Do you need females? - Aquarium Advice

rickschabener · 11-14-2003, 07:37 AM

I have an all fancy guppy tank. I like the colors of the males. Do I need to have females in the tank or will a tank of all males "get along

?"

William · 11-14-2003, 08:59 AM

I don't know guppies..

but wouldn't alot of males in a tank result in territorial fighting?

TankGirl · 11-14-2003, 09:22 AM

Welcome to AA, and greetings from a fellow Metro Richmonder!

The thing about guppies is that if you do decide to introduce females, you would need 3-4 (at least) per male because the males will pester the females endlessly, and create a very stressful situation. That would mean you would have a less colorful tank, with only a few males and many females. Then you get babies, and an overstocked tank, in just about no time

I am no guppy expert, but maybe someone will chime in about males together. I certainly see them in the [acronym:70954bfafb="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:70954bfafb] all together, so maybe it can work. I have pondered this very issue myself because I really love the colors of the males.

grimlock3000 · 11-14-2003, 10:35 AM

It works good for me with just males in a tank. If I have more than one male in with my females, they will fight even with a 3 to 1 ratio.

Guppyman · 11-14-2003, 10:58 AM

Hi. It is not necessary to keep any females in with your male guppies. Just don't be surprised when the perform courtship rituals to one another.

- Guppyman

grimlock3000 · 11-14-2003, 10:59 AM

"Just don't be surprised when the perform courtship rituals to one another."

My males have tried mating with everything in my tank except the Pleco. Multiple times

ducas005 · 11-14-2003, 12:25 PM

Your guppies will not fight with each other just because they are also male. They will however fight each other over a female. 1 tank full of males = no problems. Add one female = big problem.

rickschabener · 11-14-2003, 01:27 PM

Thanks for all the responses.

Tankgirl: I was trying to find a polite way to say "pester the females" but decided that coming from a guy, it was better left unsaid.

Guppyman: I see that every day.

Yuk.

I have a 29 gallon for "show" and a 10 gallon for the rest/breeding. The 29 gallon tank really looked good with just the colorful males. But, I thought I had to have females so I added some. Now the males don't stand out as much. I guess all the females are headed for the bottom tank.

11-14-2003, 07:37 AM	#1
rickschabener Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 28 Images: 4	Do you need females? I have an all fancy guppy tank. I like the colors of the males. Do I need to have females in the tank or will a tank of all males "get along ?"

11-14-2003, 08:59 AM	#2
William Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 2,553 Images: 5	I don't know guppies.. but wouldn't alot of males in a tank result in territorial fighting? __________________ 30gal; Bala Shark, Pl*co

11-14-2003, 09:22 AM	#3
TankGirl Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2003 Location: Richmond VA Posts: 8,279 Images: 16	Welcome to AA, and greetings from a fellow Metro Richmonder! The thing about guppies is that if you do decide to introduce females, you would need 3-4 (at least) per male because the males will pester the females endlessly, and create a very stressful situation. That would mean you would have a less colorful tank, with only a few males and many females. Then you get babies, and an overstocked tank, in just about no time I am no guppy expert, but maybe someone will chime in about males together. I certainly see them in the [acronym:70954bfafb="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:70954bfafb] all together, so maybe it can work. I have pondered this very issue myself because I really love the colors of the males. __________________ TG Central Virginians click here and join the Regional Forum! View My Gallery Here

11-14-2003, 10:35 AM	#4
grimlock3000 Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: maine Posts: 1,971 Images: 1	It works good for me with just males in a tank. If I have more than one male in with my females, they will fight even with a 3 to 1 ratio. __________________ 26 freshwater 2x Sunburst Platys (2M, 2F) // 3x Neon Tetras (?) // 2x Cherry Barbs (1M, 1F) // 2x YoYo Loaches (?) // 1x Bushy Nose Pleco (M) // 1x Clown Pleco (?) // 15H marine -30# Live Rock -Mixed Snails (Nassarius // Cerith // Astrea // Black Turbo // Mexican Turbo) -8x Blue Leg Hermit Crabs // 1x Banded Serpent Star // 1x Cleaner Shrimp -1x Royal Gramma // 1x Percula Clownfish -2x Mushroom Leather // Metallic Green Star Polyps // Pulsing Xenia // Striped Xenia // Blue Mushroom -Remora + Maxi-Jet 1200 // 2x Maxi-Jet 600 // Maxi-Jet 400 // Visi-Therm Deluxe 50 // Current USA Orbit 2x 40w [acronym:f2db8017b4="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:f2db8017b4]

11-14-2003, 10:58 AM	#5
Guppyman Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Laurel Lake, NJ - USA Posts: 477 Images: 40	Females Neded Hi. It is not necessary to keep any females in with your male guppies. Just don't be surprised when the perform courtship rituals to one another. - Guppyman __________________ I currently keep around 75 species of Corydoradine catfish. You may view my current list, here.

11-14-2003, 10:59 AM	#6
grimlock3000 Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: maine Posts: 1,971 Images: 1	"Just don't be surprised when the perform courtship rituals to one another." My males have tried mating with everything in my tank except the Pleco. Multiple times __________________ 26 freshwater 2x Sunburst Platys (2M, 2F) // 3x Neon Tetras (?) // 2x Cherry Barbs (1M, 1F) // 2x YoYo Loaches (?) // 1x Bushy Nose Pleco (M) // 1x Clown Pleco (?) // 15H marine -30# Live Rock -Mixed Snails (Nassarius // Cerith // Astrea // Black Turbo // Mexican Turbo) -8x Blue Leg Hermit Crabs // 1x Banded Serpent Star // 1x Cleaner Shrimp -1x Royal Gramma // 1x Percula Clownfish -2x Mushroom Leather // Metallic Green Star Polyps // Pulsing Xenia // Striped Xenia // Blue Mushroom -Remora + Maxi-Jet 1200 // 2x Maxi-Jet 600 // Maxi-Jet 400 // Visi-Therm Deluxe 50 // Current USA Orbit 2x 40w [acronym:f2db8017b4="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:f2db8017b4]

11-14-2003, 12:25 PM	#7
ducas005 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Toronto CANADA Posts: 43	Your guppies will not fight with each other just because they are also male. They will however fight each other over a female. 1 tank full of males = no problems. Add one female = big problem. __________________ It's not boasting if you are telling the truth - Ali

11-14-2003, 01:27 PM	#8
rickschabener Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 28 Images: 4	Thanks for all the responses. Tankgirl: I was trying to find a polite way to say "pester the females" but decided that coming from a guy, it was better left unsaid. Guppyman: I see that every day. Yuk. I have a 29 gallon for "show" and a 10 gallon for the rest/breeding. The 29 gallon tank really looked good with just the colorful males. But, I thought I had to have females so I added some. Now the males don't stand out as much. I guess all the females are headed for the bottom tank.

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