ryanherbst

ok i have a 30+ gallon tank with 2 dalmation mollies, 3 red eye tetras, 2 serpae tetras, 3 neons, 2 alage eaters, and 3 other fish that i dont know about. i was hoping on getting 3 guppies and 1 male dalmation molly, and 3 more neons, what is the best protection i can give the babies without breederbox or net? heres my aquarium.

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SammyJ

More plants. I would suggest dwarf grass, or micro sword. 3 or 4 plants placed closely together.

The second best choice would be a product called "fry grass". Its plastic grass that can either float at the top or be held to the bottom, and its cheap at most LFS or online.

agabr123

agreed with sammyj, LOTS of hiding places, lots of plants big enough for fry to hide in but too small for adults, that kind of thing

COBettaCouple

If possible, a layer of flat glass marbles over the gravel will give the fry places to hide as well as eat leftover food.

SammyJ

I never thought of the flat glass marble idea. I may have to do that for my mosquito fish tank. It has a mix of normal grave, medium rocks, and big rocks at the moment. Though I have a while before the fish start to breed, the females are only around an inch.

marksuttonjr

I always use larger gravel than what most people use. IMO aquarium gravel is just too small unless it is in a 5 gal or smaller.

More plants. Guppy fry love to hide in Java moss, and it is easy to grow.

I also burry pieces of PVC pipe in my tank. Leaving the ends open to create caves. This is more important for corries and plecos than guppies, but guppies will use the caves too. My 100 gal has over 12 feet of PVC ranging fron 1/2" up to 2". Little of it is visible due to the fact I have it burried in the substrate with live plants near the ends..

matt6765

I agree with every one more plants. But for my guppies I use a breeder box.

Bad Wolf

you could get java moss or hornwort, that gives more chance of survival if the fry are born in the main tank.

marksuttonjr

Some people get away with using breeder boxes, but far more people on various forums that I frequent end out with dead females, and or aborted batches of fry.

Another option. Most likely the best option IF you think you want to keep as many fry as possible. Set up a small tank with nothing except a heater and a sponge filter. Put the female in it several days before you expect her to drop her fry. As soon as you notice that she has had the drop return her to the comunity tank and leave the fry to themselves several weeks feeding them the best foods that you have available. To reduce stress on the mother fill the tank with water from the tank she is in rite before putting her in it. Also keep the sponge filter running in your comunity tank when this birthing/quarentine/fry tank is not in use. Tha way your tank will be cycled as good as it is gonna get as soon as it is setup.

Tony G.

i used to use breeder boxes and it stressed the female, after i just let her give birth in the main tank.

ryanherbst

they just went fine without anything, none of the other fish bother them, mostly because i give them a huge diet

peacemaker92

Hi Ryan,

Glad your fry are doing fine. Hope to see some photos of them soon.