Nini Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 So.. I did an uber-clean of the tank again today (poop monsters hide poops *EVERYWHERE*).. and naturally I made my male pep super mad for bumping his breeding log (ever so slightly) and he pushed the female out of her spot on the driftwood and left her to clean the glass.. I don't remember her being that fat? Could I be over-feeding her (I should probably add here that she spends *all* her time on the driftwood...unless she's kicked out of her hidey-hole by the male when he's sulking), or should I start to hope for babies? (I think I've already started hoping.. heh)... I included the 2nd picture -- she's pooping.. So I think that rules out bloat -- right? They get cucumber every few days, and there's nothing with protein over 40% that goes in that tank (guppy flakes are 32, plec pellets are 38 ). I accidentally let the nitrates get a little high a couple of weeks ago (missed a water change for a couple of days, bad mummy )and have been doing 10-20% changes every few days for the last couple of weeks from the rainwater tank (they haven't had tap water for over a month because I'm scared of the water bill, lol). Did I unintentionally tell them it was rainy-baby making time? o.o (water added has been cold-cold and added slowly--my wrists hurt from bucket strain -.- ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TED Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 She looks healthy and yeh that rain water could be doing the trick. Fry could be coming. Not much else you could be doing for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nini Posted September 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 Well, that's that! I'M GOING BABY CLOTHES SHOPPING! I was about a day off catching all the guppy fry (there's about 20-30 of the little things) and putting them in a spare tank... should I not do that now, or move it up in priority? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaizen088 Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 (edited) She's definitely brooding. I'd be chucking in some IAL or Tech Den's Blackwater to get them going. I'm not gentle with the water changes (just pour it in) but the top up water is only 1-2 degrees lower than the tank temp. Edited September 11, 2013 by Kaizen088 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nini Posted September 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 Oh, I'm not normally gentle.. it was just a *lot* colder than the tank temp, and I'm paranoid about white spot from the guppies now.. so I try to stress them as little as possible (other than removing all the foxtail to cut it in thirds and replant it once a week so it's not wrapping itself around the heater/filter pipes, lol That stuff grows like crazy!!) Usually the bucket is empty within a few seconds and I have to fix the gravel crater <.< ..and replant half the tank.. Looks like a great excuse to go visit Techy's new shop! ..now to find the time >_> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TED Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 The guppys and fry wont bother the peps. I wouldnt jump the gun yet. Just be patient lol and it will happen. Wait till you got fry before you start moving things around if you need to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TED Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 I have never used chems to get my peps to breed. Just tap water and dechlorinater and heaps of logs. I even do 50% water changes sometimes to spur them on. Im doing 50% water changes at the moment on a weekly basis just to stay on top of things as my tank is overstocked with peps. Hopefully soon you will know what im talking about haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nini Posted September 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 Oh, it was more for the sake of reducing the white spot risk to the peps <.< lol.. less guppies in the tank, means I can play with the plants and not worry about stressing them out as much xD 30ish guppy fry (2 popped within a week of each other, and a few got eaten) and 5 adults.. that's a LOT of white spot risk!! lol I'll just leave it how it is -- fempep must be happy enough, or she wouldn't be fat, right? lol Oh man, that patience word.. So I can't catch them, put them into the log and cover it with my hand for a few minutes? XD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nini Posted September 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 Overstocked with peps sounds glorious :3 I have a 4x1x1ft tank that needs fish, and a 2ftx18x18 with sponge filters in it --that the peps were originally going to go in.. but they're in the garage and I like staring at my spotties while I'm watching TV/doing assignments.. So they'll probably get the tank in the lounge room to breed in <.< and the guppies are going in the garage, lol Chemicals worry me a little.. I'm still new to the whole thing and I feel like a new mum all over again "what's this? What's it do? Is it bad? Does it have any side effects? It's got to be poisonous--everything's poisonous" etcetcetc.. I would love an excuse to go to Techy's shop though.. Maybe I'll get some to put on my "just in case" shelf :3 (Along with 2 bottles of protozin, an egg tumbler, spare air pump and various other bits and pieces that we "need") ... and the shelf is more of a cupboard now..hah. ..Maybe I'll give them a couple days and do another water change <.< how long should I wait in between? o.o I have to move the driftwood to poop collect, and they both get rather flustered when that happens, haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TED Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 OK got ya. I have never had probs with white spot and live beareers (swordyz,endlers,mollies etc). But what works for one might not work for everyone. And yeah patience lol. mmmmmmmmmmm patience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TED Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 Maybe leave the breeding log alone untouched when you do a clean could help keep them settled. I personally dont move my breeding caves around when purging and cleaning. As for water changes try a bigger one than normal on your next regular water change. I only do one per week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaizen088 Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 When I first set up and got my colony of Pepps I tried everything to get them to spawn. In the end it came down to cold water changes, didn't matter if it's rain or tap water. My first spawn came on that first 37 degree day we had last year, I had set the chiller up the day before and they spawned on the morning of the 37 degree day. After that I just dropped the temp by 2 degrees every 10-15 days and they would spawn by the next morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nini Posted September 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 I think one female guppy had it from the LFS and decided to infect everyone after I bought them home.. But I did have my hands in the tank for about half an hour planting plants and moving the wood around the day after I got them (stupid newbie move, never again).. that and I didn't have a quarantine tank :3 Lots of dumb things in one go.. gave me whitespot for 3 weeks.. lost a male pep and a male guppy in the process, but everything is fine and happy since (touch wood). It's just made me slightly paranoid, and a lot more careful with them -- which is both good and bad..lol My son's endlers are happy and healthy and making babies in his tank with no troubles.. so we can't be TOO horrible to them xD haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TED Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 Yeah i leave my heaters at the same temp all year round and i have noticed that coming into the warmer months also helps get them going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nini Posted September 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 He's about 10cm, she's 8ish .. so I wasn't really 100% "she" was a she.. or if she would be interested in babies for a while yet.. lol The end-goal was a pep-filled blue-lit tank to stare at endlessly, but I was happy to watch them and the guppies do whatever.. I was kind of shocked when I saw her fat belly (then relieved when she pooped a few seconds later). Guppy influence is the key? haha I think the tank sits around 24-26 degrees.. rain water is in the shade on the side of the house, so the only heat would be from the hose (if it's attached) when it's left in the sun..and that's usually used to wash the buckets out before I fill them up. Is a chiller actually necessary? o.o Or is that just because they were in a hot room? ... I don't have a chiller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaizen088 Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 Chiller is only necessary if your tank temps get to 30 deg or over. Plenty if other options to keep tanks cool on the reall hot days. My rack was in a carport last year which would get really hot on a 30 deg plus day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nini Posted September 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 Ah, that's ok then This one's inside in the lounge room.. The air con would probably be turned on before the tanks got too close to 30 xD haha Perfect excuse to not move them into the garage xD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
