Aquarium fish guppies - simple and detailed information about them.

Guppy is a freshwater viviparous fish. Guppies have pronounced sexual dimorphism - males and females differ in size, shape and color. The body size of males is 1.5-4 cm. They are slender, purebred individuals, often with long fins, and the color is usually bright. Males have a specialized reproductive organ, the gonopodium, which is rarely found in fish. The size of females is 2.8-7 cm. The fins are usually significantly smaller than those of males. Females from natural habitats and many breeds are gray with a pronounced rhombic mesh of scales, for which the species received its name: reticulum from lat. - mesh, mesh. The most popular and unpretentious aquarium fish. IN home aquarium inhabits all layers. In captivity, it lives longer and grows larger than in nature. Aquariums most often contain different breeds of guppies or the result of their arbitrary crossing.

The secret of guppies' popularity is very simple.
The content is accessible even to a novice aquarist. The beauty and variety of shapes and colors pleases the eye. There are very large differences between breeds of guppies, and even in one breed it is difficult to find two completely identical males. By nature, these fish are cheerful, easy-going, and active. But the main thing, however, is that they produce live, fully formed fry. It is for these properties that aquarists love guppies.

History of the species

Guppies were first brought to Europe in the last century and immediately became widespread due to their unpretentiousness, ease of obtaining offspring and a huge number of color variations. Guppies can be kept with any peaceful species of fish, but their veiled and therefore sedentary forms cannot be kept even with such non-aggressive fish as barbs. Guppies are omnivores, but prefer live food. They should not be overfed, as fish are prone to obesity and then lose their ability to reproduce. Any soil and plants are undemanding to the volume of the aquarium. A couple can live and reproduce well in a three-liter jar.

Guppies got their name in honor of the English priest and scientist Robert John Lechmere Guppy, who in 1886 made a report to members of the Royal Society in which he spoke about fish that do not spawn, but give birth to live young. After this he was laughed at. Guppy is also the first fish to go into space.

Initially, especially when conducting scientific research, not only aquariums were used to keep a couple of guppies, but also battery jars made of glass with a capacity of 25-36 liters. These battery banks became the reason for the appearance of the common name in colloquial speech for aquariums, “banks”. As all-glass battery jars fell out of use in the aquarium hobby in particular and for their intended purpose in general, the mention in literature or conversation about keeping fish of the term “jar” led to a widespread persistent misconception that it does not mean a battery jar, but a canning jar.

Guppies prefer aquariums with fresh, regularly replaced water, sufficient space for swimming, a slight current, plants with finely dissected leaf blades or dense floating roots, and a variety of live food. Guppies are unpretentious, but can reach their maximum size only under favorable conditions. The offspring of the most thoroughbred parents in poor conditions will not achieve either their brightness or their luxuriance of fins. Guppies can live in a glass of water, but this is more of an existence than a life.

Typically, the volume of a guppy aquarium ranges from 20-50 liters, with a side height of about 5-7 cm to prevent fish from jumping out, and if the aquarium is closed with a lid, it is important not to forget about forced aeration, but at the same time, many do not comply with these parameters and They try to keep fish in very small aquariums with a volume of up to 10 liters.
Due to lighting, guppies, like many other domestic animals, as well as in unsuitable living conditions, grow poorly and are poorly colored. It is better to place the aquarium so that direct rays of the sun briefly fall into it in the morning or evening, then unpretentious plants, such as vallisneria and hornwort, will grow well. An aquarium with guppy should be decorated with soil, coarse sand or small pebbles, with plants planted in it. These fish do not burrow at the bottom and do not damage plants. They are almost completely peaceful. The design of the pond should be such that there is enough space for swimming. It is permissible to keep only male guppies in a decorative aquarium when offspring are not required.

It is important to take into account the impossibility of guppies living alone for a long time. Therefore, these fish must be placed in the aquarium in pairs or groups. The optimal constant water temperature is the range of +24-26 °C, and the permissible temperature range is +23-28 °C. These fish survive in the range from +14° to +33 °C.

Guppies are practically omnivorous fish; in addition to ciliates and cyclops, they willingly eat dry food, finely chopped meat, squid fillets, and cereals. Live food should predominate in the fish’s diet, which it is advisable to alternate regularly: daphnia, small bloodworms, brine shrimp, sometimes you can give tubifex, moine or coretra. The inhabitants of the aquarium are also given plant food in small quantities; they can be fed with compound feed. The main thing is not to add too much food, otherwise some of it will settle to the bottom and pollute the aquarium, and also change the water regularly.

Guppies swim in the upper and middle layers of water, so it is quite possible to add peaceful schooling fish of the characin family, corydoras, neons, zebrafish, and platies to them. Also, guppies and those fish that prefer lower layers of water to live will not interfere.

At low temperatures, guppies grow larger and live 3-3.5 years, but they can easily get sick. The gestation period of females lengthens, the fry are born large. At water temperatures below +18 °C, the development of eggs may stop altogether and the reproductive function becomes dormant. At high temperatures, guppies live 1 year or less and grow small. The duration of pregnancy for females becomes shorter, and the fry are born small. When kept in the upper temperature range of +30-33 °C, “self-sterilization” is possible due to the loss of activity and ability to fertilize sperm.

It is hardly possible to name any other group of fish in which for many decades there has been a constant interest of a significant part of both novice and experienced aquarists. This unfading interest is explained not so much by the peculiarities of the biology of reproduction: viviparity, ovoviviparity, attractive paint, ease of keeping and breeding of most species, but by the large number of varieties created through crossings and selection. All this makes it possible not only to admire beautiful fish and material for interesting observations, but also chances in a relatively short time to achieve success in breeding new varieties that differ from existing ones in color, as well as in the shape of the body and fins. Therefore, having become interested in breeding viviparous fish and observing the birth of live fry, and this is always a holiday even for an aquarist with extensive experience, he often unwittingly becomes a breeder.

Breeding and reproduction

Guppies are called viviparous fish because, unlike many other species, they spawn fully formed individuals rather than eggs. That is why the development of eggs in the female’s abdomen is carried out only due to the nutrients that were in the egg before fertilization, and during the development process, nutrients do not enter the egg from the mother’s body.

Fertilization in guppies, like most fish, is internal. The sperm is introduced into the female using a modified anal fin in males called a "gonopodium". This is a copulatory organ, which consists of three anterior rays of the anal fin rolled into a tube. The anal fin of immature males is in no way different from the anal fin of females. Only as it grows older does it change its shape: first it turns into a triangle, and then into a tube. Due to its mobility, the gonopodium can take any position to inseminate the female.

