CJ's Guppies

I have tried many times to set up a suitable breeding tank for malaysian trumpet snails with little to no success. I am discovering that there are several key factors in successfully breeding malaysian trympet snails.

1 - Give them plenty of room. Mine do well in 5+ gallons, anything smaller and they just never seem to grow up.
2 - A well established tank helps. If you can set up your tank 1-2 months in advance of adding the trumpet snails, it will be tremendously beneficial. The longer the tank has been setup (with fish, they're important), the move debris and algae the snails have to much on. The move food they have, the faster they grow.
3 - Filtration is important. Yes, they are only snails, but snails need good water quality and movement as well. They are more active when there is a steady current.
4 - Keep fish in your snail tank. the fish food and other fish waste helps keep your snails well-fed and multiplying.
5 - Live plants help too. I recommend bushy plants, such as java moss which is capable of holding many micro-organisms the snails will munch on.
6 - Calcium. This is very very important to snail healthy, growth and reproduction. I simply feed my snails the vacation feeders that are made up primarily of a calcium compound. However, it is good to use the "liquid Calcium" designed for marine tanks. However, only use it in a half-dose for freshwater tanks.

So there I was in the Wal Mart fish supply aisle...

Seriously, today I bought another filter, a 25 lb bag of gravel and a really cool castle decoration. After I drained, cleaned and re-setup the "new" 10gal, I got to thinking. I was just sitting there, watching the mystery snail crawl on the new castle, and thinking. It was really quite pleasant.

I thought about how I could downsize my tanks again. There are only three types of fish that I really want to keep: Goldfish, Endlers, Wild guppies. This really could be compacted down into three 10 gallon tanks.

The tank I set up today was originally going to be for guppies, and I was going to setup a different one, with different decorations for the goldfish. Then I decided that I don't need any more guppy tanks and that this should be my goldfish tank.

Simplistic:
10g - 1 mystery snail, 2 goldfish
10g - Endler's
10g - Wild guppies

Planned:
55g - Fancy guppies (until I pay off the cost of the tank and fish, about $100)
55g - Mixed Endler's
55g - Undetermined
29g - Wild Guppies
29g - Center Stripe Endlers
20g - Multis
20g - Wild Gups and Mystery Snails
20g - White Clouds
20g - Wild Gups
10g - Cherry Shrimp
10g - Plants and Wild Gups
10g - Wild Gups
10g - Goldfish
5g - Trumpet Snails and Wild Gups
5g - Skunk botias

If I need to downsize:
55g - Endlers (all)
55g - Wild Gups
55g -
29g - Fancy Gups
29g -
20g - Multis
20g -
20g -
20g -
10g - Cherry Shrimp
10g - Goldfish
10g -
10g -
5g -
5g -

This past week, I have been designing a spreadsheet to keep better records of my fish. Since I'm upgrading tanks as I move the fish back to Rolla, I need to keep track of filters, heaters and such equipment so I don't find myself short.

I recently purchased nearly 5 dozen feeder/common guppies. Two dozen are residing in a 32 gallon rubbermaid tub pond with some java moss and Anacharis. The rest are spread throughout my apartment to cycle the tanks. I setup a 29gal in the kitchen just for them.

Despite the flowing fins and bright colors of the fancy guppies, I still find myself drawn to the commons. I do want to improve their colors a little bit without losing the interesting patterns, small size and simple fins. I think that once I get a breeding population established, I will mix in an Endler or two.

I also setup another blog to sell my fish, plants and extra equipment. I would have made it a website, but I don't want to spend the money. http://cjs-aquatics.livejournal.com

I acquired this plant from another aquarist on April 23, 2007 and added it to my 2.5gal unfiltered shrimp aquarium. It seems to be growing quite well under the 15W spiral flourescent lighting, having nearly doubled in just two days. It floats just below the water's surface, and is considered to be a duckweed.

