Christmas Break and guppy fry

emmers

I have two questions. But first a bit of background information.

I have a 5.5 gallon glass aquarium with a filter and aerator. There are 4 female guppies in the tank along with a separate breeding net that has 8 fry in it. (one of my guppies was pregnant when I got her from the store). the fry are currently about 2 weeks old. I am a college student who is flying home for Christmas break.

First question:
I was wondering when the fry can be added to the tank with the other fish. the fry might be a bit bigger then the mouths of the females but I am not quite sure.
I know that my tank will be over populated when I add them but I have a friend who has an aquarium who will take the babies when they get older, and big enough to not get stuck in her filter.

Anyways, I wanted to know when I can add them to the tank with the females. and also how old they need to be before i can tell if they are boys or girls.

Second Question:
i need suggestions for how to find a place for the fish to stay over Christmas break which is like 2 weeks long.
I have one option of leaving them and having someone come by 5 times during the 2 weeks to feed them. But i do not know if that is good for the fry.
Another option that I came up with is to put the fish in separate gallon sized containers (and all the fry in one) and sending them home with a friend who lives about 20 minutes away.
one other option is to figure out how to transport them all to my friends house and also put them back in the tank...but i do not want to take the chance that the tank will break.
yet another option will be to buy some sort of vacation feeder...like the blocks that sit in the bottom of the tank...





Any advice would be amazing!!!

Angel079

The back & forth transport will not be good for the fry (and the change of water/ temps etc). The 5 feeds during 2 weeks is not ideal for the fry (the adults will do just fine with this), but i'd rather pers take my chances that way to maybe loose 1-2 and leave them where they are and have someone feed every other day then the whole moving mess.
Uhm trying to remember now its been a long time, but I think somewhere around the size of 1/2-1" you will see what is what.

Merry Michael

Golly,you've got a predicament here!! Fry should be fed a liquid food too for the first 2-3 weeks too! Can't anyone come over and feed them more than 5 times over the next 2 weeks? Maybe a couple diff people could help out?? Transporting fry...not a good idea. They are VERY susceptible to temp changes,and wouldn't fare very well at all! Forget the "vacation" feeder blocks...BLA! not for babies...or any fish for that matter!Put up a post in your school board and see if someone isn't staying for the break and could feed your babies. Good luck and tell us what you've decided to do!

emmers

I will not take the chance of moving them. thanks for the advice!!!

emmers

unfortunately that will not work to have someone come over. everyone has to be out of the dorms over christmas vacation...they have a feeding service that will cost $6 for the 5 feedings over 2 weeks...sorta expensive for just getting fed 5 times and no water changes or anything...but i guess i will do what i have to do...

Thanks!



My plan will probably be to leave them and just see if they will survive with the few feedings...

Merry Michael

and so...now for the up-date! What did you decide to do..and how many survived?