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Baby guppies, but one dead female, to replace or not to replace?

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guppies
4K views 25 replies 7 participants last post by  Warhawk 
#1 ·
I lost my favorite female, but I now have babies! Sadly, the half black yellow that I loved and had the most hope for great babies from is the one that died. She just kept getting bigger and bigger, and stayed that way, and then she was dead. I assume she probably just couldn't deliver successfully, but this all happened while I wasn't looking, so I do not know if any of the babies I now have were hers. A few of them DO look dark, like they may be half blacks, which would be awesome. I left on a Thursday, and came home on a Tuesday and had a tank full of babies, plus one dead female.

I now have more males than females, plus a tank of babies, and I'm not sure if it's wise to get a replacement female (or two) now that I have so many babies in the tank. But with 3 males and only 2 females (adults), I foresee a lot of harassment of the remaining adult females - not that it is happening yet, but advice is appreciated. Plus, I really have no females now that I really LIKE the colors on.

The tank remains peaceful, no-one is getting eaten or harassed, the adults seem to think the babies are just fine, they don't seem to care or notice they even exist, and even though I have lots of cover, the babies seem to prefer being out in the open, so I don't think they have any fear of being harmed - or they would presumably hide.
 

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#3 ·
Oh hai Seraph :wave:

If your fry are not being nom nommed and the parents (whoever they may be) are ignoring them, maybe you could wait to see what you end up with for a male/female ratio. Ultimately you probably want 3-4 females for each adult male.

Are you keeping the fry?
 
#4 ·
If you only have one tank, don't get any more as they will have more fry. Another reason to not get more from the store is ich, if you don't have it you don't want it .

If you have a quarantine tank I would stock 2-3 females per male. Now this ratio doesn't account for an alpha male. If there is 2 males I think they will fight for alpha decide it and then the alpha will do all or most of the breeding. It seems like you need two males at all times, so that makes 4-6 a good number of females.
Also like to point out that the color could change as the fry mature.
 
#5 ·
It will depend on if you are keeping all the fry or getting rid of some of them. If you are keeping them all I wouldn't add any new females. Once they grow up you might need to add some to get the ratio correct but that's a month or so out. If your not keeping all the fry I would allow them to get large enough to see their colors and pick 2-3 females to keep and let the others go.

I would rather breed my own fish and raise them up for my tanks then buy fish and add them. You risk the health of all the fish if they are sick. That can't be done all the time but if I can I do it that way.
 
#6 ·
It will depend on if you are keeping all the fry or getting rid of some of them. If you are keeping them all I wouldn't add any new females. Once they grow up you might need to add some to get the ratio correct but that's a month or so out. If your not keeping all the fry I would allow them to get large enough to see their colors and pick 2-3 females to keep and let the others go.

I would rather breed my own fish and raise them up for my tanks then buy fish and add them. You risk the health of all the fish if they are sick. That can't be done all the time but if I can I do it that way
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THIS 100% ALL of the way. i wouldn't add anyone else if the tank is healthy. just do your best by the fish you do have, then cull those you don't want when your fry mature.

a healthy tank isnt worth the risk of new fish if you can avoid it!

congratulations on the babies!
 
#7 ·
I was planning on the wait and see what colors they turn out to be route. Then I will probably freecycle any that I do not want to keep. I have a few small side aquariums, but they need resealing. I suppose now would be a good time to work on those. It's easier to give away unwanted fish if you're giving an aquarium with them. I have at least 2 that are obviously half black at this point, hoping at least one of those turns out to be a female. Bonus happy if they turn out to be yellow on the lighter half!
 
#9 ·
Refurbing old tanks for growing fry

Good to know! Do you happen to know of a miracle product that will take the old caulking off the tanks easily? It's a mix of something kinda sandy and white, and something black and tarry. These tanks have chrome frames that surround the glass. Here are a few pics, it's 3 tanks, two have the black goop, one has the white sandy stuff. I need to get the chrome frame off and not break the glass, then strip all the old stuff off, and rebuild them fresh. I never got it done because getting the frame off proved to be much harder than I expected, I definitely need something that will dissolve the caulking but not eat the chrome or destroy the slate bottoms. Pics show tanks in various orientations, I'm low of storage space, so they are filled with misc and stored under a dresser.
 

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#10 ·
At what age do guppy fry start to show their colors?

How long do I have to wait to see what colors these guys are going to be? Also, how old do they need to be before their bottom fin is developed enough to determine sex? Here are some new pics, taken today. One is a close-up of several average-sized fry swimming with an adult female for size comparison.
 

