The guppy, also known as millionfish and rainbow fish, is one of the world’s most widely distributed tropical fish, and one of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish species.
Details
| Type | Livebearers |
| Family | Poeciliidae |
| Species | Poecilia reticulata |
| Synonyms | Acanthophacelus guppii, Girardinus guppii, Girardinus reticulatus, Heterandria guppyi, Lebistes poecilioides, Lebistes reticulatus, Poecilioides reticulatus |
| Origins | South America: Barbados, northern Brazil, the Guyanas, Trinidad, Venezuela. Introduced to many other countries to help control mosquito populations but had little effect on them. Most specimens offered for sale in the trade are captive bred. |
| Sexual Dimorphism | Males have a gonopodium and generally much longer ornate and colourful finnage. |
| Length | 5.0 cm |
| Shoaling | No |
| Temperature | 18 - 28 deg C |
| Water parameters | pH 7.0 - 8.0, dH 8 - 20 |
Care
Although undeniably very pretty, Guppies are not the hardy fish that they used to be. Years of intense breeding and selection has weakened this species, and so because of their now delicate nature, they should be one of the last species added to a mature aquarium. Prefers quieter waters and appreciates plant cover.Feeding
Offer a good quality flake food plus small frozen foods such as daphnia, cyclops, brineshrimp and mosquito larvae.Breeding
Guppies are livebearers, which means that the babies are free-swimming at birth. If choosing to keep a breeding group of guppies, try to ensure that you have at least two females to every male. This will ensure that no single female will bear the brunt of the males continuous amorous intentions. Once inseminated, the female will gestate for approximately 20 days, after which time she will give birth to between 5 and 60 young. Parents will eat their young if not separated, but if kept in a planted aquarium, a number of young usually manage to survive on to adulthood. Guppies are relatively short-lived, their average lifespan being between 3 and 5 years.
