General Care Discussion :: The fish are cracking me up

[industrial_girl_2000]

As you guys know, I have a new hatchling in a 20gal tank setup & I put some fish in there for food, company, amusement, whatever. I started off with 10 and am down to about 8 of the original guppies (one died, and the other one, well, I think I can guess....).

It seems like everyday I come home to find *another* baby teeny tiny itty bitty baby guppies in there swimming & trying to get away from the bigger guppies. I'm up to FOUR of these babies now, and I know they weren't in the bag with the other big fish when I brought them home from the store because I was very cautious to take each fish out individually to put it in the tank (I didn't want that poopy fish water in my fresh tank)! I have been trying to figure out where the babies are coming from since I have done several partial water changes where I remove any debris from the bottom of the tank. Maybe they came from the plants? I don't know. I just thought it was funny since I am thinking that I *definitely* got my money's worth when I bought those feeder guppies. If this continues, I will never have to buy guppies again!

Anybody else have any funny fish stories they would like to share?

[SpotsMama]

Isn't that nice? Self sustaining guppies.

I think sold you a mom-to-be.

[grey goose]

I have one Rosy Red that made my kids look like the Keystone Cops. All three would chase this guy around and around the tank, banging into each other and things in the tank, splashing and pushing and shoving.....but they just could not catch him! This went on for about a week (sometimes at 3AM). I finally had to give him a home in the isolation tank, with a coffee mug and some anacharis. He's a big fat guy now, and considered part of the family.......

[scripta_elegans]

I think one or more of the guppies were pregers when you bought them too. They are live bearers, so the babies just magically appear. at least that's what happened to me.

[grey goose]

Be careful...guppies breed like roaches.

[industrial_girl_2000]

I think one or more of the guppies were pregers when you bought them too. They are live bearers, so the babies just magically appear. at least that's what happened to me.

Wow, thanks Scripta! I did not know that!!! Great info.!

ESPECIALLY since I am up to FIVE teeny baby guppies now (as of last night).....!

Be careful...guppies breed like roaches.

Mmmmmmm, Sheba & Prog thinks those "roaches" are tasty!

[missibsu]

Here's some more information for you

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5310

[mkoby]

Kristin,

If you become overrun with guppies, let me know. I would be more than happy to take a few off your hands or your turtles plate! lol

[industrial_girl_2000]

Thanks for the info, Missibsu!

mkoby: stay tuned, I may have some guppies for you soon at the rate I am going.....

[daredevilgirl013]

My turtle eats the babies I think. But they do multiply like rabbits. How they can keep going at it I'll never know.

But I started out with a dozen and now I probably have over 6 dozen in the tank. It's just never ending and she isn't eating them fast enough. And those buggers are hard to catch too with a net even.

And the hard part is, I have to feed them because I have a Rosy Red, a Swordtail, and a Barb in there that can't just eat whatever..the Rosy Red is a spoiled minnow who hangs out with the barb and the sword tail just does whatever. So they have to be fed fish food, and my oh my do the swarms of guppies come up for that.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Yeah, I noticed they are really hard to catch with a net too! It takes me about 20 minutes to just catch one. All the while, I am sure the other fish are just laughing at me, in particular this one very large guppy who I am SURE is a male since he is very pompous.....

After reading everything here, I am going to try to catch the bigger ones & stick them in with Sheba. They won't last long with her.

[turtle_nz]

so are guppies in the US the same as everywhere else? the lil fish with the colorful tails? I might have to get some for my tank if they are that great at breeding!

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/3321/guppies8rc.jpg

[lotsofpets]

The big, fat guppies are the females (and most likely pregnant), and the smaller, more colorful guppies are the males. I'm sure Sheba will enjoy those fat female guppies!

[daredevilgirl013]

The pictures you put up turtle are of fancy guppies. They cost a lot more compared to feeder guppies. They are from the same family though.

Feeder guppies lack the bright tails, basically replace that fancy tail with a plain grey tail and tahdah. You've got guppies. The males though will have little strips on their backsides and a colorful dot or two. And they are a lot smaller compared to the females.

[turtle_nz]

we can only get the colored ones here, as people don't really use them for feeding... is it still ok to feed the fancy ones?