Need cheap Predator to EAT guppies fast!!

[Guy]

Help!
I recently cycled my 55g planted tank w/ a couple of dozen feeder
guppies from the LFS for only $2. Now, after many netting attempts, I
can't catch the remaining half-dozen females who have been joined by
at least a hundred fry. I have a nice set-up with driftwood and
plants, CO2, canister filter. But, these last mother guppies need to
go NOW so I can go with the big mollies and some tetras.
What economically priced predator fish will eat those up the fastest?
I'm willing to spend 6-10 bucks/fish (up to 2). Hopefully, the LFS
would take back the predators after the job is done.
My tank is at 80 deg.(due to summer and light for plants), pH 7.0, and
kH 11.
I recommend Phoenix Tropical Fish or Pets Inc. in Tempe for all you
Phoenix area aquatic fanciers.

[Sajjad Lateef]

On Thu, 18 Sep 2003 13:47:21 -0700, Guy wrote:

> What economically priced predator fish will eat those up the fastest?

An Oscar, Jack Dempsey or similar large cichlid.

[Jeff Pratt]

Guy wrote:

> Help!
> I recently cycled my 55g planted tank w/ a couple of dozen feeder
> guppies from the LFS for only $2. Now, after many netting attempts, I
> can't catch the remaining half-dozen females who have been joined by
> at least a hundred fry. I have a nice set-up with driftwood and
> plants, CO2, canister filter. But, these last mother guppies need to
> go NOW so I can go with the big mollies and some tetras.
> What economically priced predator fish will eat those up the fastest?
> I'm willing to spend 6-10 bucks/fish (up to 2). Hopefully, the LFS
> would take back the predators after the job is done.
> My tank is at 80 deg.(due to summer and light for plants), pH 7.0, and
> kH 11.
> I recommend Phoenix Tropical Fish or Pets Inc. in Tempe for all you
> Phoenix area aquatic fanciers.

Unless you're looking at the smaller tetras (IE: cardinals, neons, etc)
then they should do the job just fine on the fry. Big mollies may also be
useful here. Otherwise, the rule of thumb is: If it can fit in their
mouth, they'll eat it. (With obvious exceptions for plecos, etc.)

The other option is just to make a trap out of an old pop bottle. simply
cut off the top just below the shoulder (where the walls become
perpendicular) turn it around an re-insert it. (don't forget to clean the
bottle, remove the lid, etc.) put some food in the trap and wait fo the
fishies!

Jeff

[Michael]

Use a better net ? I'm sure an oscar would prolly take care of them,
make sure it's big enough. A fairly mature oscar would have them all for a
mid morning snack.

Michael

"Guy" > wrote in message
om...
> Help!
> I recently cycled my 55g planted tank w/ a couple of dozen feeder
> guppies from the LFS for only $2. Now, after many netting attempts, I
> can't catch the remaining half-dozen females who have been joined by
> at least a hundred fry. I have a nice set-up with driftwood and
> plants, CO2, canister filter. But, these last mother guppies need to
> go NOW so I can go with the big mollies and some tetras.
> What economically priced predator fish will eat those up the fastest?
> I'm willing to spend 6-10 bucks/fish (up to 2). Hopefully, the LFS
> would take back the predators after the job is done.
> My tank is at 80 deg.(due to summer and light for plants), pH 7.0, and
> kH 11.
> I recommend Phoenix Tropical Fish or Pets Inc. in Tempe for all you
> Phoenix area aquatic fanciers.

[Splitskull]

LMAO

--

Splitskull

"Michael" > wrote in message
...
> Use a better net ? I'm sure an oscar would prolly take care of them,
> make sure it's big enough. A fairly mature oscar would have them all for
a
> mid morning snack.
>
> Michael
>
> "Guy" > wrote in message
> om...
> > Help!
> > I recently cycled my 55g planted tank w/ a couple of dozen feeder
> > guppies from the LFS for only $2. Now, after many netting attempts, I
> > can't catch the remaining half-dozen females who have been joined by
> > at least a hundred fry. I have a nice set-up with driftwood and
> > plants, CO2, canister filter. But, these last mother guppies need to
> > go NOW so I can go with the big mollies and some tetras.
> > What economically priced predator fish will eat those up the fastest?
> > I'm willing to spend 6-10 bucks/fish (up to 2). Hopefully, the LFS
> > would take back the predators after the job is done.
> > My tank is at 80 deg.(due to summer and light for plants), pH 7.0, and
> > kH 11.
> > I recommend Phoenix Tropical Fish or Pets Inc. in Tempe for all you
> > Phoenix area aquatic fanciers.
>
>

[sexandcheerios]

Don't listen to them about the Oscars! They will destroy your plants even
when young as they try to aquascape the tank more to their own liking. Ask
the folks at Phx Tropicals as they have been the most helpful people I have
ever met here in the Phx metro area. They suggested silver lyretail mollies
to take care of a nasty algae problem in my planted community tank. I
doubted them seriously but bought a pair anyway and the algae was gone
within a week! They know their stuff and they will take back your predator
after it finishes off the guppies and give you store credit so even if they
suggest an expensive fish they will allow you to trade it in and stock your
tank with the credited funds.

