Guppy: Everything You Need to Know
The Guppy belongs to the family of viviparous toothcarps and is characterized by its colourful appearance, which is particularly pronounced in males. It is considered to be easy to care for. It usually reproduces very quickly in the fish tank and is ideal for beginners.
Guppies are among the most popular freshwater ornamental fish and can be found in different breeding forms in aquariums all over the world.
Appearance of the Guppy
Breeding forms of the guppy reach a body length of about three to six centimetres, with females growing to about twice the size of males. The sexual dimorphism is thus very pronounced in the guppy.
While female guppies are quite inconspicuous with their silvery-white scales, the smaller males are much more colourful and can show different shades of red or blue. They also have longer caudal fins and fins than their female conspecifics.
Origin of the Guppy
The Guppy originally comes from the Caribbean and North America. In 1866, the British natural scientist and later eponym of the guppy, Robert John Lechmere Guppy, sent some specimens captured in Trinidad to the British Museum.
Even today guppies still live in large numbers in the wild. The small fish prefer shallow waters, such as streams or the banks of rivers. Thanks to their resilience and rapid reproduction, unlike many other fish, their populations are not threatened with extinction, which is why the guppy is not protected.
In some areas, guppies have also been introduced by humans to control mosquitoes and the diseases they transmit.
Overview of different Guppy species
In the meantime, numerous different species of Guppies are bred, which can be distinguished primarily by the pattern of their caudal fin. However, both the shape of the fin and the colouring of the fish can vary within a breeding programme.
Regardless of this, the different Guppy species are distinguished between large and small fins.
The following Guppy species are counted among the large finned species:
- Double Sword Guppy
- Flag tail
- Ladder tail
- Fantail
- Lower sword
- Upper sword
- Triangle tail
The following Guppy species belong to the small finned species:
- Spadetail
- Needle tail
- Round tail
- Speartail
Incidentally, crosses between different Guppy species are not recommended, as this would lead to increased susceptibility to disease and in the long term destroy the biodiversity of these ornamental fish. Considering the reproductive pleasure of guppies, this also means that different species should not be kept together in one aquarium.
The Endler Guppy
Another species, which is not assigned to either of the two groups mentioned, is the Endler Guppy, which was recognized as a separate species in 2005. It differs quite clearly from the other species in its build and colouring. With regard to its keeping in the aquarium it proves to be as uncomplicated as other guppies.
How old do Guppies get?
Compared to goldfish the life expectancy of guppies is considerably lower. When kept in an aquarium in a species-appropriate manner, healthy fish usually reach an age of four to five years. In the wild, however, guppies rarely live longer than two years.
Guppy keeping
Keeping guppies proves to be uncomplicated, which makes the small ornamental fish ideal for children, for example. Nevertheless, a fish tank intended for guppies should meet some criteria.
The minimum size is a length of 60 centimetres, so that the fish have sufficient space available. Ideally, the water should not only be clean, but also have as constant a temperature as possible. Keeping guppies is usually possible without problems at water temperatures of 20 to 30 degrees Celsius.
The pH value of the water should be in a range of 6 to 8. In addition to using a suitable filter, it may also be useful to replace part of the water regularly for cleaning purposes.
A substrate is not necessary for keeping guppies. However, there is nothing wrong with a little gravel and sand to enhance the aquarium visually. Aquatic plants are indispensable. They serve young guppies as a food source and are also often used as hiding places.
Last but not least, it should be noted that guppies do not like currents or excessively active roommates.
Breeding Guppies
Guppies are very easy to breed. The females become sexually mature at about three months and can store enough semen for up to 11 litters after mating with the male. A single litter usually consists of about 20 young. However, litters with more than 60 animals are also possible.
As long as the quality of food and water is right, the young guppies usually grow well. However, it is important that the animals have enough space available. Please also note that guppies sometimes eat their young. For a successful breeding it is therefore recommended to keep about three females per male.
Guppy diseases
Guppies are very robust ornamental fish. The first generation often has problems with the changed water composition in the fish tank, while their offspring usually cope well.
It’s always a good idea to buy the fish from a reputable specialist.
Some Guppy species are also more susceptible to the following fish diseases:
- Mouth and fin rot
- White spot disease
- foot-and-mouth disease
Mouth and fin rot is a fungus that causes damage to the mouth or fins and is usually caused by a too rare change of water. The treatment of mouth and fin rot usually requires the administration of medication.
White spot disease
White spot disease is a parasite infestation that guppies with a strong immune system normally survive without treatment. However, if necessary, treatment can also be carried out using UV radiation and a UV water clarifier. A quarantine tank for infected animals, on the other hand, is of no use because the parasites are already in the water anyway.
The right diet for the guppy
Guppies are omnivores and not fussy. Although they prefer to approach food, they also sometimes eat algae and other aquatic plants, provided they are not too hardy.
Live food is very suitable for guppies. However, as this is quite complicated to handle, in practice granulated or flake food is usually used. If the product of your choice is of good quality, this is no problem with regard to the nutrient supply of the guppies.
Due to their fast digestion guppies should be fed frequently and with small portions. The amount given with a meal should be completely consumed within five minutes at the latest. In addition, a weekly fasting day is recommended to relieve the digestive system and to promote growth.
Ornamental fish food for guppies from Aquaris
If you want to be sure that your guppies get all the necessary nutrients when feeding them, the ornamental fish food from Aquaris is the perfect choice.
The high-quality food is characterised by an optimal nutrient composition and thus supports the health and vitality of your guppies from an early age. It is also very easy to digest so that the water quality in your aquarium is not unnecessarily polluted.
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