Ok so I have kicked this idea around for a long time and I really think it's time to start live bearer colony. But I'm at a loss for which ones to do, so hoping you guys could help point me toward one. I'm going to start small with 1 or 2 tanks but I can see them expanding to 4-5 tanks pretty fast. These will be on top of my other tanks I currently have.
Guppy are one of my favorite fish ever but the guppy is very common and most people that do live bearers have guppies.
Endler is really gaining in popularity and look pretty close to the guppy so the same things I love about the guppy I get in the endler. The big draw back is getting a pure endler not one that is mixed, I have a dozen or so right now that are mixed but if I do it I want a better group to start with. And the fact that they are extinct in the wild does make me think they are the best idea.
Swordtails I like but they don't have the character that the guppy or endlers have for me. They are larger which I like but I don't get excited when I see them swim around the tank like the little guys.
Molly are in the same group for me that the Swordtails is in. I don't get excited when they are in the tank. And I like the swordtail better.
Platy is a weird fish for me, I read up on them and it all says I should like these guys as much as the guppy but when I see them in the tanks a the fish store I just walk past them. I might set up a 10g and get 2 pairs of Platy to see if those guys can grow on me.
Others I have read a lot on the different live bearers and while I would like to set up a tank or two for some of these I don't see me setting up a fish room full of them.
My goal is to have colony tanks set up with live plants and allow the fish and fry to live together. I know most of the fry won't survive up that is fine. I will be watching the tanks to make sure the numbers stay strong and if I see them start to dwindle I can start pulling fry to help more grow out. In the end I would like to be able to sale some of the fish off to others or end send free ones to people that want to enjoy the hobby also.
So whats your suggestion on which fish to get?
Guppy are one of my favorite fish ever but the guppy is very common and most people that do live bearers have guppies.
Endler is really gaining in popularity and look pretty close to the guppy so the same things I love about the guppy I get in the endler. The big draw back is getting a pure endler not one that is mixed, I have a dozen or so right now that are mixed but if I do it I want a better group to start with. And the fact that they are extinct in the wild does make me think they are the best idea.
Swordtails I like but they don't have the character that the guppy or endlers have for me. They are larger which I like but I don't get excited when I see them swim around the tank like the little guys.
Molly are in the same group for me that the Swordtails is in. I don't get excited when they are in the tank. And I like the swordtail better.
Platy is a weird fish for me, I read up on them and it all says I should like these guys as much as the guppy but when I see them in the tanks a the fish store I just walk past them. I might set up a 10g and get 2 pairs of Platy to see if those guys can grow on me.
Others I have read a lot on the different live bearers and while I would like to set up a tank or two for some of these I don't see me setting up a fish room full of them.
My goal is to have colony tanks set up with live plants and allow the fish and fry to live together. I know most of the fry won't survive up that is fine. I will be watching the tanks to make sure the numbers stay strong and if I see them start to dwindle I can start pulling fry to help more grow out. In the end I would like to be able to sale some of the fish off to others or end send free ones to people that want to enjoy the hobby also.
So whats your suggestion on which fish to get?