Guppies fighting?

[Ellen4God]

I have four guppies, and one has always seemed to be singled out (they're all males, btw). I was watching them a little bit ago, and the white one (singled out) and the orange one were doing what it looked like kissing. They were mouth to mouth, and just moving around the tank like that. Then, they started to back up and go at each other or something. It looked as if the orange one was nipping at the white one's fins. Then, the white one would "buck" at the orange one, making it back up. The orange one would do this weird thing by like swimming with its body sort of bent to the side and it would swim sideways around the white one. Does that makes ANY sense at all? lol

They're doing the mouth thing now. The white one seems to be chasing the orange on, which is making the orange on "lay" on its side in the water and sort of cower.

I'm not sure if that makes any sense at all. I reckon I'm just wondering what it would look like if they were, in fact, fighting. And if so, what do I do? Should I take one back? Should I just let them dish it out? I've had them for nearly a month now, I reckon.

[OscarFan]

Not good you should have more females or thier going to keep fighting

[Algenco]

they are getting very uh, er, frustrated. Normal for a group of bachelor guppies. They have absolutely one thing on their mind 24/7

[Ellen4God]

Well, I don't have any females at all - could that be a reason too? How many females should I have?

...Or, should I just take a couple of the males back and get something different? Have 2 guppies and then another type of fish as well. I really enjoy the guppies, but I don't want them fighting - and I also don't want to hear any pitter patter of little guppy fry fin!

[OscarFan]

what other fish do you got

[Algenco]

Well, I don't have any females at all - could that be a reason too? How many females should I have?

...Or, should I just take a couple of the males back and get something different? Have 2 guppies and then another type of fish as well. I really enjoy the guppies, but I don't want them fighting - and I also don't want to hear any pitter patter of little guppy fry fin!

they will be ok but not happy without females, 1m/3f minimum

[Ellen4God]

what other fish do you got

That's it. I'm currently cycling (I know I should be doing it fishless...), but I think the cycle is almost over. I won't get any other fish until it is finished, but I do plan on getting a couple otos once the cycle is finished to help with the algae. So, it's just the guppies now and then a couple otos after the cycle ends.

Should I take one or two of the guppies back now anyways just so they stop bickering?

[OscarFan]

If you like them get some 2 in fish after the cycle and they will eat any fry

[Algenco]

That's it. I'm currently cycling (I know I should be doing it fishless...), but I think the cycle is almost over. I won't get any other fish until it is finished, but I do plan on getting a couple otos once the cycle is finished to help with the algae. So, it's just the guppies now and then a couple otos after the cycle ends.

Should I take one or two of the guppies back now anyways just so they stop bickering?

its unlikely that they will cause any harm, actually adding more may spread the aggression out a little, I've seen all male tanks packed with very little aggression, most serious breeders keep m/f seperated

[Gawd_oOo]

"Well, I don't have any females at all - could that be a reason too? How many females should I have?"
- That is most likely the reason, You should really have 2-3 females for every male. If the numbers are equal or you have more males then females, the males stress out the females by chasing them around constatly with more females they get a break while the male is off chasing another one.

"...and I also don't want to hear any pitter patter of little guppy fry fin!"
- Then I would recommend not getting any females.

If you don't want baby guppies, but want the one white guppy to stop being picked on you could try adding a few more males, depending on the tank size and what else you have in it already. That would spread the horse play out and hopefully the one wouldn't be getting picked on as much.

[Ellen4God]

Thanks, ya'll! I reckon I have some thinking to do now about what I want to do. Not sure if I could keep what I have now, add a few more males, or take some back and get some females along with a couple bigger fish, or what. Not sure my 10g would support the later though.

[mitcore]

"Well, I don't have any females at all - could that be a reason too? How many females should I have?"
- That is most likely the reason, You should really have 2-3 females for every male. If the numbers are equal or you have more males then females, the males stress out the females by chasing them around constatly with more females they get a break while the male is off chasing another one.

"...and I also don't want to hear any pitter patter of little guppy fry fin!"
- Then I would recommend not getting any females.

If you don't want baby guppies, but want the one white guppy to stop being picked on you could try adding a few more males, depending on the tank size and what else you have in it already. That would spread the horse play out and hopefully the one wouldn't be getting picked on as much.

yes you should have at least 2 females to a male and as for the fry you could just get a bumble bee goby and he will keep the fry down, it will stop the agression

[Ellen4God]

yes you should have at least 2 females to a male and as for the fry you could just get a bumble bee goby and he will keep the fry down, it will stop the agression

Would a full grown bumble bee goby be okay in a 10g?

