Kaix
05-17-2006, 11:03 AM
Quick Information
Common names: Guppy, Millions Fish
Scientific/Latin names: Lebistes reticulatus, Poecilia reticulata
Maximum length: Males 0.5 to 1.5 inches, females 1.5 to 2.5 inches
Colors: Red, blue, yellow, black, white, gold, green, and many more
Temperature preference: 65 to 75 degrees F, can withstand about 50 to 100 degrees F (60 to 90 for fancy varieties)
pH preference: 7 to 8.5
Hardness preference: Moderate to hard
Salinity preference: 1 Tablespoon per 3-5 gallons
Compatibility: Good but prone to chasing and nipping same and other species, voracious eaters of egg-laid fry
Life span: 2 to 5 years
Ease of keeping: Easy if water is not too soft or low in salts
Ease of breeding: Easy
Description
Lebistes reticulatus or Poecilia reticulata, the guppy, has been bred into dozens of colors and varieties. They keep on changing the Latin name. Just like goldfish and koi, the guppy is a show fish. Wild guppies are nothing to jump up and down about. Females are just a brownish gray. Males have some spots of red, blue, etc. but may also be plain. Some can be rather pretty. Native to parts of Central and South America, the native guppy is also called the Millions Fish. This is because it breeds so well. Fancy guppies can have any combination of reds, yellows, golds, silvers, blues, purples, oranges, greens, blacks, browns, and/or whites. Most guppies stay at about 1-1.5 inches long but they can grow to 2.5 inches. Guppies do chase each other and other fish but generally do no harm. They are considered relatively peaceful. They will however eat newly hatched fry of most species. Some other species of fish may nip at fancy guppies' fins. A few gallons per guppy is adequate. They generally live a few years. Guppies tend to stick to the upper region of an aquarium.
Setup and Water Preferences
Guppies need moderate hardness, some added salt (one Tablespoon per five gallons) especially if the water is soft, and a slightly basic pH (7-8.5). They can survive, at least for a while, in almost any water. Ordinary guppies thrive from 50 to 90 degrees F while fancy guppies do best between 65 and 85 degrees F. Be sure to provide lots of plants in which the females and fry can hide. Guppies like fine leafed plants like cabomba and a dark gravel bottom. They need at least a few gallons a piece. They eat most anything but prefer live insect larvae and fry.
Sexing
Guppies can mature by three months. Males are generally smaller, but often longer finned. Mature females are full bodied and have a gravid spot which is a dark spot near their vent. Males are much more colorful. They also have a gonopodium which is a modified fin which delivers sperm into the female.
Breeding
Keep a few females with a male. He will impregnate the females. Guppies are usually able to first breed by the age of three months. One mating can fertilize several batches of live-born fry. After breeding, the babies develop over one to two months depending on water temperature and the health of the mother. She can give birth early or delay birth depending on her health and stress level. She can also store sperm for many months to use it later (called superfoetation). It is common for newly bought female guppies to give birth months after being obtained even when kept in a tank devoid of males.
Females have a gravid spot which is a dark spot near their vent. As her young grow, her abdomen will become larger and larger. When you can see a large dark mass near her vent and she appears ready to pop, she is nearing delivering. A female ready to release fry may appear afraid and hide in the plants or dart about the tank. Place her in a breeding box or a small tank by herself with lots of floating and other live plants. Stores sell a number of plastic breeding boxes for guppies. In breeding boxes, the newborns fall below a grate so that the female cannot eat them. Alternatively, provide a lot of plant cover and some fry should survive by hiding. Remove the female to either her normal tank or a small quiet tank to herself after she has finished delivering. Do not keep her in a breeding box for long since the stress can kill her. Do not put her in a breeding box too early or she can have premature birth where many or all fry will die. Feed the newborns prepared fry food (Tetramin for livebearers or Liquifry by Interpet), crushed dry flakes, and/or newborn brine shrimp. If the fry are not provided with cover or protection from the parents, they may be eaten. Guppies typically produce a batch of fry every one to two months.
Common names: Guppy, Millions Fish
Scientific/Latin names: Lebistes reticulatus, Poecilia reticulata
Maximum length: Males 0.5 to 1.5 inches, females 1.5 to 2.5 inches
Colors: Red, blue, yellow, black, white, gold, green, and many more
Temperature preference: 65 to 75 degrees F, can withstand about 50 to 100 degrees F (60 to 90 for fancy varieties)
pH preference: 7 to 8.5
Hardness preference: Moderate to hard
Salinity preference: 1 Tablespoon per 3-5 gallons
Compatibility: Good but prone to chasing and nipping same and other species, voracious eaters of egg-laid fry
Life span: 2 to 5 years
Ease of keeping: Easy if water is not too soft or low in salts
Ease of breeding: Easy
Description
Lebistes reticulatus or Poecilia reticulata, the guppy, has been bred into dozens of colors and varieties. They keep on changing the Latin name. Just like goldfish and koi, the guppy is a show fish. Wild guppies are nothing to jump up and down about. Females are just a brownish gray. Males have some spots of red, blue, etc. but may also be plain. Some can be rather pretty. Native to parts of Central and South America, the native guppy is also called the Millions Fish. This is because it breeds so well. Fancy guppies can have any combination of reds, yellows, golds, silvers, blues, purples, oranges, greens, blacks, browns, and/or whites. Most guppies stay at about 1-1.5 inches long but they can grow to 2.5 inches. Guppies do chase each other and other fish but generally do no harm. They are considered relatively peaceful. They will however eat newly hatched fry of most species. Some other species of fish may nip at fancy guppies' fins. A few gallons per guppy is adequate. They generally live a few years. Guppies tend to stick to the upper region of an aquarium.
Setup and Water Preferences
Guppies need moderate hardness, some added salt (one Tablespoon per five gallons) especially if the water is soft, and a slightly basic pH (7-8.5). They can survive, at least for a while, in almost any water. Ordinary guppies thrive from 50 to 90 degrees F while fancy guppies do best between 65 and 85 degrees F. Be sure to provide lots of plants in which the females and fry can hide. Guppies like fine leafed plants like cabomba and a dark gravel bottom. They need at least a few gallons a piece. They eat most anything but prefer live insect larvae and fry.
Sexing
Guppies can mature by three months. Males are generally smaller, but often longer finned. Mature females are full bodied and have a gravid spot which is a dark spot near their vent. Males are much more colorful. They also have a gonopodium which is a modified fin which delivers sperm into the female.
Breeding
Keep a few females with a male. He will impregnate the females. Guppies are usually able to first breed by the age of three months. One mating can fertilize several batches of live-born fry. After breeding, the babies develop over one to two months depending on water temperature and the health of the mother. She can give birth early or delay birth depending on her health and stress level. She can also store sperm for many months to use it later (called superfoetation). It is common for newly bought female guppies to give birth months after being obtained even when kept in a tank devoid of males.
Females have a gravid spot which is a dark spot near their vent. As her young grow, her abdomen will become larger and larger. When you can see a large dark mass near her vent and she appears ready to pop, she is nearing delivering. A female ready to release fry may appear afraid and hide in the plants or dart about the tank. Place her in a breeding box or a small tank by herself with lots of floating and other live plants. Stores sell a number of plastic breeding boxes for guppies. In breeding boxes, the newborns fall below a grate so that the female cannot eat them. Alternatively, provide a lot of plant cover and some fry should survive by hiding. Remove the female to either her normal tank or a small quiet tank to herself after she has finished delivering. Do not keep her in a breeding box for long since the stress can kill her. Do not put her in a breeding box too early or she can have premature birth where many or all fry will die. Feed the newborns prepared fry food (Tetramin for livebearers or Liquifry by Interpet), crushed dry flakes, and/or newborn brine shrimp. If the fry are not provided with cover or protection from the parents, they may be eaten. Guppies typically produce a batch of fry every one to two months.