[Andre]

I had silver mollies to control thread algae but the spent more time chasing
and eating small fry.
A couple of larger males (will not produce fry) will do the trick by getting
into the smaller places. Also, if you buy any larger cichlid the store may
not want it back.
Andre
"sexandcheerios" > wrote in message
...
> Don't listen to them about the Oscars! They will destroy your plants even
> when young as they try to aquascape the tank more to their own liking. Ask
> the folks at Phx Tropicals as they have been the most helpful people I
have
> ever met here in the Phx metro area. They suggested silver lyretail
mollies
> to take care of a nasty algae problem in my planted community tank. I
> doubted them seriously but bought a pair anyway and the algae was gone
> within a week! They know their stuff and they will take back your predator
> after it finishes off the guppies and give you store credit so even if
they
> suggest an expensive fish they will allow you to trade it in and stock
your
> tank with the credited funds.
>

[sexandcheerios]

My silver mollies don't touch the hair algae! It's getting to be quite a
pain in the backside. They have eaten all that stuff that grows on the
plants though. Anyone have a suggestion for the hair algae? The ottos don't
seem to like it that much either. Even the rubber lipped pleco isn't making
a dent in it! Currently I am removing it manually and this is quite a task.
Maybe I should move my pair of Flag fish from their tank. The Flag tank is
pretty much algae free (then again this could be due to lower lighting in
that tank).

[Reg]

On Fri, 19 Sep 2003 19:08:01 GMT
sexandcheerios > wrote:

> My silver mollies don't touch the hair algae! It's getting to be quite a
> pain in the backside. They have eaten all that stuff that grows on the
> plants though. Anyone have a suggestion for the hair algae? The ottos don't
> seem to like it that much either. Even the rubber lipped pleco isn't making
> a dent in it! Currently I am removing it manually and this is quite a task.
> Maybe I should move my pair of Flag fish from their tank. The Flag tank is
> pretty much algae free (then again this could be due to lower lighting in
> that tank).
>


Hair algae? See ameca splendens. They can get a little aggressive and chew on softer plants tho. But the DO eat a lot of hair algae.

[NetMax]

"Guy" > wrote in message
om...
> Help!
> I recently cycled my 55g planted tank w/ a couple of dozen feeder
> guppies from the LFS for only $2. Now, after many netting attempts, I
> can't catch the remaining half-dozen females who have been joined by
> at least a hundred fry. I have a nice set-up with driftwood and
> plants, CO2, canister filter. But, these last mother guppies need to
> go NOW so I can go with the big mollies and some tetras.
> What economically priced predator fish will eat those up the fastest?
> I'm willing to spend 6-10 bucks/fish (up to 2). Hopefully, the LFS
> would take back the predators after the job is done.
> My tank is at 80 deg.(due to summer and light for plants), pH 7.0, and
> kH 11.

Medium sized Angelfish. Easy to find, easy on your plants, easy to catch
later. A Betta will also take care of the fry, but not the larger
Guppies.

A Columbian Needlenose would do it too and be lots more fun to watch :~),
as would most any large enough fish, but all things considered, the
Angelfish will do it very well.

NetMax

[Sue]

> > plants, CO2, canister filter. But, these last mother guppies need to
> > go NOW so I can go with the big mollies and some tetras.
> > What economically priced predator fish will eat those up the fastest?
> > I'm willing to spend 6-10 bucks/fish (up to 2). Hopefully, the LFS
> > would take back the predators after the job is done.
> > My tank is at 80 deg.(due to summer and light for plants), pH 7.0, and
> > kH 11.
>
> Medium sized Angelfish. Easy to find, easy on your plants, easy to catch
> later. A Betta will also take care of the fry, but not the larger
> Guppies.
>
> A Columbian Needlenose would do it too and be lots more fun to watch :~),
> as would most any large enough fish, but all things considered, the
> Angelfish will do it very well.
>
> NetMax

Or larger tetras like Congos, bleeding hearts or Buenos Aries (sp?) would
eat fry & be ok in the tank.
Most fish will eat guppy fry if they can swallow them easily.

Sue

[IDzine01]

A Betta will also take care of the fry, but not the larger
> Guppies.

A Betta will go into defense mode with guppies because they'll feel
threatened. I wouldn't put one in there. It'll stress the betta.

[Jim]

On Thu, 4 Mar 2004 22:46:52 -0500, "NetMax"
> wrote:

>
>"Guy" > wrote in message
om...
>> Help!
>> I recently cycled my 55g planted tank w/ a couple of dozen feeder
>> guppies from the LFS for only $2. Now, after many netting attempts, I
>> can't catch the remaining half-dozen females who have been joined by
>> at least a hundred fry. I have a nice set-up with driftwood and
>> plants, CO2, canister filter. But, these last mother guppies need to
>> go NOW so I can go with the big mollies and some tetras.
>> What economically priced predator fish will eat those up the fastest?
>> I'm willing to spend 6-10 bucks/fish (up to 2). Hopefully, the LFS
>> would take back the predators after the job is done.
>> My tank is at 80 deg.(due to summer and light for plants), pH 7.0, and
>> kH 11.
>
>Medium sized Angelfish. Easy to find, easy on your plants, easy to catch
>later. A Betta will also take care of the fry, but not the larger
>Guppies.
>
>A Columbian Needlenose would do it too and be lots more fun to watch :~),
>as would most any large enough fish, but all things considered, the
>Angelfish will do it very well.
>
>NetMax
>
I used to have a Jack Dempsey that loved guppies of any size. He was
real easy to care for.

Jim

[TYNK 7]

>Subject: Re: Need cheap Predator to EAT guppies fast!!
>From: (IDzine01)
>Date: 3/5/2004 2:35 PM Central Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>
>A Betta will also take care of the fry, but not the larger
>> Guppies.
>
>A Betta will go into defense mode with guppies because they'll feel
>threatened. I wouldn't put one in there. It'll stress the betta.
>

I've kept many a male Betta in with fancy gups.
In 26 yrs....I've only had a few males that went after Gups. However, in each
case except one of them, the Betta was going after a particular color...nothing
to do with the fan tail of the fancy males.
The other male couldn't be housed with any living thing. Very rare though.