Taking Care Of The Guppy!

During this section you will learn all about the guppy, how to care for them, breed them. Guppies come from a family called the livebear's, the family includes fish like the molly/swordtail and the platy.

Guppies are really easy to care and breed, and come in a range of loverly colors. Guppy's are one of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish there is. Guppies are noted for coming in all different colors and patterns that make them very unique and beautiful.

So what's the Difference between male and female guppies?

Female guppies are larger than males, and they have dull colored bodies with brighter colors around the tail.

Male guppies are brilliantly colored, and come in endless colours and patterns.

Males have a special shaped anul fin called the gonopodium, it points out from the bottom of the fish.

The female has a fan shaped anul fin and usually they will have a gravid spot above the anal fin.





I would suggest having atleast a 10 gallon tank, with 1 male guppie to 3-4 females. I would suggest doing a water change every week via siphoning about 20% of the water. I would keep my guppies in temperatures of 72 to 86 degrees. What can i keep my guppies with, these quetion is always worth asking at your LFS or on here, guppies get on with quite a few other fish more so members of there own family such as the mollies,platies and swordtails. However any fish that is attracted by colourful fins such as tiger barbs you will have to watch out for.

How to breed the guppie?

Just keep a male to every 3-4 females, and you will soon be overcome with babies. Guppies have the powers to give birth to 10-110 fry at anyone time with 15-30 more likely, they can also store sperm for serveral months so these can become pregnant without a male.

Below is a picture of a female guppie, you can see the gravid spot. When expecting this will become bigger and darker, and her belly will begin to square off. Picture taken from http://www.aquariumhobbyist.com/guppies/pregnancy.html



If you have anything to add to this care sheet, drop me a pm. Or post in the tropical fish fact file below this thread. http://bettabred.forummotion.com/the-general-fish-tank-marine-fish-f11/the-fish-fact-file-t661.htm

Adult guppies will eat their fry and so the fry must be separated from adult guppies until they are larger. Sometimes plants will camouflage baby fish, but it will be more effective if you keep them away from the parents. Baby guppies can be fed newly hatched brine shrimp, newly hatched daphnia, or they can be fed dry flake food, the choice is yours.

Cheers Storm