[jamal6008]

Hi

I've got a 235 litres fish tank set up for almost a year now. At first I didn't really know much about fishes so I ended up getting about 10-20 fishes mixture of mollies,platies and neon tetras. I had no idea that mollies and platies were live bearers.

Right now I've got about 3-4 neon tetras left and rest are mollies+platies that have bred so much that I got about 35+ fishes of various sizes. I have all fishes in the same tank with no partition and fishes have got used to it which means no munching on the fries lol There are few things I wanted to discuss.

1. I just noticed another 10-20 fries in the tank which does not look great. My tank is going to get very over-populated if it isn't already.What's the solution????
2. The fry's that have now grown up turned out to be mostly males and now I see 3-4 males chasing the female molly all the time. I bet this is stressing out the fish. Again what to do????
3. What's the best way to introduce more hiding spots? I've got some live plants and few decorations stuff that allows hiding but because there are so many fishes it's kind of difficult to hide. Any specific recommendation for live plants or other things?

 

[Sylverclaws]

Well first...when you have fish breeding it's best to either give the fry away(many pet shops will take them for free, fastest way to get space. Waiting until they hit sell size takes months and in that time your tank will suffer). I would take some of your males and sell them, maybe some females too. Then do a large water change, maybe forty percent. Should help a great deal. That should take care of a large part of your first and second question.

Hiding spots. Gently put them in and try not to pester the fish, most are curious after initial uh-ohs and the like.

Plants...stem plants, they grow fast and you can clip and replant.

Java Moss and/or Willow Moss makes lovely hiding for fry and an interesting mess for the adults to check out.

Anubias are large leafy plants your fish will appreciate. You can get the nanas which are smaller.

Umbrella plants are a smaller leafy plant.

Sword Plants have long leaves, usually thick with them if they have proper lighting, a root tab may help. Do not bury the crown or they will rot, they like the roots covered but no higher.

Plant up your tank. The fish may get a bit stressed while you have your hands in there, but typically get over it pretty fast when they see new foraging and hiding areas to play in. Live plants will also help out a little bit with keeping the tank filtered and create more oxygen. They will not do everythign for you, but they take the edge off of it provided your tank isn't too over-stocked, and with all those babies it certainly is. I breed livebearers, so I know how it goes, and how fast it can happen! =) My sympathies. lol I have several tanks and recently converted a pool into a place to raise fry so I can cut down a great deal on over-stocking.

If you have babies an inch or more, you should look for shops that will actually buy them, provided you have no illnesses in the tank and that they are in good shape. Same applies online, like Amazon...again, provided they're not sickly or in bad shape. Otherwise I suggest you give them to a petshop that will take them for free...otherwise you will continually get over-stocked. Best way to prevent it further is to get rid of all your females. Males will still try to breed with each other, may even bicker, but you wont have more babies or stressed females. If you want to breed, best to have no less than four females per male, five with multiple males.

 

[jamal6008]

Thanks a lot for your help

 

[henningc]

As much as I hate to say this, if you ever considered getting an other tank to house cichlids or other preditory fish now would be the time. I breed several different livebearers and use some of them as a source of live food for other fish. My Goodieds are livebearers, but the fry are too huge for mom and dad to eat. I have four large female Endlers, all have spinal issues, in the tank and the Goodieds eat their fry. I have done this with Least Killies as well. I also breed bettas and nothing conditions them faster than livebearer fry gut loaded with freshly hatched brine shrimp. It may sound crual, but it is natures way.

 

[jamal6008]

lol are you serious? This is almost like saying if you can not be asked to get rid of your unwanted fish go and throw them in the bin. I don't think I have space for another tank and I really don't know what to do about this population control problem. I couldn't find a local shop that is willing to take in fishes like that and the numbers are just increasing. I might just have to keep up with water change and see how things go. I have increased the number of live plants and hiding places in the tank.

 

[jimscott]

Water Sprite is also a good plant for hiding. As a floating plant, its' great for fry. If planted in substrate, older fish can find refuge.

 

[jamal6008]

I already ordered floating plants recently. I don't have substrate in the tank just gravel so I am restricted in using potted plants.

 

[Sylverclaws]

Since push is coming to shove, I suggest you put up an ad on craigslist that says "Molly and Platy fry, Free to good home" or some such. You can put an ad on here too, just make sure you check shipping prices if people in your area aren't available. Some people may take them off your hands, or you can sell them for a few cents if your area allows adoption fees. Once older you can probably sell them on amazon, provided you manage to care for them properly in an over-stocked tank.

 

[jamal6008]

Since push is coming to shove, I suggest you put up an ad on craigslist that says "Molly and Platy fry, Free to good home" or some such. You can put an ad on here too, just make sure you check shipping prices if people in your area aren't available. Some people may take them off your hands, or you can sell them for a few cents if your area allows adoption fees. Once older you can probably sell them on amazon, provided you manage to care for them properly in an over-stocked tank.

Thanks. I live in UK and I have not seen any fish being sold on amazon. Packaging is also going to be a bit of problem if I am to ship these. The cost of packaging/shipping would be very expensive and than it brings the issue of fish arriving there safety.

I actually already have fish that I would not mind getting rid off because I've had the tank for 8 months and fry fish that was born 7 months ago is almost full adult size now. I can already imagine it being a lot of fun trying to catch a specific fish in my overcrowded tank with a lot of plants/hiding spots haha

 

[Bettaislife14]

I totally agree with Sylverclawas as I had the exact same problem before.

 

[Sylverclaws]

Ebay. I use ebay to sell my fry. Once they're around two weeks old or so...I have more space now for my kids, got some kiddie pools set up. lol


There's an idea for you too. A lot of us have been setting up large kiddie pools, indoor or out(I have one outside and one in my basement). I raise a lot of my babies in the indoor one. Looking at it now I would be wondering what I'd do if I didn't have them. I have several tanks, a 55 gal, 20 gal, two ten gallons and a five gallon betta tank....and two 73 gallon pools currently full of about 200 fry, mix of molly, platy, guppy and swordtail, mostly mollies and swordtails. I'd be dead meat without those pools since out pet shops around here no longer except fry, and also KILL them. =( If you are able to set up a pool with filters safely, great...if not, perhaps a large bin? I know some people can't since they live in apartments, but if able, I say run for it, it makes things so much easier, on you and your fish.

So try ebay for them. You'd be surprised how many people will take fry. Swordtail fry seem to be most popular here, at least mine are, but I do sell both. lol Just ask for small fees, like $1-$2...not sure what that is in UK money, just small amounts, get a little back for your feedings and stuff.