New To Breeding

Hello everybody


As the title of this thread states I am new to breeding fish. I've done some reading here and there and I am interested in breeding some guppies. So I have a few questions that I'm sure you guys have been asked a million times but please bare with me.


Firstly this is the equipment and livestock I currently have:


Community Tank 1x 30L tank with 1 real plant, some fake plants, 2 display ornaments and colorful stones.


Fish: 3x neons
2x glow tails
1x algae eater
4x female guppies
2x male guppies
4 or 5 guppy fry (about 1 week old)




The 2nd tank is also a 30L that is pretty bare apart from some white stone substrate, some small rocks (actually pebbles) and 1 tiny fake plant.


The 2nd tank has just been set up and has no fish in it yet. Both tanks have 50w heaters and under gravel filters.


So to get to my questions:


1) what should I do to my current tanks to improve them for breeding?


2) what lighting should I use on these tanks?


3) should I donate my other fish and only have the guppies I want to breed?


I'm really interested in breeding ATFG guppies and Endlers and I know these should be kept apart so:


1) Should I get a 3rd and possibly 4th tank to seperate the fry or would they be fine in the tank with their respective parents?


2) Is it a good idea to have multiple breeding pairs or just 1?


3) Should I keep males an females separated?


Also where can I get my hands on ATFG's and Endlers in Johannesburg?


Any other info you could possibly share would be greatly appreciated

 

Hi and welcome

Tell us more about your water paramaters, like...

1. Temp
2. PH and KH
3. Feeding

Then seperating males from females is best, esspecially for line and selective breeding, feeding your fish well improves breeding, lighting does not play a big role with guppies/endlers.

Yes sell off or give your other fish away, as they will eat your fry if they can, fry should also be seperated from the parents.

The more tanks the better, 1 male for 4 females should be fine.

Guppies are hardy and it will take allot to kill them, but ehhmm, maybe look @ either bare bottom for breeding, or replacing the out dated and not such a great under gravel filter.

 

Thank you for your reply

At the moment my water temp is 25 to 26 degrees. I still need to get myself some testing kits to test ph and kh. As for feeding they get fed 3 time a day with regular tropical fish food and every 2nd or 3rd day they get some blood worms.

What would you recommend as a replacement for the under gravel filter?

 

Right as to temp for them I would recomend 24-26 deg C, they will thrive in even lower temperatures, not lower then 20 deg c I would reckomend. You say regular tropical food, I take it, this is flakes? Remember variety is the spice of life, so the more different foods you feed the better, there is so many, from pellets, flakes (spirulina, brine shrimp etc) this is a must for quality fry and your fish to grow large and thrive.

Ph is kind of needed...so @ least invest in a ph test kit, but Guppies can thrive in most coditions.

In a 30 liter tank I will go a double or single corner sponge filter, that will eleviate sucking up fry, allong with your weekly water changes.

 

Dude you rock

I will definitely be getting more tanks but would it be ok to divide my current tanks or would that be too small?

Like I said I'm new but once I get the hang of this breeding idea, do you have any recommendations for customizing tanks on a larger scale. Meaning is it possible to heat all the tanks from one heat source and can this be done with a filtration system as well

 

I wouldnt split 30 liters, as this is smallish as is, and yes there is ways to customize, 1 will be in a sump, so you heat your sump, that then pumps back into all your tanks, or you can customise for example a f foot, have it made about 30 cm tall instead of the average 45cm I think? Then add deviders for each groups of pairs, and in the end a filter system with the heater.

There is many other ways to do it, u also get some filters these days with built in heaters, and heaters that goes straight into piping...

Sure some other guys can help you there, as it is not exactly my expertise.

 

Thank you so much Hennie. Cant wait to get my first trio. Any chance you know where I can buy some in JHB?

 

Endlers speak to @cheekychops or @Skye01 for great looking guppies check @JungleAquatics they have some orange beauties

 

Awesome thanks again Hennie

 

No problem, any time....lots of guys here that can give you endless advice!