Population Explosion Equilibrium?

[theotheragentm]

What happens in a tank with livebearers that is not stopped from breeding? Is the end result always overcrowding as long as there are places for fry to hide because they will eventually make it to adulthood? My dilemna is that I have stopped the population explosion in my main tank, but my dad loves to watch the fry grow up. I don't want to take that away from him, but I don't want to end up fish that are overcrowded and unhealthy. Has anyone come up with any good solutions to balance things out?

 

[rich311k]

Sell them or give them to an LFS?

 

[Lonewolfblue]

Sell some of the fish

 

[Sidi]

Or put in other things that will eat the fry.

But then I'm evil. My greatest thrill over spring break was finally handling a tidepool sculpin...a very pretty green fellow. And I'm hoping to set up a freshwater sculpin tank this summer to "handle" my girlfriend's breeding guppies, and a friend's breeding guppies.

 

[Zagz]

Take the fry to your lfs or local aquarium society.

 

[theotheragentm]

I figured as much. I've got a LFS that will most likely take the fry.

 

[jbarr]

I have a well planted tank with a squadron of guppies.
The fry survival rate should be in check, even with cover, I've got a (nocturnal) bumblebee catfish. Tiny bugger, comparable to a little dirt-devil vac