Guppy Breeding - Has Anyone Had Any Guppies Breed?

@clownfish (3272)
United States
June 1, 2007 6:56pm CST
Hi! I just got the most beautiful female guppy today. She's almost the exact same coloring as my male tequila sunrise guppies. I was just wondering, if any of you have had guppies breed, did you have to do anything special, like create any special conditions in the tank, or do they breed easily? I think it would be wonderful to have some babies just like the tequila sunrise guppies. I'd love to hear your stories and experiences. :-)
4 people like this
8 responses
• United States
3 Jun 07
Put plenty of fine leaved live aquatic plants floating on the surface of the tank fo the babies to hide in and also where infusoria and other live foods will be avaliable for hhtem to feed on. Make sure that you feed them fine foods and also make sure to do partial water changes often (once or twice a week at 20 to 30% with dechlorinated water. Make sure to keep the parents well fed (it will keep them from eating as many of thier own young).
@Signal20 (2281)
• United States
3 Jun 07
Good point, forgot to mention that as well-the never ending guppies breeding lol :)
• United States
3 Jun 07
I for got to mention tha the females can store sperm for several monthand give girth to several broods by having contact with a male only once.
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Jun 07
If you want to have any babies survive then you need to put the African Butterfly fish in another tank or the babies will be food for him/her.
@Signal20 (2281)
• United States
3 Jun 07
Most guppies and other livebearers are prolific breeders, and you don't need to do much other then keep the water quality good. I've only kept male guppies, didn't want to be overrun with them lol. If they were in a tank with males, they're probably already pregnant. A lot of the females now have beautiful colors like the males, sometimes it's almost hard to tell the difference. If you intend to keep the babies, I'd get either a breeders net that hangs on the side of the tank to keep the babies in till they're big enough. The parents and other fish tend to eat the babies. Or, you could get some plants for the bottom-java moss works great for them to hide in, and it's easy to keep/grow.
@RESGuy (859)
• United States
3 Jun 07
Yeah well most small and large scale breeders have several tanks to breed. There is the male tank, the female tank, the selective breeding tanks, the baby raising tank, the female isolation tank, etc. So it isn't always as easy as it sounds depending on the species and also the quality. Show guppies are much more fragile and sensitive than your common guppy.
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
2 Jun 07
Our guppies breed non-stop. You do have to be watchful though. The male guppies will attack the babies. Once they are born if you leave them be some will survive. As the tank gets more crowded, the odds will decrease and you will have to put the little ones in a baby holder if you want them to live. FYI when a female guppy gives birth she doesn't have all of the babies at once. She will have the rest about a month later. If you miss once batch, you should be able to catch the next one.
@clownfish (3272)
• United States
11 Jun 07
Hi! I didn't know that! My female is pretty hefty looking. Perhaps she is between batches, too. :-)
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
2 Jun 07
Some years ago we had some guppies. They will breed in a regular aquarium.I have known some people that have had them breed in a gallon jar. Many females are cannibalistic. So you need to have a place for the fry to hide and escape from her. another way to keep the fry is to net them out of the tank with the mother and put them in a sepertat container.
@clownfish (3272)
• United States
11 Jun 07
Hi! I'm glad to hear that. I normally wouldn't go out of my way to breed guppies, but this particular breed (tequila sunrise) I have taken a liking to and would love to have more of. I do have a breeding net, so I'll be ready if I see little ones swimming around! :-)
1 person likes this
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
11 Jun 07
Good luck with you breeding program for the guppies.
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
2 Jun 07
I use to breed guppies many years ago. My suggestion place the babies in another tank, so they get plenty to eat and grow quickly. The babies will grow faster on baby fish food. I sold guppies for several years and do miss them.
@clownfish (3272)
• United States
11 Jun 07
Hi! Thanks for the suggestions! I do have a breeding net ready, so as long as I could catch them LOL they could stay in the same tank with mommy and daddy :-)
@RESGuy (859)
• United States
3 Jun 07
Well I have had 'feeder' guppies breed before and that was pretty cool :) I love guppies they are so easy to breed and interesting. I like LiveBearers in general though. Hopefully I will have a school of Endler's in my next tank :D
@clownfish (3272)
• United States
11 Jun 07
Hi! Well, I normally wouldn't want to breed them, but I just like this particular species (tequila sunrise). I think it would be a great experience for my daughter, too. I wish my blood parrots could breed, but I don't think that's ever gonna happen (most of them are reported to be sterile). If you don't mind my asking, what are Endlers? :-)
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Jun 07
I have never even owned guppies but I would love to see if you succeed. Let us know please?
• United States
17 Jul 07
I tried both the net and plastic breeding trap for birthing the babies. In the net the mother can get to the babies and eat them very easily. With the plastic box type, they swim to the bottom and there is a plastic grille with vents so that unless they swim back up, there wont be a problem. When she is finished giving birth, just put her back in the regular part of the tank. You can tell when she is done because she will no longer be shaking herself from side to side. The birthing process can sometimes take up to a whole day depending on how many she is having. Be sure to pick up some powdered fry food for the babies. I have seen the tequila sunrise in the aquarium section at super walmart before. Best of luck to you.