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#11 ·
How long do I have to wait to see what colors these guys are going to be? Also, how old do they need to be before their bottom fin is developed enough to determine sex? Here are some new pics, taken today. One is a close-up of several average-sized fry swimming with an adult female for size comparison.

I have found it takes about 2 months to tell sex. I have some born on Fed 1st, about 25% of them are some males are showing color, 25% females are all still colorless, and the last 50% I'm not sure. They won't be able to breed for a few months so no worries with leaving them together for a while longer.


Sorry no advice on the tanks I have never had to reseal one.
 
#13 · (Edited)
About colors and the tank renovation...

I have not raised guppies in 30 some years, so I forget just how long to get gender with the males' fins developing; however, I can say that their colors won't be full until they are older, maybe up to 6 months. I do breed Mollies, and many look nude at first, if in the silver range, but some that will be dark like B&W Dalmatians show up with the dark spots right away. They will get darker as they age. Also the condition of the lighting and the water will also make them look different -- a B&W Dalmatian in the store looked like a near-white color w/spots, but bringing them home made them turn dark almost like black. Guppies grow these lovely tails, but that won't fully develop for a while.

Can you clean up your tanks thoroughly using some ammonia and vinegar to wipe away the grunge, and then see how they look? Maybe you can just use the sealant to plug the holes and they will be good. I have dropped a tank, and used the sealant to fix it -- didn't want to toss a 30 gal. tank. When you first put it on, it is flexible & thick and you think it won't work; but after it dries thoroughly, it will firm up and be fine. Test it with about 3-4 days of water, maybe with a filter or bubbler to move the water around a lot. Before you put any fish in there! And I only used the silicone the fish stores sell, as you don't want it to outgas after you have used it -- as buying from a hardware store might effect the fish (you have no idea how it will act afterwards). You will have to let it dry for a few days, depending on the humidity, and you might have to do it a second time if you missed some areas the first time.
 
#16 ·
Oh, I probably could just reseal the insides of them, I hadn't considered not giving it 200% effort. Haha, I'm awful at making small projects into huge ones!

I have absolutely terrible lighting conditions. I bet my guppies look really nice in actual fish aquarium lighting. Someday I will get around to buying that light! I have noticed a huge improvement in their color density since putting them on actual GUPPY food, as opposed to a beta color flake. I was skeptical that it was any different, but it clearly is. Some of the babies are now showing tiny traces of color. The ones that are half black are now obviously half black, and the yellows/orange are coming in a bit. I suspect the blues will come later... or at least I am hoping to have a little blue in some of them as they come into color.

I have not raised guppies in 30 some years, so I forget just how long to get gender with the males' fins developing; however, I can say that their colors won't be full until they are older, maybe up to 6 months. I do breed Mollies, and many look nude at first, if in the silver range, but some that will be dark like B&W Dalmatians show up with the dark spots right away. They will get darker as they age. Also the condition of the lighting and the water will also make them look different -- a B&W Dalmatian in the store looked like a near-white color w/spots, but bringing them home made them turn dark almost like black. Guppies grow these lovely tails, but that won't fully develop for a while.

Can you clean up your tanks thoroughly using some ammonia and vinegar to wipe away the grunge, and then see how they look? Maybe you can just use the sealant to plug the holes and they will be good. I have dropped a tank, and used the sealant to fix it -- didn't want to toss a 30 gal. tank. When you first put it on, it is flexible & thick and you think it won't work; but after it dries thoroughly, it will firm up and be fine. Test it with about 3-4 days of water, maybe with a filter or bubbler to move the water around a lot. Before you put any fish in there! And I only used the silicone the fish stores sell, as you don't want it to outgas after you have used it -- as buying from a hardware store might effect the fish (you have no idea how it will act afterwards). You will have to let it dry for a few days, depending on the humidity, and you might have to do it a second time if you missed some areas the first time.
 
#18 ·
...and this week, my heater died. I've lost a few babies, but the adults are doing ok, but moving much slower. I'll be sending it in for warranty replacement tomorrow, hopefully everyone will survive until it is replaced. I'd just buy another heater except my cat has been sick and I have a $250 vet bill already, plus she's scheduled for surgery Monday, with an estimate of $700. So, yeah, I hope the fish survive, and Cobalt is fast about warranty turnaround. I've just been leaving the light on 24/7, trying to give them SOME heat of any kind.
 
#20 · (Edited)
You will have more soon...