[Gawd_oOo]

Thanks, ya'll! I reckon I have some thinking to do now about what I want to do. Not sure if I could keep what I have now, add a few more males, or take some back and get some females along with a couple bigger fish, or what. Not sure my 10g would support the later though.

A 10g Tank can house a lot of guppies if you keep up on water changes.

My male tank has about 20-25 in it right now, some of the breeder tanks have 4 adult females, with 100+ fry.

[Ellen4God]

A 10g Tank can house a lot of guppies if you keep up on water changes.

My male tank has about 20-25 in it right now, some of the breeder tanks have 4 adult females, with 100+ fry.

Oh, wow. So, if I maybe talk with the lfs in town to see if they'd help me out and take the fry once they get a certain age, I could get some females and be okay with the fry? I'm just worried about being overwhelmed with babies! lol

[Ellen4God]

After reading some about the bumble bee gobies, I'm afraid they'll be too aggressive for even my adult guppies. I may be wrong, but I've read a lot about them being highly aggressive and territorial.

[Gawd_oOo]

yep, thats what I do with mine, tho I trade with a few different stores. I get credit with the stores and use that to get other supplies, mainly feeder goldfish for my piranhas, but I don't pay for anything for the aquariums any more.

Should mention I have Ten 10g tanks just for guppies..

[Ellen4God]

yep, thats what I do with mine, tho I trade with a few different stores. I get credit with the stores and use that to get other supplies, mainly feeder goldfish for my piranhas, but I don't pay for anything for the aquariums any more.

Should mention I have Ten 10g tanks just for guppies..

Wow! That's pretty amazing.

So, starting with what I have right now, which would be four male guppies in a 10g, should I then get 12 (WOW! that's a lot) females, or should I take one or two of the males back and then get 6 or 9 females? Keep in mind that I would still like to get a couple otos to help with the algae.

[Ellen4God]

Another question, if I do end up going with the female guppies and plan on getting fry, do I just leave them in the tank with the adult guppies, or would I need another tank for them? If so, would a 2.5g be okay? Or a 5g?

[OscarFan]

I would get about 8-10 females and the Otos

[Gawd_oOo]

Wow! That's pretty amazing.

So, starting with what I have right now, which would be four male guppies in a 10g, should I then get 12 (WOW! that's a lot) females, or should I take one or two of the males back and then get 6 or 9 females? Keep in mind that I would still like to get a couple otos to help with the algae.

Depends on how much you like the guys you have now, If you didn't want to get rid of any of them you could try buying 6 females, keeping your 4 males. If they are giving the ladies some resting time they should be ok. If not then you could take a male or 2 back.

[Ellen4God]

Depends on how much you like the guys you have now, If you didn't want to get rid of any of them you could try buying 6 females, keeping your 4 males. If they are giving the ladies some resting time they should be ok. If not then you could take a male or 2 back.

Okay. I could maybe take one back, but I'd rather try the 6 females first, I reckon. Would my tank be sufficient for the fry?

[Ellen4God]

I would get about 8-10 females and the Otos

So, that would be okay for my tank as well? Lots of options! lol

[OscarFan]

should be as long as you do weekly water changes and get rid of the fry

[Gawd_oOo]

Another question, if I do end up going with the female guppies and plan on getting fry, do I just leave them in the tank with the adult guppies, or would I need another tank for them? If so, would a 2.5g be okay? Or a 5g?

I leave mine in with the females, until they are big enough for me to tell if they are male or female. I only pull them out, because I want to select the best looking ones for breeding.

You could leave them in until they are big enough that the lfs would take them.

[Ellen4God]

I leave mine in with the females, until they are big enough for me to tell if they are male or female. I only pull them out, because I want to select the best looking ones for breeding.

You could leave them in until they are big enough that the lfs would take them.

You leave yours with the females? My males and females would be together. lol How long do you wait until you take them to the lfs?

[Ellen4God]

should be as long as you do weekly water changes and get rid of the fry

Okay, good. I'm good with my water changes..and hopefully I'll be getting a python at some point, so that'll help even more.

[Gawd_oOo]

You leave yours with the females? My males and females would be together. lol How long do you wait until you take them to the lfs?