Spermatophores, the so-called containers with sperm, having entered the female’s genitals and fertilized the eggs, are partially deposited inside the mother’s body and remain viable for several months. It often happens that after one fertilization, guppies can have from 6 to 11 litters (sometimes more). Thus, when breeding these fish, it can be difficult to determine from which male the offspring were obtained if the female was fertilized by one male, and after spawning by another. However, behavioral studies of guppies have shown that when mating, females prefer partners with a bright, visible caudal fin.

One of the most serious problems that reduce guppy offspring is cannibalism. The loss of fry from being eaten by the female among viviparous poeciliids reaches 50% of the offspring. The lack of parental care in guppies forces aquarists to vigilantly monitor the birth of fry and remove them from the female as soon as possible. If a second aquarium is not available, the juveniles' chances of survival are increased by adding plenty of cover and plants to the tank.

Many aquarists use a container with holes as a depositor for breeders. Through small holes, the offspring swims to another section of the aquarium and thus hides from the female. Relatively recently, a modification was proposed this method, based on the behavioral characteristics of guppies. The fact is that all poeciliids are visual feeding fish, that is, the female must see the fry in order to eat them. On the other hand, juveniles tend to the illuminated areas. Based on the evidence, researchers in Israel added LED lights to the hatcheries, which illuminated only the central area where the fry congregated. Dividing the container into darkened and illuminated zones made it possible to increase the survival rate of juvenile guppies.

The female must be transferred to another container when the maturity spot at the anus becomes brown-black or black and the abdomen becomes rectangular.
For this, you can take a liter jar, fill it with water and leave it floating in the aquarium. This is done so that the temperature of the water in the fish tank and the aquarium is practically the same. Although experience shows that it is better to keep the female in a 5-liter jar, and after the birth of the fry, remove her and remove most of the stones and plants. The litter should be left to rear until the sex of the fry can be determined. As for the water in the fish tank, it should not contain iodine and salt, and its level should not exceed 12 cm.

Mistakes of beginner guppies

The main mistake that beginning guppy lovers make is keeping several breeds at once (“compote”) in one aquarium, which results in a low-value cross between the offspring.

Another group of common mistakes made by beginning guppy lovers is keeping fish in too cramped living conditions, using containers with an insufficient volume of water for normal life activities, excessively high stocking density of fish, sudden changes in biological and chemical indicators of water and conditions for keeping guppies.

It is important that in some cases, color genes are associated with the size and shape of both the fish themselves and their fins. That is, in other words, if you cross blue long-finned guppies with guppies that have the same long fins, but a different color, for example, red, it is not necessary that the offspring will have fish with the same fins. There is a high probability that the result will not be very good.

Breeds

Black Prince - This is one of the famous breeds of guppies. It is distinguished by a special rich black color of almost the entire body. Females are slightly less bright than males. The Black Prince guppy has a whitish head and belly. This breed is often passed off as a Moscow Blue.

Moscow blue is a Russian breed of guppy, which is also very popular abroad. Its peculiarity is a beautiful blue-turquoise color in males, gray in females (ladies have black fins). The abdomen and voices are light, and the tail triangular shape. The female is distinguished from the male upon reaching the age of 1 month. The color of the fish may darken with age.

Red blond- distinguished by the bright red color of the tail and fin on the back and white-pearl scales on the head. When representatives of this species swim, they seem to shimmer. In females, the color is slightly dominated by a light shade.

Leopard– the name of the breed speaks for itself. All fish of this species have a pronounced “cat” color. Black spots and stripes are scattered on a yellow background. Moreover, they cover the entire body of the male and only the tail of the female.

Hispanic has a very rich and beautiful color. The body of the fish is dark in color, and the tails are red-orange with black dots scattered over it. There may be white pearlescent spots at the base of the tail. The rich dorsal fin is also orange with light color accents.

Red cobra- one of the most beautiful types of guppies. On a yellowish background there are spots scattered in color, reminiscent of the skin of a snake. The edges of the tail and dorsal fin are painted bright red. Some individuals may have orange spots instead of black and yellow. Males are distinguished by rich, bushy tails and dorsal fins.

Berlin view widespread and often found in aquariums. It has three main colors: black, orange and turquoise. In this case, the body is colored in the first, the tail in the second, and the dorsal fin in the third. Various variations of colors and shades are possible - for example, both fins can be orange-red.

Veiled guppies is a group of breeds that are united by the presence of a rich, lush caudal fin. There are several forms of it: forked, skirted, flag-tailed, train-shaped and others. When these fish move, their tail looks very beautiful in the water, moving very gently. By the way, the colors of the veil tail can be very different. An example of the Tuxedo or black and white veiled guppy that can be seen in the photo.

Compatibility

Due to the peaceful nature of pets, it is worth considering the possibility of keeping them separately from other fish, but if you still want to make an aquarium with many types of fish, then carefully select your neighbors. Under no circumstances should they be placed with predators.

Guppies get along well with some catfish, gourami, tetras, loaches and some types of characin fish; corydoras are also suitable. But in practice it has been proven that even among them there are cocky individuals who strive to offend guppies.

Thus, be attentive to your neighbors for such gentle and defenseless fish. Leave stereotypes and carefully study the approach to both the owners of the aquarium and their neighbors. Guppies get along well with peace-loving fish, but they categorically do not accept fighters. Pay close attention to the behavior of all pets. If you notice aggression from another fish during feeding, then you should try increasing the dose of food. It is hunger or lack of free space that can turn ideal neighbors into worst enemies, which will lead to injury and stress. When choosing neighbors, read as much information as possible and consult with other breeders about whether the new inhabitants will eat the viviparous guppy fry.

Guppy diseases

Guppies are extremely hardy fish with good immunity. Their unpretentiousness and adaptability allow them to survive in the most seemingly unsuitable conditions. But, unfortunately, there are diseases of guppies, to which veiled varieties and breed forms with complex colors are especially prone.

Guppy infertility. Female guppies become unable to give birth to fry. The color of the fish fades, especially shades of red disappear in the color. This is due, first of all, to prolonged over-lighting in the aquarium. “Daylight” for guppies takes no more than 10-12 hours a day. By adjusting the lighting in the aquarium, the owner can hope that bright colors will return to the fish, but infertility, alas, is incurable.

Poor growth of males. It happens that fry, especially male guppies, grow poorly, do not reach their full “adult” size, and their color becomes faded. This is due to the fact that during the period of intensive growth they are in an aquarium with poor aeration. Before maturity, the situation can be partially corrected by adjusting the water supply in the aquarium.

