How to Make a Guppy Breeder Net

Guppies make excellent starter fish for the novice aquarium owner.

Guppies are popular among novice aquarium owners as they are colorful and easy to care for. Guppies are also easy to breed. Most fish are predators and guppies are no exception. If you have only guppies in your tank, or if you have other fish as well, you need to separate pregnant guppy females to save the young from being eaten. Make your own breeding net to do so.

Things You'll Need

• Old nylon pantyhose
• Wire coat hanger
• Pliers
• Scissors
• Wire cutters
• Glue
• 2 paper clips

Instructions

1. Cut the bottom straight piece from the coat hanger with a wire cutter. Bend it to form a square with pliers.

2. Cut the foot off of the pantyhose and stretch it around the wire square. Fold it over the wire and glue it in place. Glue the pantyhose to itself and not to the wire hanger. Allow the glue to dry completely.

3. Bend the paper clips open and hook one end around the wire hanger frame. Hook the other end onto the side of the tank. The breeding net should hang in the water.

4. Transfer the mother into the breeding net when she is ready to give birth. Once she has discharged her fry, remove her from the breeding net. Mothers can be cannibalistic and will eat the fry if left in the breeding net.

5. Leave the fry in the breeding net for a couple of days before putting them into the tank. Feed them when they are in the breeding net.

Tips & Warnings

• Include a spawning mop or plants in your tank where the fry can hide after you release them from the net. Without a hiding place, they will get eaten by the other fish.

• You can make your own spawning mops from yarn or string.

References

• Guppy Place: Breeding Guppies
• Breeding Guppies

Resources

• Pet Fish: Make a Spawning Mop