Need something to eat fry

[Ali Day]

Can anyone recommend a fish that will eat fry, without hassling any other
fish in my 170 gal community tank.
Ph 6.9 - 7.1
Temp 27
dH 12

Taking into account 'crap factor' I have equivalent of 98 inches of fish in
the tank.

My wife wanted a couple of guppies in the tank and even though my tank is at
the edge of their recommended environment, they are now breeding like crazy
and another few weeks of this and my tank will be over run.

[Mean_Chlorine]

Thusly "Ali Day" > Spake Unto All:

>My wife wanted a couple of guppies in the tank and even though my tank is at
>the edge of their recommended environment, they are now breeding like crazy
>and another few weeks of this and my tank will be over run.

You don't really need anything to eat fry, the population will reach a
steady-state at the carrying capacity of the tank.
That said, if you still want something... Angelfish would be my first
choice. They're not effective enough to wipe out the guppies, but will
decimate them.

Other possibilities would be e.g. cardinal tetras or dwarf cichlids.

[Ali Day]

"Mean_Chlorine" > wrote in message
...
> Thusly "Ali Day" > Spake Unto All:
>
>>My wife wanted a couple of guppies in the tank and even though my tank is
>>at
>>the edge of their recommended environment, they are now breeding like
>>crazy
>>and another few weeks of this and my tank will be over run.
>
> You don't really need anything to eat fry, the population will reach a
> steady-state at the carrying capacity of the tank.
> That said, if you still want something... Angelfish would be my first
> choice. They're not effective enough to wipe out the guppies, but will
> decimate them.

I want to leave plenty of space in the tank for future additions, in the
last week alone I've seen about 20 - 30 more new fry from just three
females, with 10 'adolescent' guppies in there already, it's going to become
mayhem if I stop them soon,

> Other possibilities would be e.g. cardinal tetras or dwarf cichlids.

I have a pair of Rams in my tank and as curious as they are, aren't even
going near the fry, but Cardinals would work well in my community, will pick
some up this evening and give it a try.

Thanks

A

[NetMax]

"Ali Day" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Mean_Chlorine" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Thusly "Ali Day" > Spake Unto All:
>>
>>>My wife wanted a couple of guppies in the tank and even though my tank is
>>>at
>>>the edge of their recommended environment, they are now breeding like
>>>crazy
>>>and another few weeks of this and my tank will be over run.
>>
>> You don't really need anything to eat fry, the population will reach a
>> steady-state at the carrying capacity of the tank.
>> That said, if you still want something... Angelfish would be my first
>> choice. They're not effective enough to wipe out the guppies, but will
>> decimate them.
>
> I want to leave plenty of space in the tank for future additions, in the
> last week alone I've seen about 20 - 30 more new fry from just three
> females, with 10 'adolescent' guppies in there already, it's going to
> become mayhem if I stop them soon,
>
>> Other possibilities would be e.g. cardinal tetras or dwarf cichlids.
>
> I have a pair of Rams in my tank and as curious as they are, aren't even
> going near the fry, but Cardinals would work well in my community, will
> pick some up this evening and give it a try.
>
> Thanks
>
> A


Another option is a Betta. You should also stop feeding for several days
for the hunt to be worthwhile for the predators.

I find that letting the tank reach population equilibrium is a little
tricky. There are many constraints which act to influence their rate or
reproduction as they approach over-population pressure, and an aquarium is a
difficult environment to safely maintain at that point. If you are running
a single filter system for example, filter maintenance is more likely to
cause a mini-cycle than would happen in a normally loaded tank. For
overstocked tanks, I usually keep to one species, run multiple filters, feed
more and sometimes use airstones, however doing all these things allows the
population to increase to a higher threshold, so you see the conundrum.
They consume any increases in your operating margins ;~). It's better to
throttle them back earlier, such as limiting their food supply, but not
everyone is capable of doing this.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[spiral_72]

I'd let them grow.... Take a couple of the biggest out and donate them
to the LFS when you go. Maybe they will let you trade em' in on food or
something you need. If you continue to remove the most mature fish,
it'll seriously stunt the reproduction thing..... Just an idea.

My Aquaria pics & info at:
http://www.geocities.com/spiral_72/Spirals_page.html

[Tynk]