Hermaphroditism. A phenomenon in which females develop a testis, a male organ, along with the ovary. There may be cases of self-fertilization of such fish. The overwhelming percentage of offspring, as a rule, have the same “bisexual” characteristics. And a small number of males are born sterile. The phenomenon and its causes have been little studied.

Dropsy (ascites). Dropsy is an intestinal disease. The main symptoms that characterize dropsy are a swollen abdomen and ruffled scales. The fish tries to go down and hide. Dropsy also causes bulging eyes. Dropsy is a viral disease that can be treated with antibacterial drugs and frequent water changes.

Tetrachymenosis is a specific disease of guppy that is rarely found in other fish. The causative agents are tetrahymena, small ciliated ciliates. Tetrahymena feed on both microorganisms and tissues of multicellular creatures, which invariably entails the possibility of infection. Tetrahymena infects the most vulnerable parts of guppies - the slimy gills and fins. On the surface of the body of a fish that has been struck by tetrahymena, a white mucous coating is clearly visible, which then slides off in flakes, the scales become ruffled and the gills protrude. Later, tetrahymena penetrate deeper into the “host’s” body and begin to devour it from the inside. At this stage, patients may experience bloating. Tetrahymena fry can be eaten almost completely. Tetrahymena are destroyed by furazolidone and biseptol, which are dissolved in water. The drugs are harmful to plants, so it is better to treat them in a nursery. Tetrahymena are dangerous not only for guppies, but also for their neighbors - for example, labyrinth fish. Therefore, healthy pets are recommended to undergo prophylaxis by adding furazolidone to their food.

Fin rot. Rot affects the fins and is expressed in the disintegration of the interray tissue. At an early stage, rot can be difficult to notice - it simply looks like a slight clouding along the edge of the fins. However, it is at the very beginning that it is easiest to cope with the disease. It is enough to improve the conditions of keeping the fish, add salt and change the water more often, increase the oxygen supply in the aquarium and the quality of food for fin rot to go away. In more advanced cases, fin rot is treated by adding antibacterial agents to the water - streptocide, biomycin, bicillin-5. Fin rot takes a long time to cure – up to three months. Keep in mind that an outbreak of this disease usually indicates poor aquarium maintenance. Guppies are sensitive to aeration and freshness of water. Fin rot usually begins when the water stagnates for a long time and begins to deteriorate.

Mycobacteriosis or fish tuberculosis is a dangerous and extremely contagious disease. A fish that has been affected by tuberculosis rapidly loses weight, sucks in its stomach, hunches over, becomes dull, becomes apathetic and tries to hide, and swims down to the bottom. Tuberculosis has another obvious sign - the eyes turn black. Tuberculosis is considered incurable. Pets affected by it should be destroyed and the aquarium should be disinfected. However, many amateur aquarists argue that tuberculosis can be stopped by the use of antibiotics mixed into fish food. There is no exact scientific data on this issue, but cases of rapid improvement in the condition of “patients” affected by tuberculosis have indeed been recorded. However, keep in mind that a fish that once contracted tuberculosis will never regain its full physical form. In addition, her immunity will be undermined and tuberculosis may return at any time.

Trichodinosis. The disease can be difficult to identify early stages. Its main symptom, a grayish-blue coating that appears on the surface of the body, the stomach, affecting the gills of the fish, is barely visible. Therefore, it is easier to diagnose the disease by the behavior of the fish: they go down, rub against stones and decorations, try to swim into aeration bubbles, as if they are itching. Guppies can also stand still while swaying. Trichodinosis is especially dangerous for juveniles and fry of guppies. It is treated by heating the water to 33-34 degrees, adding salt or methyl blue to the aquarium. It is imperative to increase the aeration of the aquarium: in warm water, oxygen dissolves much less well, if its supply does not increase, the fish may simply suffocate.

Plistophorosis is another incurable disease. The main sign: guppies swim vertically, with their heads raised and tail down. Pets lose their appetite, the color of the body surface becomes faded, and the stomach retracts. Plistophorosis cannot be treated; all sick fish should be destroyed, the container where they lived should be thoroughly disinfected, and the soil should be boiled.

Red scab. The disease affects male guppies, starting from the tail, manifesting itself in the form of red rashes on the surface of the fin and its splitting. Treatment is possible if the red scab affects no more than half of the tail. The diseased part of the tail should be removed with a sharp blade, and the fish should be placed in salted water. This is done so that the injury on the tail heals faster. Aeration in an aquarium with a sick fish should be increased as much as possible - its living conditions should be optimal in order to quickly recover from the “surgery” of the tail. Even if you have recorded a case of tail disease in only one fish, be sure to pay attention to the tails of others after it has been cured in order to prevent an epidemic in time.

Scoliosis or curvature of the spine. The disease occurs in guppy fry and is a curvature of the fish’s spine, its smaller size, and a retracted abdomen. This is a congenital defect that presumably occurs due to insufficient aeration of the aquarium in which the pregnant female is kept and inadequate nutrition. Spinal curvature cannot be treated. A spine bent by disease remains that way forever. As a rule, fish with a curved spine are smaller and weaker than their peers, and are more susceptible to infections. Guppies with deformities are discarded from selection.

Ichthyophthirius multiphyliis or guppy disease. Characteristic specifically for this type of fish. Affects the body, stomach, and gills of guuppies. In the early stages, the fish show signs of itching, then whitish rashes appear on the surface of the body. The rash increases over several days. When the rash affects the gills, respiratory function is impaired. Lethargy, apathy, and loss of appetite also appear. The fish may tend to go down, closer to the bottom. Scales rise on the surface of the body. It is treated with specialized medications or formaldehyde baths. In the case of formaldehyde treatment, it is important to use a fresh solution each time - “old” is poisonous to fish.

Endler's guppy

Endler's guppies are considered endemic to the coastal lagoons of northern Venezuela, particularly Buena Vista and Campoma, east of the city of Cumana, and Laguna De Patos, in the western part of Cumana.

In captivity, the life expectancy of fish is 3-5 years. Because of his small size they cannot be recommended for a multi-species decorative aquarium, especially if breeding is planned. Neighbors are usually peaceful small species, such as dwarf corydoras, tetras and iris. In the Endler's guppy population, males are generally peaceful while females exhibit territoriality. It is better to keep fish in large groups.

The fish are omnivores; in nature they feed on zoobenthic organisms and detritus. In captivity, they consume any small food with the addition of plant components.

