Guppies in planted tanks?

[andrewtyr]

For planted tanks to keep guppies, it's better to buy the guppies from central america and not those from Asia. PH level for guppies from Asia is 7> while those from Central America <7.

This will not apply if your planted tank has a ph level>7.

IMHO.

Yea, that was what I was thinking too when I saw the thread. But how do we get hold of Central American guppies? Are they alot less fanciful?
We really cannot condition the Asian guppies for <pH7?

[Franz]

My planted tank PH is 7, KH i think is about 8. I think guppies are pretty hardy species.

My double-tailed guppies just gave birth 1 after another. I got 2 males and 2 females.
1 female gave birth 2 weeks ago, 4 fries survived.

Another gave birth 2 day ago to at least 10 fries. Woohoo. I'm wondering how many will survive and how will they look like.

Now I can't remove my riccia and my floating plants, must let them have a place to hide. My tank is in a mess now, but I'm happy! YEAH.

Just wondering when they will overcrowd my 3ft tank.

[cherietung]

Yea, that was what I was thinking too when I saw the thread. But how do we get hold of Central American guppies? Are they alot less fanciful?
We really cannot condition the Asian guppies for <pH7?

Central Anerican Gupplies are sold in many LFS. It is not possible to condition the gupplies as they are not as hardy as their counterparts in the drainage system. Those sold in LFS are farm bred. If you happen to buy the wild caught ones, maybe it is possible for them to survive the low ph.

Sad but true.

[Rupert]

The pH in my tank is 6.6 [+/- 0.1] and my locally bread snakeskin guppies are thriving, breeding like crazy, I see new fry everyday. I haven’t had these guppies very long, but I guess the real test will be the life expectancy and mortality rate.

Selective culling of my guppies is probably only a few months away.

[hwchoy]

Central Anerican Gupplies are sold in many LFS. It is not possible to condition the gupplies as they are not as hardy as their counterparts in the drainage system. Those sold in LFS are farm bred. If you happen to buy the wild caught ones, maybe it is possible for them to survive the low ph.

Sad but true.

where can you get wild caught ones and what do they look like? "drainage system" do you mean our longkangs?

[Franz]

Drainage system probably mean longkang or local streams. I remember like 15 years ago, I caught some guppies and then throw them inside a seal up sink outside my house.

They seem to thrive without any help from me. Heh, they fed on algae, worms that crawled into the tank and probably also on rotting mango. All I had to do was to add water when it didn't rain for a while.

Most of them don't look pretty tho, they were tuff but lacks colors. Once in a while you will see a colorful one, but mostly they are dull grey or silver with spots of red/yellow.

Anyway, anyone knows whether they control their own population? Will they like stop giving birth or eat their own fries if the tank is overcrowded?

[Rupert]

I have seen them eat their own fry, but under crowded conditions.

I doubt guppies ever give up the desire to breed, male guppies have a one sex track mind