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Livebearer Setups
#1
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As a curiosity--how do we, us, you, have your breeding set-ups. Do you have colonies, just a few fish, lots of adults, etc. etc. etc.???
For example, I once had 100+ tanks; now I have one livebearer tank in an apartment; and both my livebearers are in pairs, and dropping fry, and I'm leaving the young alone. When I had the massive set up, I used to transfer the adults out and back into a community tank.
This might be a means of expanding our collective experiences and open ourselves up to new ideas and methods.

Posted on: 2009/4/26 10:38
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Re: Livebearer Setups
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What are the specifics:
filter method
type of air pumps/aeration/tubing
water changes
rooms and setups
tank locations
lighting
tank sizes
planted or bare
multi-species or single species
plans for the future
And probably the most important question: do you use the turkey baster 364 days a year and only give it up for Thanksgiving gravy? [just kidding guys]

Posted on: 2009/4/26 11:10
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Re: Livebearer Setups
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Wow shadowhyrst 100+ tanks! I bet you had one heck of a water bill I'm not a breeder but I've been succesful raising Molly fry so I'll put in my two cents.

filter method: HOB biowheel type two per tank (only 1 for 10g tank)
type of air pumps/aeration/tubing: cheap tetra pumps and bubble curtain along back of tanks
water changes: 25% change per week using gravel vacuum only
rooms and setups: no shelves just 5 aquariums on stands
tank locations: out of direct sunlight
lighting: 6500k 65w CFL one per tank (27w for 10g tank)
tank sizes: 33g long (3x), 20g long and 10g
planted or bare: LOTS of fake plants, aragonite & puka shell substrate
multi-species or single species: both
plans for the future: setting up a 120g long tank
do you use the turkey baster: only for cooking

I used to have planted tanks but went all fake plants to simplify cleaning. Marine salt in every tank at 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons. My mollies and platies don't seem to eat fry, but my guppies are viscious hunters. I used to let the fry grow up in the main tanks but now use a "fry only" tank for much faster growth. No wild type strains just regular store bought mollies, guppies and platies. Again I'm not a breeder I only hope this info might help beginners out there. Got all my information from Mr. Bob Fenner and friends, everyone should visit his amazing website. Peace

Posted on: 2009/4/27 0:49
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Re: Livebearer Setups
#4
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I like to keep two males and four to six females for each of my strains in twenty gallon tank as breeders. I then remove females once they are close to dropping into a 5.5 gallon tank by themselves. Once they have dropped their fry I move the fry to a 2.5 gallon tank and allow the female to stay in the 5.5 gallon tank for another week to recover before I put her back into the breeding colony tank. The fry are then moved up to progressively larger tanks as they grow. All of my tanks are bare bottom and use sponge and box filters. I like to keep java fern in all of my tanks and I light the room with shoplights mounted on the ceiling. Here is a picture of my fish room from a few months ago to show you how I have it set up.

Attach file:



jpg  DSCN1592.JPG (0.00 KB)


Posted on: 2009/4/27 12:02
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Michael Miller
Fancy Xiphophorus Breeder
"If you can not be good atleast be good at it."
www.fancyswordtails.com
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Re: Livebearer Setups
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For the large goodeids, I use a colony breeding / flock breeding approach. I set up a decent 40 gallon plus tank with plantings and a sponge filter then get out of the way and wait for results. The easier goodeids that I have been breeding have worked well this way. Some of the common poeciliids work well in that kind of setup too. I usually just run a single species for the general tank occupants but have added in cories for the more peaceful livebearers to help with the excess food I tend to use when there are fry.
For mollies, I find the mollies are quite gentle with fry but the other fish in a community think they are sushi. Because all that I have are pet store mollies, I keep them in a community setup and only move the female to a drop tank of 10 gallons when I want to collect some fry. I don't worry too much about her grazing on fry and last time left her in the drop tank for two successive drops.
For maintenance, I am following some advice I had elsewhere and remove the mature adults to pass on while keeping the juveniles and fry to maintain my colony. When I remove most of the large fish, I usually experience a sudden explosion in colony numbers that settles down a few months later. It keeps my colony young and vigorous and gives other people a chance to have my breeders fill their tanks too.

Posted on: 2009/4/27 19:25
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Re: Livebearer Setups
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I got double use with the water--all of my water changes went to my vegetable garden, which was 64 x 8 in one are and about 40 x 20 in another...bountiful.

Good setup. I have gone to mostly plastic plants since I don't use a lot of lighting--usually indirect, so I appreciate the connection.

I worked with Bob Fenner a looooong time ago.
We were in the same fish club together when he was in High School--he was a very knowledgable 'kid' then, and then later we worked together in the same tropical fish store. Interesting guy, to say the least. And he sold me three incredible lava rocks I had lusted after where he worked--for a killer prices--and that was a great bonder!


Posted on: 2009/4/28 22:21
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Re: Livebearer Setups
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Good setup for growth...I can see your hobby expanding! I like the wooden stands; I've had some for 30 years now without significant incident, except rust on the bolts.

Looks like a room to relax in and watch your fish.


Posted on: 2009/4/28 22:24
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Re: Livebearer Setups
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A great way to 'recycle' your stock. It's always impressive to see colonies--it's looking into the wild; something too few of us get to experience.

Posted on: 2009/4/28 22:26
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