Breeding these fish is not difficult. They will reproduce without any effort on the part of the aquarist in a community aquarium. In this case, the main question is not how to breed the species, but when the fry will appear. It is necessary to provide the aquarium with plenty of hiding places and aquatic vegetation. As a rule, every 23-24 days, females give birth to 5-25 fully formed fry. The number of offspring depends on the age and size of the mother. Adults rarely eat juveniles, but it is better to place the pregnant female in a separate container, and subsequently raise the offspring separately. The fry are fed 2-3 times a day and they grow very quickly. At 3-4 weeks of age, males develop adult coloration, while females become sexually mature by 2 months.

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Guppy
Latin name: Poecilia reticulata.

Description: body length of males is 2-3 cm, varied in color: red, blue, green, white, black, yellow, golden, etc. Many black and colored spots are scattered throughout the body. The shape of the tail and dorsal fins can also vary. Females reach 4-5 cm in length, the color is gray, gray-blue, gray-olive, gray-yellowish, sometimes there are black specks on the fins or they are faintly colored pink, blue, yellow and other colors.

Behavior: peaceful, calm fish, can suffer from larger and more aggressive neighbors in the aquarium. They swim in all layers of water, but most often in the upper layers. Perhaps the most unpretentious and common aquarium fish.

Breeding: viviparous. Pregnancy lasts 3-5 weeks, its sign is an enlarged abdomen in the female. Before giving birth, the abdomen becomes almost square, pregnancy spots located near the anus increase and turn black, sometimes the female can hide in dark and quiet corners of the aquarium. 10-100 fry are born at a time. The quantity depends on the size and age of the female. The initial food for the fry is rotifers, ciliates, and “live dust.” If the offspring of guppies are undesirable for you, then the pregnant female does not need to be removed from the general aquarium: the born fry will become live food for other fish. Otherwise, the female needs to be placed in another vessel and immediately after birth returned to the general aquarium. Guppy fry can also be grown in a three-liter jar, but you need to remember that their size, brightness of color and growth rate depend on the size of the container, water temperature and quality of food. The smaller the container in which the fry are kept, the slower they will grow and the smaller they will reach when they become adults. Puberty in guppies occurs at the age of 2-4 months, depending on the conditions of detention.

Guppies are very easy to keep and breed. For beginner aquarists, this is an excellent opportunity to gain experience; for more experienced ones, it’s easy to carry out breeding experiments, since guppies can be of almost any color, and the results of crossing are sometimes very interesting

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Guppy fish

Guppies have always been considered the most unpretentious aquarium fish in our country and therefore enjoyed enormous popularity. And this popularity is absolutely deserved, just look at the huge variety of color variations and shapes!

Natural populations of guppies are widespread in fresh and brackish waters of Venezuela, Guiana, north of the Amazon, in northern Brazil, on the islands of Barbados and Trinidad.

Even in our country, with its harsh climate, the population of wild guppies lives in the Moscow River, in places where warm waters drain.

Guppies adapt well to hard water and tolerate salinity well. They prefer fresh, clean water with regular changes and little current. When they are kept in old water with rare changes, the luxurious tail fins begin to cut and tear, and the fish fall into a depressed state.

Guppies also prefer aquariums with thickets of live plants. They do not live very long in aquariums - 3-3.5 years, at high temperatures even less due to increased metabolism.

Although guppies are unpretentious, they look most vibrant and impressive when the most favorable and comfortable living conditions are provided for them. To demonstrate bright colors, it is recommended to use bright lighting with rays of a certain spectrum.

These foods rich in protein components include:

Although guppies are hardy creatures, they are susceptible to the same diseases as other tropical fish. Most often they get sick:

The basic rule to remember: it is better to prevent a disease in advance than to treat it. That is why, first of all, you need to provide the fish with everything they need, try to approximate as accurately as possible artificial conditions aquarium to its natural habitat. It is also important to remember that before being planted in your aquarium, all fish must undergo quarantine in a fish tank.

Guppies exhibit pronounced sexual dimorphism. Females differ from males in color, brightness of color, fullness and size: females are much larger than males. Puberty occurs at approximately three months.

Females with species differences

Guppies give birth to absolutely mature, viable fry. It would be more correct to say that they are not viviparous, but ovoviviparous. The fry develop from eggs, but development occurs in the mother’s body and they feed not due to the connection with the mother, as in placental mammals, but due to nutritional properties the caviar itself.

In organism female guppies The eggs ripen, they ripen as if in clusters. Fertilization of eggs occurs inside the female's body. During the process of fertilization, the male inseminates the ripe bunch and the development of eggs begins.

Embryos develop inside the egg and receive nutrients from the yolk's reserves. When the fry are formed, they emerge from the eggs into the mother's body, after which they exit the mother's body into the water - “birth”. Then the development of the next fertilized bunch begins. Gestation lasts for different types from 18 to 60 days.

Fry are born viable, without a yolk bladder, and can feed themselves and hide from predators.

It's important not to confuse KINDS And BREEDS guppy There are only 8 species of guppies:

The common guppy has more than 60 selective (artificially bred) breeds. The remaining species do not have breeding breeds.

Poecilia reticulate was once introduced into most developing countries to combat malaria, because these fish are very successful in exterminating larvae and adult mosquitoes Anopheles that carry malaria.

There are certain standards developed by the International Guppy Breeding Council, which primarily concern morphological characteristics. This Council regularly (about 6 times a year) provides all its representatives with various types of information about the results of competitions, new directions in guppy breeding and genetics, organizes various international events, and also improves evaluation criteria guppy. International exhibitions and championships are constantly held in Europe, America and Asia, which are now world centers for the mass, commercial breeding of guppies for export.

Endler's guppy

This species of guppy was discovered by a travel explorer John Endler in one of the reservoirs in Venezuela. It later turned out that this small, fast fish lives in only a few places in this country and is not found anywhere else in the world in the wild.

In appearance and structure it is very similar to ordinary guppies, only it is much smaller and does not have a large fan-shaped tail. These varieties of guppies easily interbreed with each other, with the smaller and nimble Endler males having a noticeable advantage over the females. This suggests that we are dealing with a local branch of guppies, which developed in isolation and, perhaps, unfavorable living conditions reduced the size of the fish.

