Things You'll Need
- Fry tanks (small aquariums)
- Filters
- Tulle or fine-mesh netting
- Rubber bands
- Tropical fish flake food
- Heating mechanism
Instructions
Fry Tanks
Cycle the fry tanks immediately, before birth if possible. The tanks are ready for fry when ammonia and nitrite levels are zero and nitrate is at 40 ppm or less. Set up the filter for the fry tank(s).
Cover the suction device on the filter with fine mesh netting. Secure with a rubber band. Small fry are easily sucked into the filter; the mesh prevents this.
Heat the tank to 80 degrees. Once the guppies have matured, you can lower the temperature back down to 78 degrees.
Add the fry to the tank. Grind tropical fish flakes into fine powder. Feed the guppies the powder several times a day. Newly hatched brine shrimp will also be devoured by the fry, and if possible should be fed to the guppies two to three times per week. The first four weeks of the guppies' lives are dedicated to developing muscle and their bodies.
Separate male and female guppies between 4 and 6 weeks of age. They are sexually active at 6 weeks old, although not considered adults until 6 months of age. Place one fish at a time in a small container, then examine the fish with a magnifying glass to differentiate between sexes. A female's gravid spot is often easier to spy than male sexual markers.