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My Guppy won't stop dropping babies! Help?!?
By imadisaster from the Disaster Zone department, Section Ask Guppylog Posted on Wed Aug 29, 2007 at 12:33:28 PM PST Tags: (all tags)

I have no idea if normal females do this but within three days she has been giving me batches of about ten every day!

Okay I'm new so don't mind me or my grammar.

I recently brought new guppies from a pet store that had their female and male guppies separated. I brought about 6 males and 4 females, not really wanting them to breed but just going by colour. I figured they wouldn't breed, I have a small tank, not heated and external filter.

Next morning I check on them to find baby guppies in the tank (about ten). Fair enough there was a big female in there but all the females were acting normal, no signs of any birthing. Because I didn't want the babies eaten I moved the adults to a rather large plastic container (don't hurt me).

Next day all the babies are alive and kicking (or swimming) and the plastic container has another batch of about ten babies in it. They get moved to the big tank... next day same story. Problem now is the males are dying in the container, the babies are still all there and showing no signs of weakness or sickness, and I have a feeling tomorrow there will be more (looking at the big female).

Is this normal? How can I help the survival of both my adults and my babies?

[ed. lomelindi]

< Cherry shrimp experiment | Pregnant Platy >

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My Guppy won't stop dropping babies! Help?!? | 6 comments (5 topical, 1 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: My Guppy won't stop dropping babies! Help?!? (none / 0) (#6)
by The Q man on Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 11:48:03 AM PST

Well, I agree put the gupps in a big tank,but only with a ratio of 1 male to at LEAST 2 femles and then keep the other males out of that tank. Unless you get more females and have enoughf room. For the 3 day peroid of babies thats because your female is under TOO much stress. When females are stresed they realese small amounts of fry over a period of time. Instead of all at once. So now you can go kick yourself in the *** because you messed up. But thats ok I did the same thing as a beginner. Good Luck
P.S. Put the fry in the big tank with the adults and what you have left is what you have. Then sell the survivors to a pet store. Or you can give them away and what not.Wait till they are adults before getting rid of them though.

Re: My Guppy won't stop dropping babies! Help?!? (none / 0) (#5)
by guppyfreak456 on Thu Jan 18, 2007 at 05:15:28 PM PST

First of all,you should always buy more females than males,because the males will fight to the death over the females.And no matter if you intend to breed or not,they will breed over and over again,in any container.Every time a female gives birth,she will give birth to about fourty.You can put the babies in a seperate container[glass,not plastic]or you can put them in the big tank,as long as there are a lot of plants for them to hide in,particularly Java Moss.Expect some of them to be eaten in there,but you may be able to keep a few.But definently take the adults out of the plastic container!!!You also know if a female is pregnant,because her gravid spot[underside of butt]will be black.Hope this helps!!!! guppyfreak456

Re: My Guppy won't stop dropping babies! Help?!? (none / 0) (#2)
by New Guppy Momma on Tue Jan 09, 2007 at 12:11:40 PM PST

Put the adult guppies back into the big tank. If anything take the babies out. Or just add a few more plants (plastic is fine) and whatever babies survive....that's how many you have.

Oh and READ and study the Immediate Help sections on fry and pregnancy. A female guppy can have fry every 4 weeks. And up to 200 at a time.

Also a guppy needs no encouragement or special water conditions to breed. I bet if there was a mud puddle with a steady supply of water and a male and female guppy that they would manage t over stock it all by themselves.
Before all else fails....do a 25% water change ;)

Re: My Guppy won't stop dropping babies! Help?!? (none / 0) (#4)
by angelhologram on Tue Jan 09, 2007 at 04:45:33 PM PST

Reading the Immediate Help section on tank cycling would be to your benefit as well. That's the next issue you will be dealing with.
*BEFORE you buy fish make sure you understand what "Cycling" a tank means <- quoted from miskaral* ~Trying to make a difference one fish at a time~
[ Parent ]

Re: My Guppy won't stop dropping babies! Help?!? (none / 0) (#3)
by miskairal on Tue Jan 09, 2007 at 01:14:07 PM PST

I agree with NGM. Put them all in the tank with the proper filter, feed minimally until you have tested for ammonia and nitrites. Do water changes of at least 25% daily or second daily until you know what your cycle is doing. That is probably why your males are dying.

Forget about breeding and keeping fry until you have at least 2 more tanks - 1 tank for males, 1 for females and 1 for fry.
--
Repeat after me,
I will read the Immediate Help
[ Parent ]

My Guppy won't stop dropping babies! Help?!? | 6 comments (5 topical, 1 editorial, 0 hidden)

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