NetMax wrote:
> "Ali Day" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "Mean_Chlorine" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >> Thusly "Ali Day" > Spake Unto All:
> >>
> >>>My wife wanted a couple of guppies in the tank and even though my tank is
> >>>at
> >>>the edge of their recommended environment, they are now breeding like
> >>>crazy
> >>>and another few weeks of this and my tank will be over run.
> >>
> >> You don't really need anything to eat fry, the population will reach a
> >> steady-state at the carrying capacity of the tank.
> >> That said, if you still want something... Angelfish would be my first
> >> choice. They're not effective enough to wipe out the guppies, but will
> >> decimate them.
> >
> > I want to leave plenty of space in the tank for future additions, in the
> > last week alone I've seen about 20 - 30 more new fry from just three
> > females, with 10 'adolescent' guppies in there already, it's going to
> > become mayhem if I stop them soon,
> >
> >> Other possibilities would be e.g. cardinal tetras or dwarf cichlids.
> >
> > I have a pair of Rams in my tank and as curious as they are, aren't even
> > going near the fry, but Cardinals would work well in my community, will
> > pick some up this evening and give it a try.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > A
>
>
> Another option is a Betta. You should also stop feeding for several days
> for the hunt to be worthwhile for the predators.
>
> I find that letting the tank reach population equilibrium is a little
> tricky. There are many constraints which act to influence their rate or
> reproduction as they approach over-population pressure, and an aquarium is a
> difficult environment to safely maintain at that point. If you are running
> a single filter system for example, filter maintenance is more likely to
> cause a mini-cycle than would happen in a normally loaded tank. For
> overstocked tanks, I usually keep to one species, run multiple filters, feed
> more and sometimes use airstones, however doing all these things allows the
> population to increase to a higher threshold, so you see the conundrum.
> They consume any increases in your operating margins ;~). It's better to
> throttle them back earlier, such as limiting their food supply, but not
> everyone is capable of doing this.
> --
> www.NetMax.tk

Of course being The Betta lady, lol...I'd go with the Betta. Either a
male or female,doesn't matter as both are equally good hunters.
You'll never..I mean never have a population problem with a Betta in
the tank. = )
Just make sure those Neons aren't tiny enough to fit into it's mouth or
they'll be snacks too.
If you were thinking of Angelfish, I'd say no unless it was no larger
than a quarter ($.25 not sure of you're in America or not), and that
doesn't include fins...just their body size.
Angels can open their mouths larger than you'd think. It's generally
not recommended to house them with Neons or Cardinals as they get
eaten. However, if bought young, and introduced into a tank that
already has *fully grown* Neons (or Cardinals), they learn these are
tank mates, not food. After that all new Neons would have to be fully
grown, and any new Angels would have to be quarter body size or less as
well.

[Elaine T]

Ali Day wrote:
> Can anyone recommend a fish that will eat fry, without hassling any other
> fish in my 170 gal community tank.
> Ph 6.9 - 7.1
> Temp 27
> dH 12
>
> Taking into account 'crap factor' I have equivalent of 98 inches of fish in
> the tank.
>
> My wife wanted a couple of guppies in the tank and even though my tank is at
> the edge of their recommended environment, they are now breeding like crazy
> and another few weeks of this and my tank will be over run.
>

I have a weather loach (dojo loach) that's scarfing down all the baby
mollies in one of my tanks. I've had clown loaches that I suspected of
eating fry in a community tank as well.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[NetMax]

"Brian" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> "Ali Day" > wrote:
>
>> Can anyone recommend a fish that will eat fry, without hassling any other
>> fish in my 170 gal community tank.
>
> I've used some of the larger tetras for this. I've personally used
> Buenos Ares tetras, and diamonds to keep down unwanted livebearers, but
> any of that general type would probably do.
>
> B
>
> --
> Brian Heller


Buenos Aires tetras would probably be great at fry control, but they are a
bit of a nuisance themselves. They might rule in a 170g. I would've
thought that the Diamonds wouldn't get large enough but I've never tried
that combination.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[NetMax]

"Brian" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> "NetMax" > wrote:
>
>>
>> Buenos Aires tetras would probably be great at fry control, but they are
>> a
>> bit of a nuisance themselves. They might rule in a 170g. I would've
>> thought that the Diamonds wouldn't get large enough but I've never tried
>> that combination.
>
> My diamonds are nearly as big as the Buenos Aires tetras I had. I had
> four of them in a 38 gallon, and they were indeed the premier fish in
> the tank.
>
> B
>
> --
> Brian Heller


Lucky. It's not unusual to find large Buenos Aires tetras around here, but
big Diamond tetras (2.5") would be a treat to see. I had this 130g tank
which I used to change around to showcase different fish. In my plans was
to do a planted tetra tank using shoals of about 10 each, Flame, Diamond,
Bleeding Heart, Black Skirts, Pristella, Lemon and Serpae. Notice that
their body shapes are all very similar. I was very curious as to how they
would group.

I came close to a tank like this when it was a Discus tank (with Pristella,
Cardinals and a few others as tank-mates). The tank was too calm, and the
tetras stopped shoaling and just wandered around without a care in the
world. Next time I'll add in something which could be perceived as a
threat, like a half dozen Congos, Three-line or Buenos Aires tetras, or some
giant danios to keep every one a bit more on their toes (fins?).
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Ali Day]

"Ali Day" > wrote in message
...
> Can anyone recommend a fish that will eat fry, without hassling any other
> fish in my 170 gal community tank.
> Ph 6.9 - 7.1
> Temp 27
> dH 12
>
> Taking into account 'crap factor' I have equivalent of 98 inches of fish
> in the tank.
>
> My wife wanted a couple of guppies in the tank and even though my tank is
> at the edge of their recommended environment, they are now breeding like
> crazy and another few weeks of this and my tank will be over run.