Breeds and breed types of guppies

Voile (Train): Emerald, Dark-tailed, Dark-tailed carpet type. Fantail: Scarlet, Blue. Carpet: Velvet, Carnation, Spanish. Green Smooth: Moscow Blue-green is a type that is not very stable. Red-tailed Half-black (Berlin): Many intra-breed types - Very stable breed. Scarf: Moscow Scarf, Half Black Scarf, Mesh Scarf, Colored Scarf - The dorsal fin is elongated and widened, hanging to the side. Voile-scarf— The dorsal fin is in the form of a scarf, the caudal fin is in the form of a veil. Ribbon-scarf— The dorsal fin is in the form of a scarf, the caudal fin is in the form of a ribbon. Tape— The caudal fin is elongated at the bottom in the form of a long ribbon. In the best specimens it is longer than the body; sometimes there is a ribbon on the upper blade of the caudal fin. The middle of the tail is almost always colorless. Half black or leopard print. Mesh- Marriage from half-blacks. Mesh gold. Smaragdoyava or Winner's guppies. Emerald gold.

Guppies also differ in the shape of their tail fin. Here are the basic standards for fin shapes.

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How do guppies reproduce in an aquarium? Peculiarities

To breed guppies, you should select several females and one male (more are possible, but one is enough), who will constantly pursue the females and fertilize. During such a period, it is better not to disturb him - this is a condition for successful breeding.

The aquarium should have pure water, the fish are fed abundantly during this period. After pregnancy becomes noticeable in female guppies, will they have an enlarged belly (closer to childbirth, it resembles a trapezoid) and a darkening spot in the anal area? they are placed in separate spawning aquariums with a volume of approximately 5 liters. This is done so that the fry do not become food for neighbors.

The female carries the eggs in her stomach for about a month; this period can be extended to 7 weeks - it all depends on the type of fish and the conditions of detention. Since the guppy is a viviparous species, it does not lay eggs: an already formed fry is born.

Before giving birth, the female refuses to eat, moves little, tries to swim to the heater in the aquarium, and her tail trembles. Usually, during the first spawning, the female brings up to 25 fry, and in subsequent births several times more.

Pregnant and postpartum female guppies should have vegetation in their aquarium. Mother guppy can eat her fry, and aquarium plants will give the babies a place to hide. However, in order not to risk the offspring, it is best to separate the female guppy from the babies into a common aquarium immediately after giving birth.

Caring for guppy fry

Babies are born as fully formed fish, so caring for baby guppies is no more difficult than caring for adults.

Leftover food should be carefully removed. To do this, you can add, for example, ampularia to the aquarium, which will collect the remains of food without touching the fry. It is important that there is clean water in the aquarium, but it is not recommended to make large changes - it is enough to change 10% of the water every two days.

The water temperature should be in the range of 24-26.5°C.

At good care Guppy fry grow quickly and begin to color by 4-6 weeks. Grown-up babies are transplanted into a common aquarium. At about 4 months, guppies become sexually mature.

Endler's guppies: breeding in an aquarium

Unlike ordinary ones, in dwarf guppies, guppi/endler's guppy, reproduction has the following features:

1. The birth mark of female Endler guppies is somewhat lighter than that of ordinary ones.
2. The belly of pregnant females remains round before giving birth.
3. Endler's guppies do not eat their fry, so they are reared only to provide the babies with proper nutrition.
4. Pregnancy in a female Endler guppy lasts 22-23 days.
5. At the same time, from 5 to 25 fry are born.
6. By two months, females become sexually mature.

pluspet.ru

Description

1. Guppies prefer to settle in Brazil, South America, as well as on the islands of Tobago and Trinidad. These named places are considered the homeland of guppies. They prefer clear, free of impurities water.
2. They can live in brackish springs, but not too salty like sea water. Due to their natural characteristics, they eat bloodworms, larvae, worms, as well as small insects that fall into the water.
3. Due to their ability to eat mosquitoes, guppies began to be artificially introduced into the habitats of malaria mosquitoes, because fish eat their larvae. In terms of their characteristics, male guppies are bright, females are more inconspicuous and large.
4. The color of these fish is the result of the work of the discoverers, who had to create inhabitants that would be as close in color as possible to the natural biotope. Often fish become victims and need to hide.
5. As for the dimensions, we have already mentioned. Females are large, males are smaller. Their length can reach 4-5 cm, but this is rare. The average lifespan of small aquatic pets hardly exceeds 3 years.
6. It is difficult to describe the appearance of these representatives. Since guppies have been used for quite a long time in breeding and creating new species, their color and body shape defy description. There are individuals that are completely different from each other.
7. Fish breathe oxygen in the water. They do not take in atmospheric air, so guppies need a carefully prepared aquarium. It is important to install filtration and aeration.
8. Many people are interested in the maximum life span of these fish. Due to the fact that they love warm water, all metabolic processes are accelerated. The fish die quickly. Therefore, the duration of existence directly depends on water parameters. The higher the temperature, the shorter the life.

Is it difficult to keep guppies?

1. The fish is suitable for keeping in aquarium conditions for beginners. It is small, moderately active, and does not require special preparatory measures for reproduction and care. It would seem that the list positive qualities I could go on for a very long time.
2. However, it is important to know that not all guppies are so easy to keep at home. It is important to choose the right option for yourself during the purchasing process. If all the fish look like carbon copies, then you should refuse them. To identify breeder fish, you need to carefully examine them. If they look the same, like clones, and even the fins are the same shape, then these pets will be difficult to care for.
3. In cases where all the fish are different in some way, it means they were born naturally and will feel great in the aquarium. It is important that members of the family have completely different colors, body shapes and fins in particular.
4. Such difficulties are caused by serious crossbreeding, which is why pets become more beautiful (possibly), but also lose immunity. They are sensitive to changes in water and its quality, react negatively to vegetation, etc.
5. Therefore, if you are just trying yourself as an aquarist, purchase the simplest and most varied guppies. Such fish are no worse than pets bred through repeated crossings.

Feeding

1. Guppies are unpretentious in their diet; they do not require fancy food. Typically, adults are fed dry, frozen or live food. The fry eat the same ground food. You can choose flakes, granules, or other varieties. As for live food, they usually give tubifex, bloodworms, coretra, and brine shrimp.
2. It is worth remembering forever that these representatives of the aquatic family oral cavity small, the same can be said about the stomach. Therefore, it is necessary to feed the fish often, but in small portions. Typically, food is given three times a day; a guppy should take a maximum of 3 minutes for one meal.
3. Guppy has poor motor skills digestive system, therefore, it is additionally necessary to provide foods with a high concentration of plant compounds. Twice a week they are given food that is rich in vitamins and everything necessary.
4. It is worth highlighting dry food separately. Give daphnia, which is sold by weight in stores and markets. Such food is given no more than once a week, because at its core, daphnia is just dry shells. They are useful in moderation, but in large quantities they can cause significant harm.
5. If you feed your little guests three times a day, and one of the meals remains uneaten or the fish do not finish it completely, then the feeding needs to be changed. Give the fish food twice a day in the same portions. Try to feed the guppies at the same time so that they get used to it and are not in search of food. Otherwise, these fish will eat their fry.

