Evening star., 1952-06-26
Readers Clearing House
RAISING GUPPIES.
AtxA1O44N0 0O1 4EO.
From Mr.. r. G., Falls Church

From Mr.. r. G., Falls Church.
Mrs. P. P. j.. Alexandria: have
been raising guppies for three
fourths Of a year now and I think
I can answer the questions.
Now let's get down to busi-
ness. Your first question Is
how often they should be fed?"
Answer-Every day at a certain
time, but feed them only what
they will eat in Is minutes. Now
I have bought "ghost shrimp"
for small amount of money. This
fish, or what have you, eats the
old decaying food that goes to the
bottom if the fish do not eat the
food.
Your second question is "how
often the water should be
changed" I never change my
water but only add more when it
evaporates. The reason I do not
change the water is because my
tank is balanced; or. in other
words, each fish has certain
amount of room to swim in. And
there is enough plants to provide
enough. So my water stays per-
fectly crystal clear. The right
amount for each fish is 20 cubic
inches per fish.
Now to the third question: This
answer depends on you. I don't
separate them because I would
have too many guppies. You see.
the father eats most of the babies
but some $50 always get away.
I hope you can use this in
formation.
(From Miss E. A. R., Arlington)
In answer to your request about
raising guppies, I have had con-
siderable experience raising gup-
pies and other tropical fish and
also goldfish, and feel qualified to
give authentic information. Most
important is that the container
be large enough to contain at
least an inch of clean sand to
accommodate several kinds of
aquatic plants. These plants
should be we'll established before
any fish are added. Then another
important requisite is snails. I
prefer the large Japanese snails
which bear their young alive.
therefore do not leave egg masses
all over the sides of the aquarium
as the other kinds do. Snails are
the housekeepers of the aquarium.
They eat any excess fish food and
debris, and prevent algae from
forming on the glass so there
should be about 10 for each gall
Ion of water.
After your plants were we'll es-
tabliShed and the snails are hard
at work. you are ready to intro
duce the guppies. Although the
females are rather drab and the
males brilliantly colored, it is best
not to have too many males be-
cause they fight and kill each
other over the females. 1t is not
necessary to separate the babies
from the older fish if there are
plenty of plants for them to hide
in.
Also-this may surprise you--
it is not necessary to change the
water at any time if the aquarium
is we'll balanced-the ri h t
amount of oxygen for the fish,
furnished by the plants; the right
amount of carbon dioxide for the
plants, furnished by the fish:
plenty of snails to keep the house
clean, and you need add only
water that evaporates from time to
time and it is important that the
added water be the same tempera-
ture. Tropical fish require water
temperature of not less than 70
degrees. .....
I had an 18-gallon-size acquari-
um which was we'll balanced and
did not change the water for 10
years, then We moved here from
Minnesota and I sold it. 1t was
beautiful and every one who saw
it exclaimed over it. The water
was crystal clear and the in
evitable remark was. What a task
it must be to change the water SO
often" and this remark was al
ways followed by a look Of amaze
ment when I explained that the
water was never changed.
II X
MICHIGAN.
(From Mrs. C. II. G., Washington
Can some reader help me? My
husband is being transferred to
Sault Sainte Marie, Mich, and
I would like to know about the
following: Is rent high there?
How is the climate? How are
food prices? Can we use our
hope some one would
be able to help me.