The males would be fine with them as well.
It depends on the strain of guppy, I have some that mature quickly enough that I can take them in after 5-6 weeks, others can take 8 weeks before, they are showing enough color and size to get a fair price at the lfs.

If you aren't looking to get much, if anything for them, most lfs's would take them after 2-3 weeks.

[Ellen4God]

Another question. I have three males that look basically alike, just different in color (one all orange, one all blue, and another with blue and orange). My fourth guppy is a white one with a "split tail"...it has like a V tail or whatever. Should I take the white one back since it's a different kind of guppy?

Also, if I wait the 8 weeks to take them to the lfs, would they have already started having babies with each other?

[OscarFan]

If you can post a pic of that white one.

[mitcore]

yes they dont get big at all

[Ellen4God]

If you can post a pic of that white one.

You're in luck! Right when I read that, I looked up and the white one was swimming around the front of the tank, so I didn't have to hunt him out. Also, I have the light turned out already, and I didn't want to disturb them by turning it on again, so it's not the best picture, but you get the idea.

I took a couple...

[Gawd_oOo]

Another question. I have three males that look basically alike, just different in color (one all orange, one all blue, and another with blue and orange). My fourth guppy is a white one with a "split tail"...it has like a V tail or whatever. Should I take the white one back since it's a different kind of guppy?

Also, if I wait the 8 weeks to take them to the lfs, would they have already started having babies with each other?

Hard to say which ones to keep. The genetics of it are tricky. If you aren't looking to breed guppies, I'd keep the ones you like best.

Yes if you wait 8 weeks the will likely have breed already, but they won't have dropped their first batch of fry yet. That is usually at 10-12 weeks.

[Ellen4God]

Hard to say which ones to keep. The genetics of it are tricky. If you aren't looking to breed guppies, I'd keep the ones you like best.

Yes if you wait 8 weeks the will likely have breed already, but they won't have dropped their first batch of fry yet. That is usually at 10-12 weeks.

Oh, okay. So, they may start to breed around 8 weeks, but they won't have any successful pregnancies until about 10-12 weeks?


yes they dont get big at all

Yes to them breeding, or yes to me having enough room to keep them in the tank?

[Gawd_oOo]

They start to breed at 6-8 weeks and they don't have the babies for 4 weeks.

[Ellen4God]

They start to breed at 6-8 weeks and they don't have the babies for 4 weeks.

Oh okay! would it be bad to give the lfs pregnant guppies? lol

[OscarFan]

they would probably like it

[OscarFan]

You're in luck! Right when I read that, I looked up and the white one was swimming around the front of the tank, so I didn't have to hunt him out. Also, I have the light turned out already, and I didn't want to disturb them by turning it on again, so it's not the best picture, but you get the idea.

I took a couple...
wierd try breeding that one and see if all thier tails come out like that

[Ellen4God]

Ah, yeah. I reckon that means more guppies for them, eh?

[Ellen4God]

wierd try breeding that one and see if all thier tails come out like that

Okay. That would be interesting to see. Maybe I'll keep him at least for a bit to see what happens.

[OscarFan]

Must be a gene mutation

[Ellen4God]

Must be a gene mutation

Well, the store had a ton in the tank when I got him, and when I ran in yesterday to get a heater, they still had a ton. Pretty popular mutation!

[Gawd_oOo]

Oh okay! would it be bad to give the lfs pregnant guppies? lol

Most stores keep guppies in mixed sex tanks so it doesn't matter. They are normally pregnant buy the time you buy them. And they don't care if they are pregnant or not when you bring them in.

[Ellen4God]

Okay. So, I reckon I'll read up on guppies and breeding them and such even more now. I'll try to run by the lfs to see if I can catch the fish manager to talk about this. I'm not sure I want to get too far into it until I know they'll take the fry. lol

[Gawd_oOo]

Okay. So, I reckon I'll read up on guppies and breeding them and such even more now. I'll try to run by the lfs to see if I can catch the fish manager to talk about this. I'm not sure I want to get too far into it until I know they'll take the fry. lol

lol, yeah I think that is what I said, about 15 fish tanks ago...

Well, I'm off for the night. So, G-nite

[Ellen4God]

lol, yeah I think that is what I said, about 15 fish tanks ago...

Well, I'm off for the night. So, G-nite

Thanks so much for your help! It's greatly appreciated. I'll let ya know what happens when I talk with the lfs. G'night!