Compatibility

1. The fish does not cause trouble in the neighborhood and has a good-natured temperament. You cannot add representatives of the aquatic family, which are famous for their predatory instincts, to it. Guppies are constantly perceived as food, so they approach the choice of roommates with all responsibility.
2. Also, you cannot choose as neighbors those fish that bite off their fins. This category includes kissing gourami, Indian knives, fire barbs, etc.
3. Guppies get along best with congos, neonfish, rasboras, catfish, cardinals and other small fish. Because they are non-conflict, problem-free.
4. In some aquariums you can find catfish living happily next to guppies. Small representatives of the family are chosen from catfish, because large ones are predators. The exception is the cockroach; it will get along with these pets without eating them in no time.

1. The fish are tropical species that prefer to swim in warm water. The temperature should not go beyond 22-25 degrees, this is enough for the fish. However, in nature, pets live at 19-29 degrees, which negatively affects their lifespan. In hot water, fish die quickly, and in cold water they get sick.
2. Parameters for non-breeder guppies aquatic environment are not of fundamental importance. They quickly adapt to vibrations, so they easily transfer movements from one tank to another. Stick to hardness levels between 12-18 units and acidity levels between 7-8.5 units. However, the parameters may differ; this will not prevent the guppies from reproducing.
3. Another positive feature of this type of fish is its unpretentiousness in terms of tank volume. They require 20 liters. for 5 individuals. That is, 4 liters each. for one fish. However, these pets love to swim, so any additional room for maneuver will be received positively.
4. Fish do not always require plants; by nature, guppies swim in dark places. The plants in the tank need light to prevent them from getting sick. Plant the aquarium with plants because they will provide the necessary shade. At the same time, take care of diffuse lamps so that the vegetation does not die.
5. If you have an external filter in use, it will suit your guppy. But with a small number of individuals in the aquarium, the fish feel great with an internal filter equipped with a sponge. If the filtering mechanism is powerful, then cover the holes in it with a net so that the fish do not get sucked in.
6. There is no point in keeping guppies in the amount of a couple of individuals, much less one at a time. It looks sad, aquatic inhabitants are practically invisible among the vegetation and shelters. They look beautiful in schools, so buy a lot of fish at once.
7. The aquarium environment must be arranged in such a way that it has shelters. Because guppies will not survive without it, especially the fry.

How to distinguish a male from a female

1. Sexual differences in the individuals in question are obvious. It is for this reason that you will not have any difficulties with this.
2. Males are much smaller than females. They are also noticeably slim. In males you can see a large caudal fin.
3. The females of the species in question are quite large. They have a fairly large and rounded belly. Also, females have a less bright color.
4. Even younger individuals can already be distinguished. It's all pretty obvious. The fry, which earlier began to acquire a brighter color, grow up to be males.

Reproduction

1. The presented individuals reproduce in the aquarium without any problems. You don't even need to create one for this. special conditions. Breeding will be very simple. Guppies are viviparous water world.
2. After birth, the fry are immediately able to swim independently. In rare cases, young animals appear in the aquarium as eggs. The little one immediately tears it apart and begins to exist independently. The bottom line is that the female carries the eggs inside herself. Then viable fry are born.
3. Literally a few hours later, the young animals begin to feed on their own. Until this moment they will hide and adapt. In order to start breeding these fish, you just need a male and a female. Nothing more is required from you.
4. Breeders recommend having several females for one male. In this case, no problems arise at all. In this case, breeding will be more than successful. If desired, it is allowed to have more males. Same-sex individuals do not fight among themselves.
5. Do not panic ahead of time if you notice that the male is tirelessly pursuing the female. This behavior is considered normal. This can be characterized by the male impregnating the female. It’s just worth knowing that young animals will soon appear in the aquarium.
6. In order for the fish to feel as comfortable as possible, it is necessary to provide them with clean and fresh water. Also, in a favorable environment, reproduction will occur better. During such a period, it is especially important to provide individuals with abundant and high-quality feeding.
7. For breeding, individuals of different sexes will be required. In this case, the representatives in question do not even need to be transplanted into a separate aquarium. They reproduce well in a common container. Only here there are some subtleties. The fry will be eaten by all and sundry. Even parents eat their own offspring.
8. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to temporarily transplant the pregnant individual into a separate container. If you don't know how to tell if a female is pregnant or when she's about to give birth, you need to rely on some facts.
9. Typically, females produce fry once a month. In addition, the timing may vary greatly. The reason for this may be various conditions water content and temperature. You need to remember the moment when the female last gave birth. After this, periodically observe the individuals.
10. A female who is preparing for a new birth will have a darker spot. Thus, the eyes of the fry begin to be visible. Each time the stain will darken more. Be prepared for the female to give birth soon.
11. Your task remains to transplant the female into a separate aquarium. Keep in mind that the conditions in the tank should be exactly the same as in a general aquarium. The fry should have no problem hiding in the algae and feel safe.
12. After the female gives birth, transfer her to a community aquarium; if this is not done, she may eat her own offspring. The maintenance of fry is practically no different from that of adults. You can feed the young animals with the crushed food that you gave to the parents.
13. Breeders, of course, recommend purchasing special food for fry or dry egg food. This food consists of dried cyclops and daphnia. The product can be purchased at any pet store without any problems.
14. Among other things, the aquarium of young animals must be cleaned frequently. Otherwise, waste from fish and food will quickly pollute the water. As an alternative, it is allowed to introduce snails to the fry. Individuals will not conflict with each other. In turn, the snails will clean the aquarium.
15. Keep in mind that the fry’s water should always be clean. Only here there are some subtleties. Do not change large quantities of fluid at once. Such conditions can be dangerous for the fragile organism of young animals. Maintain the water temperature within 25 degrees.

Guppies are one of the most common aquarium fish. It is very easy to keep such individuals in a common container with other representatives of the aquatic world. When breeding, it is recommended to use a separate aquarium. In order for individuals to live comfortably and for a long time, try to provide the most comfortable conditions.

howtogetrid.ru

Duration of pregnancy

Pregnancy in viviparous fish begins after mating. The female can store the male's milk for a long period of time, so if the fish was purchased at a pet store, and males swam in the same aquarium with the female, then most likely she will be pregnant.

