Breeding Guppies and Balloon Mollies

[Rickus]

We have tank, with 4 guppies (2Red, 2Blue) and 2 orange Balloon mollies. and a few other ( pleco, 2 catfishes, penquin, swordtail and 2 blackmollies)

both the female guppies and the female mollie looks pregnant. what is the signs, to see if they are near (delivery).

Due to the fact of the 2 catfishes, I must seperate the mothers from the others ( is those floating breeding tanks, with the catch at the bottom suiteble) ?

The blue guppie is swimming very slowly near the bottom of the tank. she is now seperated in the breedingtank.

[Zoom]

I persaonlly don't like those plastic floating containter. I find them to be very small, and stress the female out too much.

I've very successfully put the female into a breeding net. It's basically a lot bigger than the plastic thing. It has a plastic frame you put together, and a net that goes around the whole thing. It does have a thing that the fry can drop to the bottom to seek refuge from the female, but I've never used it in the past, not had problems. The moment the female is finished, just scoop her out.

[10i]

What catfish, besides the pleco do you have that you feel the fry are unsafe? its normally the parents that eat the fry in livebearers.

[Rickus]

thanks
what is the signs, to seperate the females?
Dont want to seperate them to early, I heard when they stop eating they are almost ready to deliver. Is this correct???


What catfish, besides the pleco do you have that you feel the fry are unsafe? its normally the parents that eat the fry in livebearers.

Upsidedown Catfish and spotted talking catfish, and swordtail.

[TankMaster]

Signs.....

Female is rounder
Gravid spot is black and not orange or gray
Females hang out around heater
Female sits on bottom of the tank

Just put the females in a separate planted tank and they will do the rest from there. Some of the fry will get eaten. I suspect that it is the taste of newborn fry in the water because adults and fry can be in the same tank after 2 days and water changes. They don't chase of eat any of them. Weird.

All live bearers show similar signs. Hope all goes well!

Regards

TM

[ACE007]

http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showpost.php?p=22890&postcount=22

Go look at what I made for live breeding fish. It is basically a big V silicone to 2 sides and it fits snug in a small 45cm tank. This is made from perspex but want to make one from glass. Perspex is not a very good conductor and the water in the V gets really cold.

You put the female in the V and the gap at the bottom is just big enough for the fry to fall through.

[Rickus]

Cool
so I can take the 2x guppies and mollie and put them in the 20l tank, with the 5x (month old) swordtails, and they will be less stressed and only a few will be eaten.
To tranfer them to the other tank is the same as when you buy them from the petshop. Plastic bag floating ....

[Scaly]

Hey Rickus

Guppys follow a cycle (about 21 days) When my guppies gave birth i made a note of the date and put her back in the the breeding tank a few days before her cycle was complete. I suggest keeping track of when she gives birth and after the second time you will have a good idea on how long the cycle is. Mark the due date on a calander and move her a few days before the time. Put her back with the males soon after to keep the cycle accurate - although they often have several brood from one mating.

Cheers

Vince