How many Guppies should I buy?

Question

I have a 10 gallon terrarium (it holds water at least up to 1/2 the tank). I want more males, as they are very beautiful to view, but I don't want too many fry. Is it okay if I buy 2 male and 2 female, without the female or male's being stressed out? I would keep them in one tank and not separate them (cost less) and just provide lots of places to hide (grass, rocks, etc.) for the fry, that way I don't have too many and only the strong one's survive. I want fry but just not too many, so would it be okay just to keep them all in the same tank and let the females and males keep breeding and eating the fry? (i will keep grass, so the fry have a better chace) Im a first time fish owner, need all the help I can get.

Answer 1

It is possible, but take a good look around before you select your females. It is possible to buy them with color on their tails.
A

Answer 2

So, it's really about a 5 gallon tank then? And with rocks and other decor in there, it's less than that. General rule of thumb for community fish is 1 inch per gallon-and that's the adult fish size. Not when you first buy them. 2 males and 2 females not good. I'd say, IMO lose the fry idea, get say 3 males(they're more colorful) and wait till you can afford another tank or a bigger tank to breed. Also, I'm not real familiar with terrariums, but are you going to have a filter on it?

Answer 3

Save your buck twenty-five and don't get any more than two guppies!. You'll have them coming out your ears before you know it, especially if your female is already gravid (has a full belly with a dark spot). If you're lucky the adults will eat some of the fry. If not, your fry will be having their own fry in a matter of weeks. The larger they get, the more fry they will have. We started out with two guppies in a 20 gallon tank full of other fish and I don't think a single fry has been eaten - even when we bought two keyhole cichlids specifically to "take care of" the guppy fry problem (they did, however, eat all our snails).

If, like you say, you don't want too many fry, and if you don't want to spend your time chasing tiny, lightning fast guppy fry around your tank with a net so you can donate them to the local pet store, kindergarten class, or whoever will take them, maybe you should consider an attractive fish that isn't a live bearer.

Answer 4

if u want 2 rally bread guppies well, u should invest in a larger aquarium mabe up to fifteen gallons, for a every male guppy u add, add 2 females. It keeps the fish in peace so they don't tearapart theyre beautiful tailfins,To breed guppies without gettind too many. 1watch ur females,if u notice on has gotten a bit fatter than usual then it might be pregnant. 2 The females probably gonna be pregnant for about a month or so. 3 after three weeks u should look around for little guppies(theyre about the size of a grain of rice and their eyes are the most noticable part) the guppies will wind up eating about most of the fry if u leavem in there too long especailly in a 5-10 gallon tank. temorarily remove the adults and the decor, and start lookin for the tiny things, their fast and tricky but they stand little chance for the hungry adults. 5once uve gotem put them in a net breeder(mesh nets in the shape of a box) then putem in there and u can put everthing else back as well. 5 young guppies are easy 2 feed u can feedem newly hatched brineshrimp, or feed em the same flakes u feed the larger guppies but uve got 2 grind it into a powder like thing. 6 You should probably remove the guppies by the time theyre bigger than the mouths of the adults. Happy fish keeping ><>

Answer 5

If you really want to breed guppies, you need a bigger aquarium (specifically as an aquarium). Lots of plants and hiding places is a good idea, but it doesn't make up for lack of space. Get at 20 gallon tank and don't forget a filter. Otherwise you'll either have unhealthy and crowded fish or plain dead fish. Guppies are living creatures, not just decoration. Plus very prolific with right conditions.

Answer 6

This is a fine idea. Don't count on a lot of fry, and remember that they need special food, fed to them in the hide outs so they aren't eaten at feeding time. Get liquid livebearer fry food at pet stores along with a medicine shooter or eyedropper they use for human babies, that way, you can shoot the food directly to the babies.
There are also net brooders. Box shaped nets you float in the aquarium, the female gives birth in it, then you take her out, leaving the fry in the net. Safe from hungry parents. Get them at pet stores.
Good Luck
Keep in mind too that females are under alot of stress giving birth all the time and don't live as long.

Answer 7

you need 2 tanks if you are going to breed. keep the adult fish together. When a female is going to give birth, put it in the seperate tank. Take her out when you she is done and put her back with the adults. The babies should be allowed to stay in the other tank by themselves. Seperate them into diffrent tanks when they grow bigger. After all, 1 inch of fish = 1 gallon of water

Answer 8

get a regular aquarium. 10 gal minimum. dont get more than one female if any at all...if you dont want fry, dont get females.
I had one female and about 10 males in my 20 gallon tank and they multiplied like weeds!
I put the females (4) in my toddler son's 5 gallon tank and all is happy now.