The Non-Crawling Pet of the WaterGuppies have all the assets when it comes to tropical fish. They're colorful, hardy, reproduce prolifically and require minimal care. I wanted to describe my own method for guppy care, so you could leave with some helpful insight and tips on this subject- more scientifically- Poecilia reticulata.
|
Setting Up a TankLike any tropical fish, you will need the basics: a tank, gravel, submersible heater, filter, light.
I have found that with fish, the shallower and wider tank is better than the tall one, because it provides better oxygen exchange (more water exposed to the air equals better oxygenated water, which results in fish that have an easier time breathing.) This is specifically important with guppies because they will propagate themselves to a point that the water is overflowing with them, and this causes competition for oxygen. I have also found that it is important to use a filter that doesn't have a strong intake, as this could suck in the fish larva (baby guppies.) Using a sponge filter, and under gravel filter, or just simply a filter with a weaker flow will solve this problem. An alternate solution could also be to cover the intake with a filter pad. Live plants improve the look and efficiency of the tank dramatically. A well-planted aquarium stays cleaner, and the fish benefit from the hiding space. More larvae will survive with the cover to hide in, and the fish will enjoy more 'personal space.' |
FeedingSources will tell you all sorts of ways to feed guppies, especially the larvae. I tried some of the more difficult methods during the time I have kept them. I have tried feeding the adults mosquito larvae, Keeping up with hatching brine shrimp for the guppy larvae, as well as feeding microworms.
But the best stuff I have found, that I have gotten the highest larvae survival rates and overall health from is a simple sinking algae pellet. I drop a half of a pellet in my tank every morning, and the adults all attack it, which sends a cloud of particles floating in the water, which all the larvae are able to consume. It works really well, and I just cannot get over the fact that more larvae survive using this effortless method than going to all the trouble to raise live food for them to eat. The stuff is called 'Omega One Veggie Rounds' and it is available at Petsmart. One container lasts me for nearly a year. To the right is a video of my guppies eating. |
|
My Guppy SetupI keep my guppies in a plaudarium (a terrarium that is mainly water with land as well). It is a 40 gallon tank, but the guppies' pool is only about 6 gallons of water. It is a lot of space however, because of the pool is shallow and wide.
I have it overstocked with live plants, which actually keeps the tank very clean. As the plants grew, I noticed less and less collection on the filter pads. I use a ReptoFilter Waterfall, sometimes sold for turtles, for filtration, and I have an inch and a half bed of rocks/gravel/sand from a friend's creek for the substrate, which I used to jump start the biological cycling of this setup. (You could produce the same result with the 'live sand' now sold at Petsmart. When I first setup my tank, 'live sand' for freshwater tanks was not available like it is now.) I use a normal submersible heater, (but since the pool is shallow I have it installed sideways), and a blubbler as well. I have heard that special 'plant lights' are required for plants, but I have just used the florescent that came with the aquarium and never replaced it or anything, and the plants grow wildly. |
Breeding GuppiesBasically, if you have male and female guppies in your tank, they will more than likely reproduce. Try to have three times as many females as males in your tank, so the males' attention is spread between a number of females.
Sexing guppies is really simple. Males are much smaller and leaner than females, and are more colorful. Most females only have pigmentation on their tail fins, while most male fancy guppies have color over their entire bodies. Females can be further differentiated by the presence of a 'pregnancy spot' behind their bellies. It looks like a dark area, and this is where her eggs are held. Males also have a long thin fin folded along their bellies called a gonopodium. Females lack this, their lower fins are large and sail-like. If you aren't sure, don't worry. Many pet stores will sex fish for you. Another note on breeding: I have both fancy guppies and Endler's Livebearers in my tank, which have interbred. The offspring produced are smaller and have many beautiful spots, which I really have enjoyed. |