The duration of pregnancy is 21-40 days, the higher the temperature, the shorter the gestation period, but the size of the fry will be smaller, so the optimal temperature range is considered to be 24-26 ° C.

How to determine pregnancy

The female's pregnancy will not be visible at first, she will be vigorous and eat well, and her abdomen will grow.

You can determine when to expect offspring using the “birth spot,” which is located next to the anus and anal fin. The larger and darker the birthmark, the closer the birth.

Guppies are unpretentious fish, but during such a delicate period they also require more care than usual.

In order to provide proper support to emerging young animals, you need to follow a few simple tips:

Behavior before childbirth

In order to remove the guppy from the general aquarium in time, you need to watch it. Usually, before giving birth, she begins to behave restlessly, seek shelter, or, conversely, lie motionless on the stones.

When and where to plant

Before accepting offspring, you need to prepare a container. A small aquarium of 10-20 liters or a 3-5 liter jar is suitable as a spawning tank. You need to fill the reservoir a few days before giving birth so that the water can settle and a bacterial balance can form in it. To fill the spawning tank, it is better to use some fresh water and a little (14) old water from the general aquarium.

To prevent the “guppy” from feasting on its own offspring, you need to create shelters. It is best to use hornwort for these purposes. The fry can easily hide in it, but the female will not see them.

If it is not possible to provide the female with a spawning ground:

• It is enough to create dense thickets in a general aquarium, which will increase the fry’s chances of survival.
• In addition, you can pay attention to special depositors that are sold in pet stores. They consist of a plastic frame and fabric with a very small mesh, through which the fry will not be able to penetrate into the general aquarium. This device will help save space.

The birthmark and the shape of the abdomen will help determine the appropriate time for depositing:

• Before birth, the spot becomes very dark and large.
• The abdomen becomes very large, with convex sides and takes on a rectangular shape. You can correctly assess the shape of the abdomen before morning feeding, on an empty stomach.

It is best to place the mother in labor immediately before spawning, because alone she will experience stress, since guppies are schooling fish. Another reason why it is better not to rush into jigging is the male. Some individuals may have problems with childbirth, and it is the male, constantly poking the stigma and gonopodium in the birth spot area, that can stimulate the spawning process.

You need to catch the female carefully, without frightening her or putting pressure on her abdomen. The temperature of the water in the spawning tank should not differ much from the temperature of the general aquarium.

After the fish is placed in the tank, it will need to be covered with a dark cloth. This will help calm your pet and prevent her from noticing and eating the fry.

Some time after the transplant, she will begin to give birth. A female guppy, depending on its size, can produce from 10 to 200 fry. The duration of labor depends on the number of fry, which she gives birth to one at a time.

If the female’s abdomen has become flat and she has stopped producing offspring, then the birth can be considered over, and the guppy itself needs to be transplanted into a common aquarium.

Postnatal care for fry

The fry spend the first 2-3 days in thickets or lie on the bottom. They have a yolk sac, so they do not need additional nutrition. After it resolves, the juveniles begin to actively search for food. Suitable food:

• mashed egg yolk;
• frozen cyclops;
• “live dust” (ciliates);
• decapsulated Artemia eggs and nauplii;
• finely ground dry food.

The fry should be fed as often as possible and in small portions in order to increase their growth rate.

aquariumguide.ru

Guppies are the most common and famous fish that are easy to keep, feed and care for.

Guppy Poecilia reticulata is a freshwater viviparous aquarium fish. The guppy fish belongs to the family Poeciliidae, order Carp-toothed. Males and females can be distinguished visually by shape, color and size.

For beginner aquarists, guuppies are the best the best choice. These are very simple and not picky aquarium fish to keep. They can be kept in both large and small aquariums. Caring for guppies is so simple that if necessary (or this is not possible, for example, a small aquarium), then you can refuse filtration and aeration, just change the water more often. Guppies are often kept in small aquariums, for example, in offices or small rooms, or rooms where you need to create a small living area. Guppies are very suitable if a child wants to keep fish. A small aquarium can be placed in a nursery, for example, 15-30 liters. In this volume of an aquarium you can place 5-8 individuals.

History and origin of guppies

The homeland of the guppy fish is the rivers of northern South America in Venezuela, Guiana, Brazil and the islands of Barbados, Tobago and Trinidad. From where they were distributed throughout the world. Guppies were originally brought to England, where they were introduced by scientist Robert John Lechmere Guppy, and this species of fish was named after him.

In the second half of the 19th century, Europeans noticed that on the Indian islands, where there were a lot of guppies, people actually did not suffer from malaria, which was very widespread at that time due to mosquitoes. After which the guppies were very quickly distributed and transported to other bodies of water and even countries, as a result of which malaria actually retreated. The popularity of guppies has grown very much all over the world, as soon as the guppies came to Europe, breeders immediately began working on them, who bred new artificial species of these fish. Since that time, hundreds of guppy fish, different in appearance and color, have been bred.

Now in stores where they sell aquarium fish you can find guppies that were bred both in the USSR and Europe.

The difference between a male and a female. Guppy sizes

Male. Males have size up to 1.5 cm. These are dwarf, up to 4 cm. sometimes they grow up to 5 cm. these are already considered giants. Males, unlike females, have brighter and more varied colors. It can be all the colors of the rainbow with multi-colored spots and metallic reflections. The tail and dorsal fin can be xiphoid, scarf, train, ensign, lyre. Currently, there are thirteen varieties of guppies based on their tail shape. Males have a specialized organ for reproduction. The anal fin is transformed into a tubular gonopodium, which serves for internal fertilization. The male's body is elongated, slightly thickened on the sides, and slender. Male guppies in nature differ significantly from those in aquariums. They have a significantly smaller palette of different colors, this is due to the fact that in natural conditions There are predators that guppies need to hide from, which is why their colors are duller. But still, even in natural conditions, the male is much brighter than the female.

Female. Female guppies are larger than males. Sizes from 2.5 cm to 8 cm. In the anal area, the female's abdomen is enlarged, the fins are always smaller and proportional than those of the male. Females have a short tail. Sometimes there may be small bright spots on the tail. The anal fin is round. The body is translucent, also elongated, with a more dense rear part. The coloring is much duller than that of the male; it is gray-brown, with a bluish tint, gray with a greenish or olive tint.

Lifespan. How long do guppies live?

