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Photo taken at Pets Palace
Avg. Price: $4 (BD$).
They often cost bewteen $2 & $6 (BD$)
Species/genus: Poecilia Reticulata
Common Names: Guppy, Fantails.
Wild Barbadian species are called "Thousands"
Origin: Barbados, Trinidad, Central
and South America
Water Conditions: Ph:
5.5 - 8.5; Temp: 68 - 82°F (20 - 28°C) Hardness:
Prefers Hard Water, but can survive in soft
& neutral water. They can also be kept in Brackish (salty)
water.
Temperament: Non-aggressive.
Very friendly.
Adult Size: 2 to 2½ inches.
Males are smaller
Water Region: guppies will
generally swim in the middle & upper regions of the
aquarium.
Feeding: Omnivorous. Can
be feed a wide variety of foods (flakes, Spirulina, lettuce,
spinach, freeze dried foods, mosquito larvae). Guppies have
small stomachs and can only consume a little bit of food at
one feeding. Feed in small amounts at least 3 times daily.
Male on the left
Sexual Differences: Very easily
distinguished. When mature, females are larger and rounder
than males. Females are dull grey and while males are very
colourful.
Pregnant Female (above male)
with gravid spot on stomach
Photo taken at Pets Palace
Courtship Dance
Breeding: Type: Livebearer.
Difficulty: Very Easy.
No special setup is needed. Once males & females are together
they will breed. The males will often perform a courtship
display in front of the female by spreading their fins and
curving their body. Females appear plump when pregnant and
often have a black spot (gravid spot) on their bellies. Fry
(babies) can fend for themselves immediately after they are
born. However, the fry are a delicacy to most fish. Dense
floating plants provide good hiding places for fry. Female
guppies mature in about 3 months, male mature sooner. A female's
gestation period last approximately 4 weeks. Since females
can store sperm, one mating can produce 4 to 8 sets of fry.
This is know as superfetation.
Minimum Tank Size: 5 gallons
Tankmates: Best kept with
fish of similar size such as tetras, platys, Mollies, Swordtails
& Corydoras catfish. Unless you want your guppies to become
dinner, do not mix them with Cichlids. Siamese fighters (Betas
Splendens) may attack guppies because of their similar coloration
& long fins. Avoid mixing with Barbs because they have a tendency
to nip at other fish's elaborate fins, damaging them in the
process (especially Tiger Barbs). As always, make sure the
fish you choose can co-exist in the same water conditions.
Special Requirements: Tank:
Guppies prefer a well-planted aquarium. Guppies tend to show
richer colours on darker substrates (bottom material). Guppies
should be kept in groups of no less than 3 (2 female to one
male). Since males will always chase females, it is best to
have more females than males, so that the males won't exhaust
any one female.
Comments: The guppy is an
excellent choice for beginners and experts alike. This beautiful
fish is a perfect choice for first time fish keepers and children.
They are very hardy, and can survive in conditions where other
fish would perish. The guppy is also an excellent choice for
"cycling" new aquariums. Cycling is the term used to describe
the period during which the aquarium matures. An aquarium
is mature when it contains enough essential bacteria to break
down fish waste to a less toxic state.
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