Info for the Aquarist -
Scientific Name: Wolffiella gladiata
Common Name(s): Mud-midget, Florida mud-midget
Temperature: TBD
PH Level: 5-8
Light Level: Low-high
Growth Rate: Fast
Difficulty: Easy
Tank Position: Floating
Origin: United States

Photos taken 04/23/07

I setup a 1 gal tank for breeding Malaysian Trumpet Snails. It consists simply of a couple handfuls of random gravel I had laying around, a small lava rock, two sprigs of anacharis, a touch of Java Moss, two sprigs of Najas (Guppy Grass) and a few bits of duckweed. I added a dozen MTS. Some are much smaller than others, and at the moment, I can only count 9. I already picked out one hitchhiking ramshorn. I mixed half an algae wafer into the gravel to give the tank a jumpstart. The gravel was already cycled, so I'm not too worried. Plus the plants are there to absorb that stuff anyway. The tank is steady at 74 deg F, room temp.

My goal is to not have to change the water for the next three weeks, and then only every few months after that. Adding water as necessary.

I've been doing my research on John Endler, and found out that he discovered the Poecilia wingei (Endler's livebearer) while researching wild guppies and evolution.

Guppy Gallery - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/sex/guppy/gallery.html

Now, I have decided that I am going to work with my common/wild guppies and my new Endler's to create something similar to what would happen in the wild (except not). Guppies and Endlers are found in the same ponds and streams, and undoubtedly interbreed there. The result is determined by natural selection. There's no selective breeding in the wild.

It's impossible to study evolution in captivity. However, it is entirely possible to force evolution, (ex. fancy guppy).

I included the "Guppy Gallery" link to show just a few of the many variations John Endler found while doing his research.

The HB female isn't looking too good. I'm going to do a small water change and see what happens. The fry are already coloring up, showing the HB. They're only 4 days old!

Last night I splurged on another 5g and 15 endler's. I'm going to put all the females in the 5g with some males (2:1). The rest of the males, I'm going to cross with female commons. I might be looking at another 5, lol.

These 5s look very nice, don't cost too much, and take far less space than a 10. Plus I can keep more tanks, keeping the fishies separate. Plus, I'm sure I can load them up with plants that are easily moved.

I found a baby sailfin molly. The adults sell for 9.75 ea and I got my baby for 10 cents. w00t!
Also found another red wag platy baby.

Ten or so fry survived (so far) from my HB female. I'm going for the "survival of the fittest" until August. Looks like there's some new babies in the common/micariffe tank too.

Redecorated a 10g and moved the platies in. Also found a handful of platy babies while I was moving them.

The 2.5g that I was going to give to mom has become my official platy fry tank.

I absolutely cannnot wait for the new Java Ferns to arrive. I'm going to crowd as many as possible into the goldfish tank. Just spent $3 or so on some petrified wood to tie them too. Plus I freed up several pieces of driftwood.

Also, I'm getting a 14" or so Amazon Sword. Ultimately, it's going in the 55, but until then, I'm going to have to make a space in the 29.

Got a butt-load of Najas today. It's far more than I need in the 5g drop tank. Hopefully, I'll be able to sell some of it on Guppies.com. Not really trying to make much, just need to get rid of it. Might end up taking it to the LFS this week.

* Off to get my arms wet!!

New "feeder" fry. Only about 10 or so. I haven't actually bothered to count. I knew it was going to happen. Mom was looking huge and I did a water change.

Started breaking down and combining tanks. In the process, I re-thought which tanks I was going to take home and leave here. Mark says I can leave a couple tanks with him. I really don't want to take so many tanks with me, and I want them to be as small as possible. I can just bring the gups back as soon as they get big enough and put them in one of the tanks I'm leaving with Mark. I'm giving a 2.5g to my mom with a trio of commons.

taking::
bettas
2.5g - ???
5g - goldies
5g - hb trio
5g - rcs
10g - guppy fry

leaving w/ care::
29g - community (moons, gups, neons, white clouds, etc)
20g - plecos and community (moons, gups, etc)

We got rid of those damn convicts!!

I planted the tanks they were in (a 10 and 29) and got a trio of moons for the 10 and a trio of swordtails for the 29. The marigold wag sword started popping out babies no more than 2 hours after I got her home. Eventually, I plan to move my five cories into the 29 with the swords.

