We set up a 5 gallon starter aquarium for our kids a little over a month ago. We purchased 2 neon tetras. The tank at Petsmart had lots of little babies in with the neons, and the chick helping us put about 7 in for "free", not figuring they'd survive. Well, they did. All of them. But they aren't tetras! Looking at pictures of fish, they appear to be guppies. So... we are upgrading to a 10 gallon tank so that our 9 fish have more room. Can the tetras and guppies continue to live in harmony? Thanks!
2007-02-05 05:17:37 · 8 answers · asked by mommy_stamps_sometimes 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
Yes, tetras and guppies will do fine. The guppies may breed but chances are the bigger fish will eat the babies unless you separate the babies almost immediately.
2007-02-05 05:45:30 · answer #1 · answered by Shelley 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would disagree with several of your current answers. They will live in harmony as adults but tetras in general will eat guppy babies as will adult guppys. Guppys are live bearers and neons /all tetras are egg bearers. I have raised both for many years and have learned with guppy adults especially to put the babies in a seperate tank after birth. Even better is to take a pregnant female and have her birth in a baby trap, available at any petstore and you will have a lot more babies survive. Blackl tetras and betas will both enjoy the feast if you put them in a tank with babies. Having heavy weeds on one end will also help the survival rate.
2007-02-05 05:40:38 · answer #2 · answered by Brent W 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Absoulutly. I've had billions of different types of fish in one tank. Things like betas, guppies, plecos, neons, tetra's, the basic idea is for a harmonious tank get passive fish, both of which are tetras and guppies. If you get agressive fish, be sure you only get one of a kind, otherwise you'll be a happy owner of fish skeletons.
2007-02-05 05:32:52 · answer #3 · answered by ►ŦŕǖŦħŦěĿĿęŔ◄ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure, they can.
If you're going hardcore into fish then I wouldn't advise you to mix livebearers (guppies) with egg layers (neon tetras), but in a regular community tank it'll be just fine.
Just FYI, your guppies WILL continue to breed. Exponentially. It's a lot of fun for kids to watch happen, but you may want to look now for somewhere to give these guppies away. Petstores probably won't buy them, but they may give you a little store credit; but even then, most petstores won't even take them, so you may have to give them away as "feeder" fish.
When you set up your 10 gallon tank, be sure to cycle it first.
First of all, have you cycled your tank? In the wild, and in established tanks, there are nitrifying bacteria that break down toxic ammonia from fish waste and excess food into less toxic nitrates. In a brand new tank, these bacteria don't exist, so any fish in the tank will produce ammonia, which, not being broken down by bacteria, will kill or weaken the fish. So, it is vital to cycle your tank.
You already have bacteria in your 5 gal tank, in the gravel, so just shift the entire 5 gallon (gravel, water, and all) to your 10 gallon tank.
2007-02-05 05:25:28 · answer #4 · answered by Zoe 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If they are neons they should be fine. Some tetras get larger and more aggressive. In growing fry you can grow them faster with more frequent water changes. Guppies are fun but a few guppies can turn into 500 guppies fast.
2007-02-05 05:23:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I have 5 guppies and ten tetras all very happy.
2007-02-05 05:26:09 · answer #6 · answered by John C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Very compatible
2007-02-05 05:21:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES, THEY ARE BOTH COMMUNITY FISH. HAD THEM IN TWO DIFFERENT AQUARIUMS. FOR YEARS I RAISED THEM TOGETHER. THEY ARE BOTH GOOD FISH.
2007-02-05 05:23:44 · answer #8 · answered by Sharoyn L 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