The guppy fish, with the scientific name Poecilia reticulada, is a species native to Central and South America, but thanks to its great adaptability today is spread throughout the world. With bright colors, it is on the list of favorites when it comes to embellishing aquariums. The guppy's popularity also lies in how easy it is to care for, and how well it gets along with most species. Are you thinking of enjoying the presence of one? Then you can't miss this article on the guppy fish care, everything you need to know.
Guppy Fish Characteristics
Also called lebistes or million fish, it was “discovered” by at least 4 researchers in different parts of the world, hence the multiplicity of its names. It lives only a few years, only 2 or 3 on average, but its ability to reproduce is impressive, so a few specimens are capable ofspawn between 400 and 600 fingerlings in less than 6 months.
Distinguishing females from males is very simple, as they have very noticeable differences. The first of these is size: females usually measure between 3 and 5 centimeters, while males only reach 2 and 3 centimeters in length. The anal or rear fin of both is quite wide, but that of the female is a little more rounded. In addition, the coloration varies: males are very colourful, showing shades of green, bluish tones and red, while the body of females is duller, between greenish gray and dark green, with a little color scattered on the fins.
One of the guppy's favorite foods is mosquito larvae, which is why it has been introduced into vulnerable areas around the world where malaria and dengue fever abound. In this way, the species has functioned as a natural biological controller; Despite this benefit, its ability to displace other species native to these ecosystems, with which it competes for space and food, has also been recorded.
How to prepare the aquarium for guppy fish?
When preparing the guppy aquarium to offer the best care, we must take into account the following points:
- Aquarium capacity
- Environmental enrichment
- Water temperature
- Hygiene
Ability
The guppy is a calm fish that loves to swim, so it will need a spacious aquarium to be comfortable. Rectangular ones are recommended, never circular ones, with a capacity of between 7 and 8 liters of water for each guppy If you have only one, the ideal is a aquarium between 30 and 40 litres.
Environmental enrichment
The vegetation is very important, as is the bed substrate. Add plenty of plants spread throughout the tank, and place a larger number in a specific area. This area will serve to protect the females when they are pregnant.
Temperature
The ideal temperature of water is 25 ºC, but it can vary a bit between 23 and 27 degrees maximum. The guppy is a fish of warm climates. The pH should be between 6.5 and 8, avoiding s alty water as much as possible.
Hygiene
As for the implements that will optimize the living conditions inside the guppy fish aquarium, it is recommended to have an oxygenator and a filterDon't be too abrupt, because if it generates too many currents, the guppy runs the risk of dying from nervousness or stress.
Weekly cleaning is recommended, removing debris and substrate from the bottom, and changing a quarter of the total amount of water. This way the aquarium will always stay clean.
Guppy Feeding
Guppies are omnivorous, meaning they eat both plant-based and animal-based foods. To maintain good he alth, the guppy's diet must be varied. Flake food is a good option when you don't have much time, but it can't be your only food.
Complement flake food with mosquito larvae, mugwort, some raw vegetables (peas, spinach, lettuce, cabbage, among others), small pieces of shelled shrimp, and water fleas.
Guppies' mouths are up, so they feed on the surface of the water. To avoid wasting food and dirtying the tank too quickly, draw their attention to the surface when it's time to feed them. Once there, drop a few bits and give them only as much as they can consume in the next 3 minutes.
The metabolism of guppy fish is fast and they are even a bit greedy, that's why you should feed them 3 times a day, but no more than that to avoid he alth problems. In the same way, all the food must be very small, otherwise they would drown; trim it if necessary to provide the best care for your guppy and ensure its he alth.
How to take care of guppy fry and newborn guppies?
Due to its low life expectancy, the guppy reproduces very easily; if you are not careful, in a few months they will have become hundreds of fish! When the female is pregnant, she will spend more time between the plants and the aquarium substrate. You will know that she is about to give birth because her body looks noticeably swollen and a dark spot appears near the belly. When this occurs, it is best to remove the female to a breeding tank for guppy fish, to avoid being harassed by the males during the gestation period. The delivery can last up to 3 days, after which you must remove the female from the breeding tank, otherwise she will eat the fry. In this way, the first thing you should know to care for newborn guppy fish is that they cannot live with their mother.
The guppy hatchling tank conditions are the same as the adult fish tank: temperature between25 and 27 ºC , with a pH of 7. Acquire an oxygenator and a sponge filter, both with their protector to avoid sucking the newborn guppies. Add plants and a rich substrate where they can be protected, even when there are no other fish in the tank.
Newborn and fry guppies need small portions of mashed feed 5 times a day Prefers flake food and grinds flakes as much as possible to prevent the fry from drowning in them. They don't require much attention beyond a weekly tank cleaning, food, and checking for any sickness, in which case you should remove them from the tank immediately.
How long does it take for guppy fry to grow?
When the fry have gained a good size, almost as big as their parents, and acquired their colors, they can be transferred to the adult fish tank. Approximately, it takes about 5 months for guppy fry to become adults and thus be ready to reproduce. However, after two months their size will allow them to become part of the community aquarium. At this time, always check that the tank is adequate for the number of specimens that live in it. And if you don't want to encourage the breeding of guppy fish, avoid mixing males with females.
Guppy compatibility with other fish
The guppy is a social fish that gets along very well with most other species. Although fairly calm, it is possible that their love of swimming disturbs the tranquility of even more peaceful fish, so it would be advisable not to herd them together if this is the case. However, if the aquarium is large enough, it may not be a problem.
What you should avoid is placing it in the same tank with species that are too territorial or aggressive, such as betta fish or jewel fish, as they will attack them. It prefers other species to be its companions, such as the neon tetra and the discus fish.
As for the relationship between the guppies themselves, it's pretty smooth if you balance the number of males and females correctly. During mating, the males are usually quite harassing, so the ideal is to place 3 females for each of them.