From the looks of a couple of your females, they will be birthing soon and then you will have some more babies. This will sound strange, but you can wrap up your tank in blankets until you get a new heater -- of course you won't see them too well, but it will keep them warm, and we had had some very cold days for quite a while. Even only wrap 3 sides, with towels, and leave the front open, will still keep them warmer. Using more lights on the tank close up will also help. henningc raises his Mollies and others outside in pools, and he says they adapt to colder temps, but I wouldn't try it all of a sudden, his are during the summer. Hope your cat does well with his/her procedure. I have had a cat needing some tooth work and it cost me a lot... so wishing you the best result.

P.S. if you have a large cooler, you might put a tank inside of it to keep it warm as well. If you have a big tank, then put the best of your fish in a smaller tank in the cooler, as it will keep the tank in good stead while you are waiting.
 
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#21 ·
Do you think wrapping it really helps? I will do that now! I wasn't sure it would do anything, since there's no heat source IN the tank, so nothing making heat to begin with really. I have one of those space blankets, the shiny metal stuff, what about that? Or does it need to be plush blankets/towels?

I had some of these adult fish before I had a heater, so I know some will make it, but I'm losing the weakest babies. I guess it's trial by hardship, survival of the fittest, etc! :-D

Yes, that one ugly mostly colorless female just keeps pumping them out! If I get anything of color out of her that's female, she'll be taking a trip and her get replacing her, assuming they are as prolific of breeders as she is! She's a healthy fish!

From the looks of a couple of your females, they will be birthing soon and then you will have some more babies. This will sound strange, but you can wrap up your tank in blankets until you get a new heater -- of course you won't see them too well, but it will keep them warm, and we had had some very cold days for quite a while. Even only wrap 3 sides, with towels, and leave the front open, will still keep them warmer. Using more lights on the tank close up will also help. henningc raises his Mollies and others outside in pools, and he says they adapt to colder temps, but I wouldn't try it all of a sudden, his are during the summer. Hope your cat does well with his/her procedure. I have had a cat needing some tooth work and it cost me a lot... so wishing you the best result.

P.S. if you have a large cooler, you might put a tank inside of it to keep it warm as well. If you have a big tank, then put the best of your fish in a smaller tank in the cooler, as it will keep the tank in good stead while you are waiting.
 
#22 ·
Guppy females are bland, so those will have the babies

The ones who produce babies are nude, males are the pretty ones. She looks very big, but might hold off a little if she is cold.

Use anything you have, and put some lights near for more warmth in the tank. Everything helps! You need to not have any diseases spring up, as that will kill off more than a few. Is there a thrift shop nearby? For a dollar, you can sometimes find aquarium stuff that others are phasing out. If so, then stop by and see if they have any tanks and heaters in there, or ask friends if they have any to lend you (even a LF store).
 
#23 ·
I've had colorful females, one in the tank now is more yellow, but one I lost was a lovely half black yellow female. You can get females with color, it just takes better breeding than you get at a petstore. The tank is now wrapped, unfortunately, I did not get the heater sent out today, I had a massive headache and didn't get up before noon. So, I will be shipping that out Monday.

Friends? In real life? Hahahaha! No way. Too much work. There is a thrift store or two, but I've never seen aquarium stuff in them.

The ones who produce babies are nude, males are the pretty ones. She looks very big, but might hold off a little if she is cold.

Use anything you have, and put some lights near for more warmth in the tank. Everything helps! You need to not have any diseases spring up, as that will kill off more than a few. Is there a thrift shop nearby? For a dollar, you can sometimes find aquarium stuff that others are phasing out. If so, then stop by and see if they have any tanks and heaters in there, or ask friends if they have any to lend you (even a LF store).
 
#24 ·
So, because I had to take the heater out to ship it in for warranty repair/replace, I decided to do a decor change as well. I added the light from over the stove, so these have better lighting than typical, but man is it ever unsafe to leave that way. I plan to wrap the tank back up before bed tonight, so that I can take my cat to the vet Sunday/Monday. Certainly can't leave it like this if I am not home. However, it IS keeping it warm, a nice 72 degrees with the extra light. Wish I had lumber so I could rig up something safer.
 

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#25 ·
THis is different but my guppy has been prgnant since befor december 26th 2014 (pregnant when i got her) and hasnt given birth yet i dont move her often and feed her daily my tank is around 7- degrees. i am conserned that she has already given birth and the offspring have been eaten but I am un sure. Her gravid spot is orange (heard this is normal) and she grows and shrinks all the time as soon as i think she is going to give birth she gets smaller and then gets bigger again. what is going on?!?
 
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