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i have 1 male and 3 females. 2 of the females are FATTTT. they have black close to the anal fin and are notdefacating it, so i am guessing that they are gravid. thay are in a 55 with 1 tigerbarb (i hate it) thats my sisters,a chinease alage eater 2short bodied catfish (corydoras anaus),2 sword-tails 1 male 1femalem,1plecostums, and what i think is a ilbino common goldy. Temp. is 76 two plants.will some fry live.they are well fed, no food reaches the bottem but every fish gets its share.HELLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think that you have some fry eaters (Tiger Barb), but i also think that some will survive. If you can add some floating plants, it will be better for the fry. With 3 females, you'll have fry every 2/3 weeks.



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Do you want to breed guppies? They will do what comes naturally with regularity. Some java moss or floating plants should help some of the fry survive. Nature will take its course, and those that like fresh meat will eat what they can.

BTW, a goldie may not be the best fish for that tank. They grow very large, and produce a lot of waste. I believe with a 55g, they recomend only two or three of the fancy goldfish, and commets need more room than that. Though I am glad to see that it is in a large tank. I am not sure they do well in a trop community. Good luck with your guppies.

Ok to breed guppies...it is said that guppies are easy enough to breed that you could throw them in a mud puddle and they would breed. :%)

So I truelly hope that you like the 3 guppies that you have chosen, because you are going to be in for a surprise!!! As pug above said, they do it on their own. As livebreeders go they will do this naturally without any restrictions. And I feel that your sword tails will also, so I'm glad that you have a 55 gallon tank..

Now first I have some bad news...as much as I love goldfish, he needs his own tank. I'm sorry to tell you that. I too at one time kept a goldie with a tropical, and all I can tell you is that it came to a disasterous end. I know they seem happy together now, and you see no harm in keeping little goldie in the tank with his fellow tank mates, but he will grow, and produce waste that will toxify the tank for the others. Also for the fish it is like trying to keep someone from Alaska, and someone from the equator in the same room, and having them be comfortable in the same type clothing, and temperature. It just won't happen without someone being uncomfortable. Now unfortunately when the fish become uncomfortable they will become stressed, and get sick, and then the sickness will lead to your dispare and heartache. My suggestion, go get goldie a tank of his own...or his friends a tank of their own...a nice 20/29 would be nice for his friends. Get rid of the heater for the goldie, they like it quite chilly...while your tropical friends will enjoy the warmth.

Now for the guppies. They sound as though they are gravid. They will continue to get larger, and larger until you think they will pop (imo they look almost like a tank ). I notice that when my females are dropping their fry they tend to try to hide and "sit" on the bottom of the tank. It can take a day or two for them to finish depending on how many they are going to have, the age of the guppy, and all. Again as Pug said be sure to add some plants. Since you are new at this, go get some anacharis from your lfs and plant a corner, I used to prefer one of the front corners, so I could check on the fry. You might want to leave some floating also...I recommend anacharis, because it can be floated or planted, next to impossible to kill, and also easy to find. Java moss is wonderful, but can be a total pain to get your hands on. (some say to move the expecting mothers to another area, but this can severly stress the mothers, and they won't drop the fry, and sometimes it can kill them. )

When the fry first arrive they will be exetremely tiny! like the size of this -->> | they will also be transparent, all you'll be able to see is their black eyes and outline of bodies, if you look carefully! I've also noticed (someone correct me if it's only my goofy fry) that they really don't swim well the first couple of days, they just tend to dart without much coordination, or that is how it appears to me. Don't worry they will be fine

Now once your fry arrive you have another predictament on your hands. What to feed them. This is quite easy. Take your normal food(s) that you feed the others, and put some in a ziplock bag, and crush/grind it up. Another member said a mortar and pestle to grind it up, but I use a ziplock bag, and all is fine then just sprinkle this in instead of the regular food, adults will eat it and the fry will love it.

OK I think that is about it...if you have any more questions let us know...some of us are always around :%)

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

put pregnat females in seperate tank with lots and lots of plants on in a coner

put pregnat females in seperate tank with lots and lots of plants on in a coner

I would hesitate from putting the pregnant guppy in a seperate tank, or other contraption that seperates her from her normal lifestyle.

Often when this is done the female she will become stressed. She will refuse at this time to drop her fry, and will continue to hold them until (A) she is released back to her normal life. (B) her body reabsorbs the fry (C) she dies. I will admit that this isn't always what happens, but in most cases this is what will happen. I personally have never had any luck in transfering my pregnant guppies and having them deliver elsewhere. Even in cases of moving the tank to another location where I've had to remove them (moving house to house) and replacing them back in their normal environment, and it seems to take my females 2-3 months to start having fry again, and these are guppies that are having fry every month.

So again I suggest you plant your tank, even just a corner of it, and leave the momma alone. You might have luck moving her, but chances are fairly good that you will not. Just my opinion.--Heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle