Guppy (Peocilia reticulata)

Common Name:

Guppy.

Scientific Name:

Peocilia reticulata.

Family:

Live Bearer.

Distribution:

Guppies have a wide natural range covering most of South America.

Size:

Up to 2.5". Female guppies tend to be larger than males. Most males will reach a length of approximately 1.5".

Diet:

Will eat a wide variety of food. Omnivorous.

Water Temperature:

70-85 Degrees Fahrenheit (21-29 degrees Centigrade)

Water Chemistry:

Varies, see below.

Special note on water preferences:

guppies, with their wide distribution, occur in waters ranging from acidic to alkaline, with varying degrees of hardness and even in brackish water. As such, they are adaptable to a wide range of water parameters. Please read note on acclimation for further information.

pH:

6.0-9.0.

Life Span:

1-3 years.

Description:

Guppies are one of the most popular fish in the hobby. There are literally hundreds of different color variations, and no two are quite exactly alike. Guppies can range in color from greys and blacks to every color imaginable, with color combinations in a never-ending array. Finnage can also vary between different strains. Guppies are available with regular fins, large fins, swordtails and an assortment of other styles. For obvious reasons, guppies are a mainstay in the hobby, often being one of the first fish most aquarists deal with, both for their color and their simplicity in breeding.

Behaviour:

Guppies are normally benevolent fishes, more likely to be picked on than to bother other tank inhabitants. There are always exceptions, and the nippy guppy certainly isn't unheard of. Overall, they will get along well with most other peaceful fish. Known fin-nippers, such as serpae tetras and tiger barbs should be avoided, as they will find the guppies' fins most attractive. Housing a betta with guppies may be questionable, as the betta could find certain color combinations reason to attack guppies.

A stocking ratio of two or more females for each male can keep the aggression levels down. Being short-lived fishes, guppies have a strong instinct to mate. A female with multiple passionate suitors will often become stressed greatly.

Breeding:

Breeding: it is said that breeding guppies is easier than simply keeping guppies. Due to inbreeding over thousand of generations, their gene pool has been very polluted. Please refer to the article Breeding Guppies for more information.

If you plan on breeding guppies, make sure to have extra space available, as they can be prolific. Finding a home is not usually difficult for pretty fish, but it's best to do some research before hand to insure you have homes for the large population you might have shortly.

Sexing:

Guppies, as with most livebearers, are relatively simple to sex. Males develop a modified anal/ventral fin called a gonopodium. The gonopodium is shaped similar to a tube, and is used during reproduction to deposit sperm. Contrarily, the female's ventral fin is fan-shaped. It should be noted that in rare instances (most often in the absence of males) that some females can develop a gonopodium, though they continue to lack the proper organs for sexual reproduction with other females. They will often act similar to a male guppy, chasing the females and going through the physical process of mating. Females also grow larger than males, and tend to be less colourful with less ornate finnage.

Requirements:

Captive breeding over thousands of generations have led guppies to be prone to bacterial and fungal infections, often due to their flowing fins.

Consistent water changes and a clean tank will help immensely with keeping your guppies healthy. A change of 25% twice per week should suffice in this regard. Slacking with tank maintenance is a recipe for disaster, especially with newly acquired guppies. Their immune systems are often compromised and very rarely will they make a recovery (even if they do, it will often be with damaged fins).

Finding a good local source for guppies is often the best chance for success. Pet store guppies can come from local breeders, large fish farms or be imported from foreign countries. Knowing their history and what type of water they are acclimated to can be difficult to determine. I have had the most luck with guppies (I have an established breeding program, and have gone through many trials and errors in order to determine the most beneficial course of action) by keeping them in very hard water. Initially, to ward off any disease from shipping-induced stress, I keep the pH around 8.5 and the water very hard. I also add salt to obtain a specific gravity of approximately 1.003-1.005 (1-1.5 tablespoons per gallon). Using marine salt helps by adding buffers to the water to maintain a stable pH, while additionally adding trace elements as well. For the first 4-6 weeks, I maintain the salt in the tank at this level. Be sure to add salt back in during water changes for the amount of water you change if you go this route. Then, if the fish seem to be doing well, I make small water changes as normally, eventually dropping the salt to undetectable levels. If this has been successful, the fish should live out their natural lives from this point forth.

The other option for introducing newly acquired guppies is the opposite end of the spectrum. Clean water with a low pH generally has a low bacterial count, and could help in acclimating your guppies. Since water with a low pH generally has little buffering capacity, I highly recommend the first suggestion, as it is a much safer process with less work and risk involved.

One reason for obtaining locally raised fish is that they will most likely already be acclimated to your water chemistry. This makes the acclimation process faster. In addition, since guppies are short-lived fish (two years is about average), you can be assured you're getting younger fish that you will enjoy for a longer period of time. Sometimes the guppies available at pet stores are rejects from breeding programs and old fish, which live less than six months, no matter the care you take of them.

Tank levels:

Top-Mid.

Final words:

Overall, guppies can be a joy to keep if healthy stock is acquired and acclimated properly. They will offer astounding color combinations and plenty of action to a tank.

Photo Credit:

Photos 1-2 supplied courtesy and ^©guppiegirl4life.
Photos 3-5 supplied courtesy and ^©blm672.
Photo 6 supplied courtesy and ^©FawnN