Need Help Here

[TheOldSalt]

That growth rate isn't too unusual under good conditions.

The decapsulation method you found is okay. Look around some more and you'll find a few others. Most of them will have the core points matching, but will differ in cumbersomeness. This method you found will work fine, but I think you can find an even easier one with some searching.

Oh one more thing-- you said your water conditions were Pristine. Is this the same soft pristine water in which you are growing your softwater plants? If so then that's part of your problem. Guppies are certainly not softwater fish. Native San Angelo water should, however, be pretty much perfect for them right out of the faucet if it's anything like San Antonio's water. ( once dechlorinated and aerated, of course ) I've been to San Angelo many times, by the way.

[ni317]

I used the coffee grinder for makeing fine powder out of flake food
I use Kens fish food also.Most the time I buy a 1/2 pound of 3 or 4 types mix small amounts of each and them make it in to a fine powder
Diana

[jones57742]

TOS:

Originally Posted by TheOldSalt

Oh one more thing-- you said your water conditions were Pristine. Is this the same soft pristine water in which you are growing your softwater plants? If so then that's part of your problem. Guppies are certainly not softwater fish.

Yes I know.
That is the reason "this go round" I purchased fry instead of grown "high dollar" adults.
I hope that acclimating them in the two 5G tanks will work.
I really, really do hope that this will work: some platties are nice but "nothing like" high end show guppies.

Originally Posted by TheOldSalt

Native San Angelo water should, however, be pretty much perfect for them right out of the faucet ...

Problem here is two fold:
1) Our potable water is typically too hard for my plants and
2) our water is produced from several surface reservoirs but is not commingled.
Hence when our Water Department changes the reservoir source of our raw water the water parameters change significantly and virtually instantaneously.
Due to 1) and 2) above I installed an RO unit which I had plumbed into my sump.

Originally Posted by TheOldSalt

if it's anything like San Antonio's water.

This really surprises me as I "had always believed that" the Edwards Aquifer water was reasonably soft in that only a small portion of the recharge is generated through Edwards Plateau limestone.
I appreciate your noting this.

Originally Posted by TheOldSalt

I've been to San Angelo many times, by the way.

God's country ain't it?


Diana:

Originally Posted by ni317

I used the coffee grinder for makeing fine powder out of flake food
I use Kens fish food also.Most the time I buy a 1/2 pound of 3 or 4 types mix small amounts of each and them make it in to a fine powder
Diana

Do you think that a coffee grinder "will work" for beef heart, fresh fish, shrimp, green peas, etc.
If so you may have just solved my "blender problem" (ie. controlling the size of the food).

TR

[ni317]

I dont know about useing a coffee grinder for that nd food but I am wanting to get away from jared baby food for my 6 month old and ran across this
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index...entPage=family
Witch would make small amounts of food and costs only a few bucks more than a good coffee grinder
Diana

[jones57742]

Folks:

So far so good.

Feeding much more than during week one is necessary in that the quantity of food which is consumed during 5 minutes is much greater than during week one.

I am considering going from the brine shrimp and squid blend to frozen brine shrimp and beef heart recipe this weekend due to the current size of the fish.


Diana:

I appreciate the post.

TR

[guppybreeder!]

Originally Posted by ni317

I have never been able to keep any guppies with out salt.....
Diana

really? i have never kept my guppys with salt and the do just fine.

[emc7]

Diana, guppybreeder what is your water's hardness? Support my theory that guppies need either hard water or salt.

[emc7]

salt witch is not good for angels

Angels can adapt to salt in the water, I've never kept a cichlid that couldn't. I would be concerned with harming tetra and plants.

[jones57742]

Originally Posted by emc7

I would be concerned with harming tetra and plants.

emc and folks:

I have never had a problem, that I am aware of, with the tetras or plants at a salt concentration of 1Tblspn/20Gal.

I have also never had a problem, once again that I am aware of, with any of my fish or plants when I found it necessary to induce "serious salt concentrations" but the induction was in accordance with the protocol set forth at
http://www.fishforums.com/forum/fyi-...xas-style.html

"Things are going well" as I can actually see all the guppies with my 55 year old eyes and glasses from my computer area in my living room.

As I have previously indicated it is very disappointing to walk into the barber shop and see a tank with guppies not only surviving but also procreating and the proprietor does not have have a clue as to what a WC is and the mechanical & biological filtration media has not been rinsed since the tank was set up.

Yall have indicated that hardness and or salt may be required but I "am just hoping" (and so far so good) that the fry will acclimatize to my very soft tank water.

I have began feeding my home made mixtures and "so far so good".
Should I occasionally be feeding flakes?

Thanks
Ron Jones

[TheOldSalt]

The barber shop is most likely using water from the faucet without any special treatment, that is, water much harder than yours, which is what guppies like.

You are trying to adapt your fish to your water, and you should expect a modicum of success from that, but I really have to stress again that you'll have much MORE success if you just give the guppies what they want. If you think your water is simply too hard, then here's an idea: Mix up a tankful of water which is 1/2 superhard raw water from your unfiltered tap, and 1/2 filtered water. The happy medium you get should be pretty much perfect. Your guppies should be kept by themselves anyway for best results, so don't worry about what your other fish will think. If you do this, your guppies will reward you with superior performance. You paid a bundle for good genes, so why not let those genes get expressed to their fullest potential?

Flakes on occasion, or even once a day, are a good idea. Flakes are fortified with all sorts of nutrients and minerals your staple squid/shrimp diet will be lacking.

[jones57742]

TOS:

I appreciate the input

TR

[guppybreeder!]

Originally Posted by emc7

Diana, guppybreeder what is your water's hardness? Support my theory that guppies need either hard water or salt.

im not sure but it is probably pretty mid range. mabe on the harder side...

[happykitsune]

Originally Posted by jones57742

Folks:

I have spent a ton of $'s on guppies ranging from LiveAquaria to "high end show guppy trios".

Even in my "pristine water conditions" they have all died and my angels were not "aggravating them".

With a loaches order I have also ordered 10 each of two types of show guppy juvies.


I anticipate:

setting up two 5G "fancy tanks" which is in my garage,

siphoning water from my main tank to the 5G tanks,

adding the guppies,

setting up a siphon system from my main tank to the 5G tanks and out of the 5G tanks to the sink,

feeding them with flakes, brine shrimp and beefheart recipe

and growing them to near adulthood before putting them in my main tank.

Does anyone believe that this "will work" and if not then "what do I need to do"?

Hehe, this just goes to show you that even in the most perfect conditions you can't always keep fish alive.

I personally think they'll live longer if you keep them in less than perfect conditions. It strengthens they're will to live.

Sry bout ur fish.

[jones57742]

Folks:

I appreciate everyone's input in this thread.

Things are going good.
The guppies, as well as the loaches, are growing and I have had no losses.

Most of the guppies appear to over 1" with a few over 1.5".

I "never figured" that 1.0" to 1.5" guppies would be breading.

I have observed the serious chasing and two females appear to be pregnant.

Unfortunately the ratio of females to males is approximately 1.5.
I have "not figured out" how I am "going to deal with this yet".

TR