Guppy beginner, need help plz.?

Question

I have 3 tanks, 2 10 gallon and 1 5 gallon tank without a lid on it. (the other 2 have UV/Florescent lighting). I am going to get guppyes, so how many should I get? I don't want them to over breed, so I was thinking maybe I should get 3 males and 1 female? (the males are more colorful and females are kind of dull). I do want fry but not a lot. So should I get a tank separator and get 3 male and 1 or 2 female and split them up in the same tank but with a separator? So that the other tank can be for the fry? (Im not planning on using my 5 gallon tank because it doesnt have a lid and it takes up too much space).
Also is it a good idea to separate the fish into male and female but yet keep them in the same tank with a dividor? Also what will happen if I get 3 male and 1 female?

Answer 1

All males or a 1 male/three female ratio is best as the male will bother the females and stress them too much (they won't drop fry if stressed). Females carry sperm for six months so quarantining them won't help - they can still have up to six batches. Put the adults in one tank, and plant the second (with a CO2 supplement as dying plants will cause the guppies to get sick) and add a sponge filter to it (regular filters will suck up the fry. Use the second tank for when you think a female will have her fry and for the fry. Females box up around their anus when they are close to having their fry. Fry grow up faster with good quality water so make sure you do regular water changes. Salt for freshwater aquariums is a good idea for guppies and they will need heaters (don't be cheap on them the cheap ones break/burn out). If there is no other type of fish, keep the temp at 80.
A

Answer 2

You cannot have more males them females, they will kill the female and fight each other. Rule of thumb is 2 to 3 females per every male. If you don't want any breeding, then it is okay to get just males.

Even if you want to breed it is okay to have lots of females to a few males because not all the fry will live, and if you have too many a petstore will take them off your hands.

I don't like to use breeders and seporators. It stresses the fish. Just take a ten gallon and put maybe 3 males and 6 or 7 females in it with lots of plants. if a fish is pregnant just let her be, don't put her in a breeding box, or it increases the risk of miscarraige. she will give birth and the fry will hide, many will live.

I realize that you probably want more males, but i cannot stress enough how important it is to have more females.

Just put them in a healthy tank, and you will have fry.

You can use another tank as a nursery tank, but unless the conditions in both are the exact same you will lose more fry then just leaving them to hide.

Answer 3

Its possible that the female can get over stressed with 3 aggressive males. And stress leads to death in fish quite frequently. If you go this route, a divider is a GREAT idea, and almost mandatory. And also, your fry should be kept AWAY from the other fish, male or female adults will eat them and/or kill them.

Answer 4

Get a male and a female. Don't rely too much on guppies, they die easily. Its a good idea to get anther tank and place the female in it, be sure to include lots of leafy plants but no hollow rocks, fish can get in but not out. Good Luck!

Answer 5

I usually get 2 females for every one male if you want them to breed alot, and what I do, when my female is about to have her babies, is put her into another tank, and let her have them in there, and then remove her so that the babies will now get eaten my the bigger fish.

Answer 6

You need more females ! You're females should always out number you're males. Otherwise the males will harass the females to death. You can use the smaller tank to house the pregnant females when you have them !

Answer 7

well usally males fight so if you seperate your tank with one female and one falle keep alternating the males