
I was trying to do the same for my Grammodes, but due to his aggressiveness i had to move a con and Rainbow cichlid to my 29g, which i was gonna use to breed guppies.
I started with 2 males and 6 females almost a year ago. The first batch of fry appeared just about 3 weeks to a month after being in my tank. Had it good for about 2 months, feed fairly large juveniles to my fish. Then i had to move fish around. THey continued to breed even with 2 CA's(albeit smaller, both around 3.5-4") cichlids. They did however kill/eat both males.
I currently have 1 male and 5 females. My current male is a full grown fry from my very first batch. I have atleast one female form subsequent batchs. i still get fry every few weeks, atleast once a month. The Rainbow cichlid and Convict keep population in check. Too well actually lol they've been clearing out fry pretty frequently none have lasted past 2 months.
Unsure how long you'd grow them out before you give them to your cichlids. But the key if you're grooming them for feeders is food must be high quality and good nutritional value for your cichlids.
lol sorry for such a long post but also to add definitely will want plants fake or real, guppies are known for cannibalizing their young.
I gotta admit when i seen my former large male eat guppies fry, i was impressed.
you cam put two females and a male and get plenty lol, so you're numbers will definitely provide tons fo fry =] But, I'd say that a 5 gallon is pushing it, but possible. take the parents out or remove the fry, THEY WILL EAT THEM!!! lol, good luck
well i went out to the store and i got five females and three males and i got about 8 comet goldfish to feed the oscar while i wait . right now i have the 8 guppies in a 2 gallon tank and it seems to be more than enough room seeing as how each fish is only about a quarter inch i put about 7 medium size rocks (large to the fish) on the bottom of the tank so there are plenty of crevices and cracks to hid the fry when it comes and i have a 2nd two gallon tank set up waiting for the fry hopefully this will start producing some guppies for feeders. I like the way guppies look way better than the comet gold fish and rosy reds and everything else they sell as feeders and wont mind watching these guys swim around the tank waiting to get munched on.
that is way too much for a 5g, a trio might be ok... and NEVER give your fish feeder goldfish! goldies are not a good thing to feed them anyway, but out of the feeder tank they almost always carry disease from bad conditions, and can pass them to your fish.
Just feed pellets or something while you wait for you guppies to breed.. and it's be a few months (depending on how big your fish are) before they're a good size to feed.
Just feed pellets or something while you wait for you guppies to breed.. and it's be a few months (depending on how big your fish are) before they're a good size to feed.
Hdeuce;1997355; said:
For one, use a ten gallon with like 8 to 10 total, with a 2 to 1 ratio, (2 males/ to each female). and you will definitely have a steady supply of fry but make sure you have lots of ground cover for the fry to hide. they're really easy to breed, they dont need any special requirements of anything. Oh and 20 fish in a 5 gallon would not work at all. Thats way too many fish. Oh and bettagurls right goldfish are always a bad idea, unless you breed yourself.