Because guppies reproduce very readily in captivity, they often become the first fish that new hobbyists breed. As a result, if you know other aquarium owners, there is a good chance you'll be offered some baby guppies, usually referred to as fry. You might even end up with some in your own tank despite not making deliberate attempts to breed the fish. The tiny guppy fry are not especially difficult to raise, but they do need slightly different care than the adults. Diet in particular is not the same for baby guppies as for mature or semi-grown individuals.
Instructions
1. Prepare a nursery tank. A 10-gallon or larger tank is suitable and it should have the exact same conditions as your main freshwater tropical tank with the exception of the filter, which should not be too powerful. Alternatively, position a fry net in your main tank as per the instructions.
2. Catch as many of the fry as you can with the aid of one or two nets. You probably will not be able to catch all of them.
3. Transfer the fry to the nursery tank or the fry net.
4. Feed the fry, including any that remain in your community tank, on a combination of tiny live food, such as newly-hatched brine shrimp and daphnia (water fleas), and dried food specifically for fry. As they grow, increase the size of the food items, but bear in mind that they still need more protein than adult guppies. Feed them as much as they can eat within a few minutes and at least four times a day, perhaps in the morning, at lunchtime, in the late afternoon and in the evening. Don't allow leftover dry food to remain in the tank.
5. Conduct partial water changes on a weekly basis, as you probably already do for your main tank. A gravel cleaner with a tube and a bucket make this process relatively effortless.
6. Release or transfer the juvenile guppies into your main tank after about two months, at which point they should be too big to become lunch for your other fish. Of course, as Doctors Foster and Smith point out, double check that the juveniles are bigger than the mouths of your largest fish first. If in doubt, keep them in the breeder net or nursery tank for a little longer.
Tags: your main, main tank, nursery tank, your main tank, baby guppies