Many wonder if gyppy fry can survive living with adult guppies or if they need to be separated.
There is no single answer to this, as various factors are in play.
In this article, we’ll explore the factors that determine whether guppy fry can thrive alongside adult guppies.
The Dangers of Keeping Guppy Fry With Adults
Guppies are well known for practicing filial cannibalism, where adult fish consume their own young.
This is especially common when the fish are stressed due to overcrowding or lack of food.
Fry are particularly vulnerable because of their small size, making them an easy snack for hungry adult guppies.
Also, adult guppies are much faster and stronger swimmers, meaning they easily outcompete fry when food is added to the tank.
Fry that can’t compete for food are likely to starve. These factors make keeping guppy fry with adults quite perilous.
Strategies to Help Guppy Fry Survive With Adults
While the odds are stacked against guppy fry, it is possible for some fry to survive living with adults.
Here are some key strategies to improve their chances:
- Provide plenty of dense planting and hiding spots. This gives fry places to evade hungry adults. Floating plants are ideal as fry tends to stay near the surface initially.
- Feed adults before introducing fry. Satiated fish are less likely to hunt fry.
- Feed frequently with high-quality foods. This prevents adults from becoming hungry enough to hunt fry.
- Maintain lower population density. The fewer fish in the tank, the lower the competition.
- Use a breeder box or net for the first few weeks. This protects the fry while allowing water exchange with the main tank.
Even with these precautions, survivability in the main tank is low, often 10% or less.
For best results, move pregnant females to a separate breeding tank before they give birth.
Survival Rates in Different Guppy Fry Environments
Breeding Tank
A dedicated breeding tank offers the highest survival rate for guppy fry, often 30-40%.
The controlled environment allows you to optimize conditions for fry growth and limit threats.
Maintain good water quality and frequent small feedings of fry food or infusoria.
Breeder Box/Net
Breeder boxes hung inside the main tank offer a moderately good survival rate of around 15-25%.
Fry are protected from adults but benefit from exchanging water.
Don’t keep fry cramped in boxes for too long, as it stunts growth. Move to the main tank after 1-2 weeks.
Main Tank
Allowing fry to remain in the main community tank with adults provides the lowest survival rate, just 10-15% on average.
Even with precautions, adults will hunt and outcompete many fry. Expect high losses, but some hardy fry will make it.
Key Factors for Guppy Fry Growth and Survival
- First month is critical – monitor water parameters closely
- Feed 4-6 small meals daily of high protein fry food or infusoria
- Maintain warm temperature around 78-80°F to encourage fast growth
- Do frequent partial water changes to remove waste and keep water clean
- Avoid overcrowding for healthy development
With diligent care, guppy fry can thrive, whether separated or kept with adults.
But separation provides the highest likelihood of raising the maximum number of fry to adulthood.
How Long Until Guppy Fry Becomes Adult?
Guppy fry grows rapidly in their first few months, reaching adulthood typically between 12-16 weeks.
However, factors like water temperature, nutrition, genetics, and tank conditions can speed up or delay growth.
With optimal care, guppies can reach maturity in as little as 8-10 weeks.
Signs that guppies have reached adulthood include:
- Males develop gonopodium for mating
- Females grow visibly larger in the abdomen when pregnant
- Both sexes reach a maximum adult size of 1.5-3 cm
Guppy fry doesn’t take long to mature sexually, but it’s ideal to wait until 3-4 months before allowing breeding.
This allows them to mature fully and produce the healthiest offspring.
For best results, use a separate breeding tank or move females before birthing.
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