My instant nursery, will it work?

Spike762

So I realized today that one of my guppies is very pregnant (scales bulging out). Actually, I believe two were, but my turtle ate one of them today. Realizing that the fry don't stand a chance in a tank with a turtle and 8 other fish, plus a strong filter, I moved the expecting mother. I moved her into a one gallon-ish plastic container. I am heating it with the basking lamp from my turtle, and currently the water is 78 degrees F.

There is no filtration, so I am relying on water changes. I used water from the tank she came from. There is no substrate or bubbler. I am worried she will run out of oxygen inside the container. For all purposes, it can be considered a plastic fishbowl. Once she gives birth (hopefully ASAP) I will trap her in the net and let the fry float into the rest of the container.

I will add pics ASAP. Ideas and concerns are more than welcome.

-Spike

Spike762

Pics-


Pregnant Guppy in my 20g tank


Plastic tootsie roll container I have next to my tank


Thermometer. The debris is fish food I gave to her


She's swimming in the container, but mostly resides on the bottom.

My biggest concern here is oxygen

-Spike

Spike762

UPDATE

So I went to Petsmart and bought what I believe to be the correct breeding setup for fry.





I'm sure this is much better, but can someone give me an indication of how far along she is? I don't want her couped up in this thing forever. I never really planned on breeding guppies, but just like my own daughter, life had other plans for me and breeding Anyway, I just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing.

-Spike

Austin

Since nobody more knowledgeable has even commented I'll give you my input.

The breeder box is probably better than what you had, because there is no filtration or aeration (plus there is more shock.) in the container.

Though the box is small and stressful if the female is going to be in there too long. How come you bought guppies in the first place btw? were they turtle food? if so why are you trying to breed them? Just wondering.

She does not look too pregnant to me. :/ It's somewhat hard to tell. Either way, won't her and her fry become turtle food anyways?

Spike762

I'll leave her in there overnight and see what happens. I don't want to stress her out, but I dont think a single fry would have a chance unless it's born in the box and I certainly can't stay up with her all night waiting.

I've received guppies from various places, and while their overall purpose is to be turtle food, the reality is that they are seldom eaten. 3 of my guppies have been in the tank for over 4 months. When a friend got rid of his aquarium, I took his fish as well (including some guppies) and somewhere along the way I picked up males and females. As far as I know, this is my only female. I didn't intend on breeding them, but they did what nature told them to do. Although, I wouldn't mind getting good at it so I don't have to buy them at the store anymore. Bottom line, this is my first try and I want to keep the fatalities to a minimum.

-Spike

redchigh

If you want a "Guppy factory" you could do what I did.
For your "factory", you need a filter, and put pantyhose or nylon fabric over the intake.

Buy 3 female guppies and 1 male, and plant the tank if possible. (as many "bushy" plants as you can- anarchis, Hornwort,mosses, and water Wisteria all are excellent for this.)

Then ignore them. Feed'em, do w/c's, but don't move them. IF there are hiding places, you will probably have 5 fry in a month.
Giv'em time to grow up.

Then, only feed your turtle males. You only need, realistically, 1 male per 5-10 females.
With 1 male and 5-8 females, you'll be producing about 40 fry a month, and in the right planted setup, most will survive.

I think it's better to let nature do its thing, and give it the opportunity, than use breeder boxes to save EVERY fry. There are inevitably some runts, some weak, perhaps some sick fry born- and you don't really want them to survive, even for the turtle.