question about guppy's...

HI was wondering if anyone knew anything about fish especially guppys.

I recently bought 4 guppys 2 male and 2 female, and it looks like the 2 females are pregnant! they're floating to the top and their belly's have a dark spot kind of. I don't want any little ones so if I don't put a breeder net or separate them will they eat their own fry or will the other fish eat the fry?

I'm still new to fishes etc buy my local store is where I get my fish room and the guy knows what fish I already have in my tank.

I would prefer not having loads of little ones I did not know that most of the females are aleady pregnant when bought!

I already have in my tank :-

1 three spotted gourami
1 dwarf gourami
1 red eye tetra
1 clown loach
1 catfish
1 siamese fighter
2 serpae tetra
and
1 platy

plus the 4 guppy, 2 male and 2 female.

any advice and suggestions anyone please?

 

I know a little bit about guppies

In your tank with the fish you have very few if any guppy fry will make it as they will get eaten!

You really should have 3 female guppies for each male. If you want to keep guppies but not have fry you should exchange your 2 females for 2 more males.

But how big is the tank you have all these fish in?

Bettas in community tanks make for 'interesting' tanks how is yours shaping up?

 

what size tank is it because if its like 40g- its too small and the clown loach likes to live in groups of three but they get to about 8in-14in but stay only around 10in in the aquarium

 

will having 4 male guppys cause problems? ill take them back 2moro I only bought them earlier today. my tank is 24 x 14 does that help?

 

that makes it <20 gal you are going to have big problems!

The clue was the guppies always at the top sounds like you have an un cycled tank how old is it?

The Clown loach has to go back the cannot survive in you tank they get to about 12" each

What sort of catfish do you have?

The Betta should really be in a tank on its own!

The tetras need to be in schools of 5 or 6 each

Do you know about the nitrogen cycle?

You have had some REALLY BAD advice from your fish store

If you are prepared to take the advice folks here will offer we can help you get your tank and your fish under control but it will take a lot of work on your part as well.

what is the full tank size 24x??x?? once we have a tru tank size we can then advise on ehat fish you should keep and what you should return

 

Why does everyone buy loaches for tiny tanks? Seems like some aquariums will sell you anything to reduce stock. I see this more and more..disturbing. You have to do your research people. You're only going to have to end up returning fish or kill it due to overstocked tank. They are really nice fish and it's sad so many are misinformed:

 

Why does everyone buy loaches for tiny tanks? Seems like some aquariums will sell you anything to reduce stock. I see this more and more..disturbing. You have to do your research people. You're only going to have to end up returning fish or kill it due to overstocked tank. They are really nice fish and it's sad so many are misinformed:

most buy them because

1. they look cool
2. the LFS says "sure they will be fine for your tank" once the person asks about the "cool" fish

this is about learning and doing proper by the fish we have...research is the proper way to find out what will work and what wont, but being so hard on someone asking for help , won't help but that's my :

 

the female guppies will def go back 2moro, shall I take the clown loach back aswell? the red eye tetra is actually ok with the serpae tetra and gourami.

I have a common pleco catfish.

 

the female guppies will def go back 2moro, shall I take the clown loach back aswell? the red eye tetra is actually ok with the serpae tetra and gourami.

I have a common pleco catfish.

 

If I were you' here's what I'd do:

Take back the following fish:

1 three spotted gourami
1 clown loach
1 catfish (pleco)
All 4 guppies
1 platy

That would leave you with:

1 dwarf gourami
1 red eye tetra
1 siamese fighter
2 serpae tetra

You MUST take the siamese fighter (betta) out of the ank and give it its own! Then get 5 more red eyed tetras and 4 more serpae tetras.

That will have you about stocked!

 

i'd go with EITHER the red eye or the serpae, not both, and then increase the school of whichever you prefer to six.

the fish that definitely must be removed:
pleco
betta (siamese fighter)
3 spot gourami
clown loach

now, i'd say that you can return the two female guppies you have and get one more male guppy. I have 3 male guppies in my 10 gallon and they get along very well I personally think you should decide between the platy and the dwarf gourami (unless either have shown lots of aggression) to prevent some future squabbles in your tank.