Either my guppies or swordtails gave birth to some fry. The swordtails chomped on all but 2 of them. I put some little bushes down there for them to hide in but I'm wondering if I could save the 2 little guys by putting them in one of those little 3 or 5 gallon setups you can get at Wally World. I don't have time (or rather the fry don't...) to cycle the tank. If I filled the new tank with 100% water from the existing tank, would that be alright? Are they safer just fending for themselves in with the big guys or would they be better off in a new tank with possibly dangerous water conditions? I guess I didn't really prepare for this. What can I do now?
2007-04-14 09:40:20 · 7 answers · asked by pookiemct07 5 in Pets ➔ Fish
Oh, also, I did put a sponge over the pump water intake so I wouldn't suck them into the filter. Seems like they're smart enough to stay in the little bushy plants though. I will look into my options for breeder nets, fry food and also little tanks tomorrow. See what there is at PetSmart....
2007-04-14 10:30:29 · update #1
They would be much better off in the 3-5 gallon set up. 2 little babies won't produce enough ammonia to be a problem for them in that much water. Before you fill the small tank, I would suggest you use gravel from the larger tank in the new one, then fill it from the larger tank. This will move much more bacteria over to the new tank and will insure your little guys have all the bacteria they need.
I think you are on the right track with what you are planning. They may have caught you off guard, but nice save.
MM
2007-04-14 09:59:18 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your better off just adding some more places for the healthy babies to hide in! You will start losing them if you set up the new tank. Just add several types of silk plants that are fluffy and full. They look great and they offer hiding places. Just do some thing for the babies, Wardley makes a Fry fish food, it will float pass the adults when you give them the flakes and the fry food will sink to the bottom. Just shut your filter off for 5-min. will you feed. Also make sure your intake tube if you have a power filter has a screen over the tube and it's short and not along the bottom. You will end up with more than you know what to do with, and if a few go for food that's life like it is in the wild! Your doing fine, just add more hiding places
2007-04-14 16:48:19 · answer #2 · answered by Grandma D 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i have a 10 gallon that i got from (wallyworld)by the way i have always wondered if anyone else has ever called walmart that....anyways if you do decide to get a seperate tank then yes that is the best thing to do is take 10 gallons out of the original tank and transfer it in there this is the same water as they are in now, which you cant do any better then that, this is what i did and the fry are fine, just make sure that the temp is the same cause you can shock them and kill em... but when my fish had the babies in the orignal tank alot of them died and they do stay hid very well but your the one that is going to have to make that call. i wouldnt worry about it as long as you dont have a whole crap load of fish and then the chances of them going up for air and not being eatin are slim to none
2007-04-14 23:29:41 · answer #3 · answered by Sassy6702 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you have two choices
1) leave them there and let them try to survive on their own
2) purchase a breeder's net or bin ( i suggest the bin). these hang on the side of your tank and separate the fry from the others. Normally they have places for the water to flow in an out so they are constantley recieving new, fresh water and it also saves you another tank to clean. I recommend a hard bodied one because there is no place for the fish to get caught in the net itself.
you can transfer your fry from place to place with a turkey baster very easily. (just use a new one which has been rinsed out with hot water and left to cool)
2007-04-14 16:56:37 · answer #4 · answered by Alison B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should have some plants for them to hide in if no ya put them in a different tank with 70% of water from the old tank if you at a city on city water 100% from the old tank
2007-04-14 16:46:09 · answer #5 · answered by zeka 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could try a net breeder. Keeps them safe from other fish while keeping them in the tank. Bonus is no extra tank or filtration to worry about.
2007-04-14 16:58:51 · answer #6 · answered by Rachelle B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hello, i would if you want to save them take them out and put them into that cycled tank. you can use the water from another tank to start cycle yes. feed your fry powdered fry food and remember to install a heater for them. good luck with them!
2007-04-14 17:14:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