Thanks NetMax, Tynk and everyone else for your suggestions, I also went
asked the one guy in the LFS I can trust so ended up with

5 Diamonds tetras
7 Cardinals
5 Leopard danios

And maybe a betta at the end of this week Tynk ;)

They seem to be disappearing, but I've had another 10 or so born in the last
few days. What is the gestation of the guppy I seem to be seeing about 10
new ones every 10 days from three females, and more growing as we speak.

[NetMax]

"Ali Day" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Ali Day" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Can anyone recommend a fish that will eat fry, without hassling any other
>> fish in my 170 gal community tank.
>> Ph 6.9 - 7.1
>> Temp 27
>> dH 12
>>
>> Taking into account 'crap factor' I have equivalent of 98 inches of fish
>> in the tank.
>>
>> My wife wanted a couple of guppies in the tank and even though my tank is
>> at the edge of their recommended environment, they are now breeding like
>> crazy and another few weeks of this and my tank will be over run.
>
>
> Thanks NetMax, Tynk and everyone else for your suggestions, I also went
> asked the one guy in the LFS I can trust so ended up with
>
> 5 Diamonds tetras
> 7 Cardinals
> 5 Leopard danios
>
> And maybe a betta at the end of this week Tynk ;)
>
> They seem to be disappearing, but I've had another 10 or so born in the
> last few days. What is the gestation of the guppy I seem to be seeing
> about 10 new ones every 10 days from three females, and more growing as we
> speak.


About 28 days iirc, so the numbers sound right for 3 medium sized Guppies.
Those numbers should double with adult Guppies ;~), but they do take the
occasional month off.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Elaine T]

Ali Day wrote:
> "Ali Day" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>Can anyone recommend a fish that will eat fry, without hassling any other
>>fish in my 170 gal community tank.
>>Ph 6.9 - 7.1
>>Temp 27
>>dH 12
>>
>>Taking into account 'crap factor' I have equivalent of 98 inches of fish
>>in the tank.
>>
>>My wife wanted a couple of guppies in the tank and even though my tank is
>>at the edge of their recommended environment, they are now breeding like
>>crazy and another few weeks of this and my tank will be over run.
>
>
>
> Thanks NetMax, Tynk and everyone else for your suggestions, I also went
> asked the one guy in the LFS I can trust so ended up with
>
> 5 Diamonds tetras
> 7 Cardinals
> 5 Leopard danios
>
> And maybe a betta at the end of this week Tynk ;)
>
> They seem to be disappearing, but I've had another 10 or so born in the last
> few days. What is the gestation of the guppy I seem to be seeing about 10
> new ones every 10 days from three females, and more growing as we speak.
>
FWIW, I put a betta in with a shoal of cardinals once. The mild
mannered littl ecardinals suddenly turned into a pack of vicious
fin-nippers and I had to get the betta out of there fast! I've seen
bettas and cardinals cohabiting in other tanks so this doesn't always
happen, but you might want to have a backup plan for the betta.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[NetMax]

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
.. .
> Ali Day wrote:
>> "Ali Day" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>
>>>Can anyone recommend a fish that will eat fry, without hassling any other
>>>fish in my 170 gal community tank.
>>>Ph 6.9 - 7.1
>>>Temp 27
>>>dH 12
>>>
>>>Taking into account 'crap factor' I have equivalent of 98 inches of fish
>>>in the tank.
>>>
>>>My wife wanted a couple of guppies in the tank and even though my tank is
>>>at the edge of their recommended environment, they are now breeding like
>>>crazy and another few weeks of this and my tank will be over run.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks NetMax, Tynk and everyone else for your suggestions, I also went
>> asked the one guy in the LFS I can trust so ended up with
>>
>> 5 Diamonds tetras
>> 7 Cardinals
>> 5 Leopard danios
>>
>> And maybe a betta at the end of this week Tynk ;)
>>
>> They seem to be disappearing, but I've had another 10 or so born in the
>> last few days. What is the gestation of the guppy I seem to be seeing
>> about 10 new ones every 10 days from three females, and more growing as
>> we speak.
>>
> FWIW, I put a betta in with a shoal of cardinals once. The mild mannered
> littl ecardinals suddenly turned into a pack of vicious fin-nippers and I
> had to get the betta out of there fast! I've seen bettas and cardinals
> cohabiting in other tanks so this doesn't always happen, but you might
> want to have a backup plan for the betta.
>
> --
> Elaine T

LOL on image of marauding Cardinal tetras expressing their dark inner
piranha feelings ;~). I can see this happening though.
--
www.NetMax.tk