Guppies have been a pin of the aquarium hobby for generations. Originally from tropical pools in South America and Caribbean islands, these fish are now available in a wide range of colors produced through selective breeding in ponds. Many guppy fish keepers can start with just one or two guppy fish. But since they are direct carriers with long-term sperm storage, you can soon have a full tank.
Origin and distribution
Guppies have been bred in captivity for over 100 years but are native to South America.
They are native to freshwater streams in northern South America, including Suriname, Guyana, and Venezuela, and to Caribbean islands, including Barbados, Trinidad, and Tobago.
They have now been introduced to every continent except Antarctica and can be found in many warm waterways worldwide.
Colors and markings
If you dream of any color combination, there is probably a perfect guppy for you. Males have more vivid colors than females, such as white, red, yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, and black, and have longer tails and dorsal fins. The caudal fins may have a marbled or striped appearance, or the fish may have one or two colors, such as blue, black, orange, green, yellow, red, purple, and various shades of white.
Many websites and pet stores offer “select” or “exclusive” varieties unavailable anywhere else.
These strains often result from intensive inbreeding, which produces fish with compromised immune function and reduced lifespan. Try to stick to mainstream varieties with well-established lines. If you breed two different breeds, you may be surprised how the color differences blend.
Aquarium friends
Guppies are calm, easy-going fish that get along well with a mix of other non-aggressive fish. You may want to keep them with live-bearing fish like platies or mollies. Other good friends in the aquarium include small fish such as neon tetras or zebrafish. Remember that any fry hatched by an active female guppy fish can become dinner for others in the tank. So, smaller tankmates will ensure the survival of more fry.
Many guppy keepers usually choose an aquarium for guppies. You can mix different types of guppy fish in the same tank. The number of guppies you can keep in a tank depends on the size of the tank. For example, since guppies average 2 inches in length, a 10-gallon tank can only hold five guppies, while a 30-gallon tank can hold 15 guppies.
Practice and care
Guppies are great beginner fish. They are easy to handle and can tolerate some beginner mistakes. A large aquarium size is suggested because guppies are very active fish. They flourish in an aquarium with plants and soft decorative items.
Female guppies can collect sperm for multiple spawning even after separation from the male, so once a female is with a male, she can have multiple batches of chicks. Tank dividers are great as a temporary solution, but these flimsy plastic dividers are often insufficient to separate the fish. Two separate tanks keep unwanted spawning to zero.
water temperature for guppies
Water temperature is very important for guppy fish. You require a heater to keep your guppies healthy. Observe the water temperature daily and change the heater as needed to keep your fish happy and healthy.
Without a filter, aquarium water can quickly fill with impurities from uneaten food and fish waste, and your fish can get sick or die from this harmful water. Many aquarium filters are available to fit every budget, so if you’re unsure which filter is best for your tank, talk to a fish specialist at your local aquarium or pet store.
Guppies food
Guppies are omnivorous and do well on a variety of commercially available diets. Although guppies are small in size, pellet foods, known as micro pellets, are an excellent choice because they retain their nutrition longer than flakes. You can add supplements like frozen fish food, but no more than once or twice a week. Complete pellet food is best for most types of pet fish.
you can feed your guppy fish once or twice a day. Always start with a bit of food, and when it’s finished, add a little more. Repeat for a few minutes, and use this time to check all your fish. Feeding time is an excellent time to see if any of your fish are acting strangely or ill.
Guppy lifespan
There are several gender differences you need to identify to keep your male and female populations separate. Males are smaller and more vividly colored. Also, as male guppies grow, their bodies develop a coloration that is not seen on the female’s body.
Guppies become sexually mature in about two to three months, and if you want to separate them, you should be able to tell the difference between the sexes by one month of age. Female guppies give birth for the first time at 10-20 weeks of age and continue to breed until they are 20-34 months old.
Many hobbyists start with just one female guppy and suddenly have a group. Female guppies can store sperm, but it only takes one insemination from a male to produce several eggs. It is always best to separate male and female guppies to prevent overstocking your aquarium.
Guppies are viviparous so that a female will give birth to 10-50 net fry per spawning. Usually, the newborn chicks eat the other fish in the tank, so if you want to save some fish, keep them in a separate tank or breeding box. Over-planted aquariums give babies places to hide and survive.
After many generations, the same population is generated together. you may notice many fish with genetic abnormalities, such as twisted spines or short lifespans.