I ended up with about 40 new fry today. Last night I did water changes and commented on how large two of the females were looking. The both gave birth this morning. One HB gave me 30 or so, and a common gave me 9. It's pretty exciting, but I think my baby bristlenose are eating/killing fry

Now that I have more tanks than I care to count, I need to decide which are most important, and how to best use them.

55g - Community
29g - Favorite "show" guppies
20g - Moons and Fry
20g - Plecos and "fish for sale"
15g - Dwarf Hamsters
10g - Common Guppies and Fry
10g - Goldfish
10g - HB Fry
5g - HB Trio
5g - Common Trio
5g - Common Fry
5g - RCS
3g - RCS
2.5g - ???
2.5g - ???

Where to put them?

55g - has stand, living room
29g - will get stand, living room
20g - Moons, dresser, bedroom
20g - plecos, rack, fish room
15g - bookshelf, bedroom or living room
10g - commons, rack, fish room
10g - goldies, stand, kitchen
10g - hb fry, rack, fish room
5g - trio, rack fish room
5g - trio, rack fishroom
5g - fry, rack, fish room
5g - rcs, desk, living room
3g - rcs, file cabinet
2.5g - dresser
bettas - coffee table

So... I need to design a rack for which tanks?

20g, 10g (x2), 5g (x3)

How many tanks do I own that don't fit into this plan?

**coming soon**

How I'm dealing with my tanks over the summer...

TAKING:
29g - Community
20g - Moons and fry
10g - Guppy Fry
5g - HB Trio
5g - Common Trio
5g - Cherry Shrimp
2.5g - ???

LEAVING W/ CARE:
Goldfish 10g
Plecos 20g

LEAVING W/O CARE:
10g - Crypts
10g - Crypts, Anubias, Moss and Vals
2.5g - Crypt & Moss

BREAKING DOWN -
55g, 20g, 10g, 5g (x3), 3g (x3), 1.6g (x3)

My goldies have ich! I know I shouldn't have cleaned that tank so well when I got it. Of course, it was going to go through a mini-cycle and the fish would suffer. It started when I noticed it on the Comet. I started raising the temp and worked up to a 0.3% salinity yesterday. Everyone was looking perkier when I went to bed.

This morning I found the comet on the counter next to the tank. Dumb fish. I was going to get rid of him anyway, but I didn't really want him to die. At least my three commons have stayed put. I'm going to find a cover for the tank, at least while I'm doing the salt/heat treatment.

*Note to self: Salt kills algae

**Coming Soon**

I'm setting up to move and start breeding a specific line. After discussing it with my buddies at guppie.com, I have decided to go with a line of common guppies. My goal is to improve the tail shape without losing the endearing traits of the common guppy, including: hardiness, color, and size. I have picked my trio, two common females and one yellow micariffe male. I'm waiting for the females to give me their next two drops of fry before I start saving them for breeding.

I drew up a "plan" the other day, and will post it soon. I will carry three lines at a time, but will not start the third line until I return to Rolla in August. Looks like I will need four 5 gallons, four (divided) 10 gallons and a community tank.

Now I just need to figure out how to keep my tanks looking decent with dividers in them.

I have decided that it is not unreasonable to keep common guppies in a bowl. Before Christmas I set up a .5g vase with a single common guppy (male), a pond snail and a bunch of Java Moss. No aeration or filteration of any sort. I fed the guppy every other day for a couple weeks before I left for the holiday. Then I just left it. I came back on Christmas Eve, found a happy guppy and a HUGE pond snail. So I removed the snail and gave the guppy some fresh food. When I got back after the new year, the guppy was still happy as a um... guppy.

While I think that common guppies can live a happy life in a room temperature bowl, I do not think that the same holds true for fancies. After I got back, I replaced the common guppy with a fancy. He didn't fare so well.

Today, on a whim, I purchased one of those PennPlax divided betta keepers. I planned to make a mini moss-scape in it without the extras (gravel, divider, etc). It's a great shape for a tiny planted tank. Anyway, I got it home, setup the moss floor, back and sides and then stared at it for awhile.

