Guppies as a class pet?

Question

My guppy fry are outgrowing their tank and I thought of donating some to my kids' classrooms (or other classes at the school, whoever is interested) as class pets. Before I do that though, I wanted to find out if they would be ok going without food every weekend, or if I'd have to let the teacher know she'd have to come in and feed them. I know it is OK for them to skip 1 day of feeding sometimes, but I don't know about skipping 2 days in a row every week. I hope someone knows the answer! Thanks!

Thanks for the answers so far. I do want to add a couple of details.

First, I wouldn't give them to a teacher who doesn't have an affinity for animals to begin with. I know my daughter's teacher is a pet lover with lots of reptiles including snakes that she has kept for years and takes good care of. I don't know if she's into fish but this is the personality I'd be seeking for this.

Also, we are a year-round school so we don't have long summer breaks, we go off-track for a month at a time and the teachers either take home their pets or have other teachers help care for them since there is always someone there.

I don't think teachers expect to be paid extra for having pets. It is something they enjoy doing and they usually consider them their personal pets that they get to share with the kids. At least, that is what I am looking for. I won't give them to someone who doesn't want to take care of them.

Thanks again for the answers!

Answer 1

Guppies can go several days without being fed. Just make sure there are no fry in with the adult guppies over the weekend, because they will get eaten when the adults get hungry, and the fry have much different feeding needs than the adults. I have even heard of withholding food for a day or two to encourage mating. not sure how that works, but some breeders swear by it.

Answer 2

I agree with the previous post. It isn't so much about whether the fish could handle going without food for two days. They should be able to. The issue is whether, 1) the teacher is dedicated and willing to be a proper and responsible fishkeeper (because the kids will not be); 2) is the teacher well enough informed about how to be a responsible fishkeeper, even if the willingness is there; and 3) who will be responsible for these fish when school is out, the building is closed and everyone has gone home for the summer. These are live animals, not a circus show (which is a different travesty that I won't discuss here) and all animals require a level of responsibility that far too many people are not willing to give. They go into keeping pets, especially fish, like they're a party favor or a play toy and don't require concern or care. So, I would suggest talking to the teacher first to determine how willing she is to be responsible for these animals, full-time for as long as they live, which will be about 5-7 years if they are properly taken care of and whether she is willing to learn what proper care and maintenance is.

Answer 3

Those answers are just silly,any aquarium fish can go much longer than two days without feeding. The things that your other answers suggest (electric feeders or feeder blocks) are not worth the trouble. The feeder blocks are just polluting crap, and the electric feeders don't work reliably for very long.
The real concern would be training the teachers to be fish keepers. Who would provide the tanks,pumps,filters,and the extra pay for the hours that the teacher would be expected to provide? Just getting a tank properly cycled in the class room would be difficult.
Bad idea.

Answer 4

you could suggest they buy weekend feeders that release food over ta 3 day period, but really, they would be fine, fish can go for a week of no food without suffering any ill effects, they would probably graze on food that they didn't eat before. Have the teacher feed them just a little bit too much so that some falls to the bottom and then the fish could eat that over the weekend.

Answer 5

They need to be fed over the weekend. Many teachers go in once a weekend to catch up on work so I'd make sure the teacher will be there at least once a weekend.

Answer 6

Just make sure they don't tap the glass! if you put real plants in the tank they can eat the plants for 2 days they should be fine and there are also thing you can put in the tank that well supply food I saw them at wal-mart

Answer 7

when i was younger we had guppies for a class pet. i think they would need to be fead over the weekend.but i dont think we did.cause i dont remember anyone bringing them home or anything.i dont know, maybe the janitor fead them? you could suggest that.