It holds about .4 gallons of water. I figure that with the current quantity of moss it could support one very small critter. In this case, a common guppy fry, only about a week old. As the guppy grows, so will the moss. All should keep itself balanced for awhile anyway. Yes, I will do weekly or bi-weekly maintence.

Just thought I would share my thoughts. This is the only place I can really talk about my fish happenings. Seems that no one else I talk to actually cares.

And on a completely random note, I got my first RCS today (about 5 min ago to be exact).

1 Gallon Bow Front

Flora: Rotala rotundifolia, Pearlgrass, Crypt Wendtii 'Mi Oya'
Fauna: None

2.5 Gallon Bow Front

Flora: Java Moss
Fauna: Male Betta

2.5 Gallon (Standard glass)

Flora: Java Fern
Fauna: 3 White Clouds, 1 Julii Cory, 1 Female Betta

5 Gallon Hex

Flora: Water Sprite, Java Moss, Marimo Ball
Fauna: Tiger Barb, Cherry Barb

5 Gallon Hex

Flora: Java Moss, Marimo Ball
Fauna: 10 Young Male Guppies

5 Gallon Hex

Flora: Java Fern
Fauna: None

5 Gallon Hex (non-standard)

Flora: None
Fauna: None

5 Gallon Bow Front

Flora: Christmas Moss, Pearlgrass
Fauna: None

10 Gallon

Flora: Wisteria, Cabomba carolinia, Green Hygro, Watersprite
Fauna: Guppy fry, 2 Albino Corys

10 Gallon

Flora: Wisteria, Green Hygro, Banana Plant, Java Moss, Marimo Ball
Fauna: 7 Young Adult Guppies, 2 Bronze Corys

10 Gallon

Flora: Java Fern, Watersprite, Crypt Wendtii 'Mi Oya', Java Moss, Marimo Ball
Fauna: 3 Half-Black Guppies, 1 Albino Cory, 1 Julii Cory

10 Gallon

Flora: Giant Hygro, Java Fern, Dwarf Sag
Fauna: None

10 Gallon

Flora: None
Fauna: Convict Pair

10 Gallon

Flora: Wisteria, Java Fern, Dwarf Sag, Crypt Wendtii 'Mi Oya', Marimo Ball
Fauna: 2 Pink Convicts, 2 Dark Convicts

10 Gallon

Flora: Java Moss
Fauna: Golden Mystery Snails, Black Mystery Snails, baby mystery snails, 4 Feeder Guppies

10 Gallon

Flora: None
Fauna: 3 Moons

20 Gallon

Flora: None
Fauna: None

29 Gallon

Flora: Lily plants, Aponogeton, Giant Val, Giant Hygro, Anacharis
Fauna: 100+ Convict Fry

29 Gallon

Flora: Java Fern, Java Moss, Red Hygro, Giant Val, Rotala rotundifolia, Anacharis, Aponogeton
Fauna: 1 Black Molly, 2 Danios, 2 Red Tail Sharks, 1 Blue Gourami, 1 Black Widow Tetra, 1 Albino Cory, 1 "Emerald" Cory, 2 Australian Rainbows, baby mystery snails

29 Gallon

Flora: Giant Val, Corkscrew Val, Green Hygro, Red Hygro, Dwarf Sag, Dwarf Lily, Crypt Becketti, Crypt Wendtii 'Mi Oya', Wisteria, Cabomba carolina, Pearlgrass, Java Fern, Watersprite, Temple, Marimo Ball
Fauna: 2 Peppered Corys, 5 Neon Tetras, 2 Moons

Since I thinned out my guppies today. I can hold off on the new tank for a little while, but I still plan to get it fairly soon, so it will be cycled and ready to go as soon as I have fish for it. I think I can get another 5g hex for $35 all decor and equipment included. Now I just need to find some space for it. This will be the grow-out tank for females. It's almost tempting to put it in my bedroom since I do have the space, but if I did that I'd want more than one. I have some time to figure it out and save up for it.