Guppies live relatively short lives. Life expectancy in an aquarium directly depends on the water temperature. The higher the water temperature, the shorter the guppy fish will live. Because the higher the water temperature, the faster all the life processes of the fish will go through and the faster it will die. Basically, Guppies live 2-3 years, this is at a temperature of 20-30 C. If the temperature in the aquarium is about 28 C, then the life expectancy of the fish will be about 1 year. There are also cases where guppies lived for about 5 years.

In subsequent articles you will be able to find out:

• compatibility of guppies with other inhabitants of aquariums
• care and maintenance of guppy

akvasik.ru

Introduction

Guppy fish can confidently be called the most famous aquarium inhabitants. Almost every aquarium starts with these fish, especially if it was originally bought for a child. Guppies are also interesting because they are viviparous fish.

The name of the fish in Latin is Poecilia reticulata. The species received its Russian-language name, which is widely used, from the name of the English scientist and clergyman Robert Guppy. Mr. Guppy discovered these creatures on the island of Triniad, where he collected samples of soil plants. In 1886, the scientist reported about them to the Royal Society, but was ridiculed - the science of those times did not yet know about the ability of fish to give birth to live fry. But to the surprise of pundits, small fish soon appeared in the aquarium of the British Museum, which multiplied from those brought by the priest.

Guppies appeared in European countries in 1859 - then the German ichthyologist Wilhelm brought them and pointed out their similarity with the Poecilidae family; two years later these creatures were discovered in collections from Barbados. But these discoveries were not known general public, so the new species of aquarium inhabitants was given the name Girardinus guppyi.

Under natural conditions, guppies live in rivers and freshwater lakes of the United States, the southern and central parts of the American continent. They live in an aquarium for up to three to four years. The most common fish are blue, gray, silver or white. Dots and specks may be scattered throughout the body different colors: black, red, yellow, green, blue or metallic. Guppies have small rounded fins, colorless and transparent in any color variant.

Features of care and maintenance

Fish of this species can be called the most unpretentious and undemanding to living conditions. Caring for them is not difficult.

What should an aquarium be like?

Guppies can be placed in a container of any size. A couple of guppies can even be placed in a three-liter jar, but with this content the fish will not be large. The shape of the aquarium for these fish can be any: rectangular, straight and even round. But one guppy should have at least 2 liters of water space. When keeping purebred specimens, use aquariums of at least 50 liters with a powerful compressor to saturate the water with oxygen and a filter system.

Water requirements

The aquarium is filled with clean water, pre-settled water. The water should not be very hard, but completely distilled water is not suitable for guppies. To regularly purify the water, a filter is placed in the aquarium.

Requirements for soil and algae

Add soil with medium-sized particles to the aquarium with guppies - it should not be too dense. Twice a year it is washed and tested for solubility.

Of the plants for these fish, the Indian fern is considered the most suitable. This algae is capable of purifying water in an aquarium and works as a living filter.

Lighting

The guppy aquarium should be well lit. Length daylight hours for these creatures must be at least 12 hours. It is good if in the morning the aquarium is in the sun for a certain period of time, but too much light can cause rapid development of aquatic vegetation (the water may bloom).

Like many aquarium fish, guppies can safely be considered omnivores. They are fed with ciliates and cyclops, and sometimes given frozen scraped meat and squid fillets. Live food should make up the main part of the diet of fish of this species, but dry mixtures can also be given. The fish menu is diversified, adding plant foods and mixed feed.

The main thing in feeding guppies is not to give a large amount of food. Excess food settles to the bottom and pollutes the aquarium.

The difference between a female and a male

Guppies are one of those aquarium fish that have pronounced sexual differences.

• individual guppies of different sexes differ from each other in size: the length of the male varies from 1.5 to 4.5 cm, the female grows larger - from 2.8 to 7 cm;
• the anal fin of the male has been transformed into a holopodium - a special tube with the help of which the male fertilizes the female;
• All the fins of females are smaller than those of males, but the large abdomen of females is clearly visible.

Sexual differences in guppies appear even in fry. Future males, as a rule, are colored earlier.

Reproduction of fish of this species is not difficult; this process often takes place in a community aquarium.

Guppies reach sexual maturity 3-5 months after birth; these periods greatly depend on the conditions of detention (water temperature and diet). Under normal conditions temperature conditions males live 2.5-3 years, females - 3.5-4 years. Guppies stop breeding a year and a half before the end of their life.

To reproduce and raise fry from a pair of guppies, you need an aquarium with a volume of at least 20 liters and a length of 40 cm.

It is noteworthy that after one fertilization, a female is capable of producing fry up to 8 times. Guppies are viviparous fish, that is, already formed fry come out of the female’s abdomen and can swim and absorb food. Inside the female's body, the eggs are fertilized by the male's gonopodium and their development occurs there.

The fry appear 35-45 days after fertilization; these periods depend on the temperature of the aquatic environment. A young female gives birth to up to 12 fry at a time, an older female is capable of giving birth to up to a hundred young.

Guppies do not have parental instinct - they easily eat their fry if they are hungry. In order to preserve the offspring, before the birth of the babies, the female is placed in a separate container with a lot of small-leaved algae. Before the babies appear, the female’s abdomen becomes somewhat square. After the fry appear, the female is removed to the general aquarium. IN good conditions A large number of fry survive - they hide in the leaves of algae. As they grow, they may not have enough food - then the fish will not be bright.

To feed the fry, use any food with particles of suitable size. To get beautiful specimens, the fry are offered different foods and keep the aquarium clean.

When breeding guppies, you need to take into account one important detail. In young people, sex is determined too early and puberty sets in, and then young males (and they always have an advantage over old ones) fertilize all the females. At this time, it is advisable to transfer the males to another aquarium - this way you can control the fertilization process and maintain the purity of the breed (meaning body color and shape of fins).

Raising fry also deserves attention. The babies grow slowly, but when the male reaches sexual maturity and acquires color, he stops growing. The rate of maturation of males depends on the water temperature: at elevated temperature males mature faster. At a temperature of 30 degrees, males mature in 3 months, but remain small in size. At 22 degrees, ripening takes longer, and individuals grow larger.

Guppy diseases

Among all the inhabitants of aquariums, guppies are considered the most disease-resistant. But some diseases have a severe and long-lasting course, which often ends in the death of the guppies. Let's look at these diseases.

A sick goosefish begins to itch against the algae in the aquarium, and sometimes dull spots appear on the fish’s body.

If a disease is detected, all fish must be destroyed. In this case, the aquarium is thoroughly cleaned, the soil, algae and decorative items are disinfected.

1. Mycobacteriosis. This disease is otherwise called fish tuberculosis. A sick fish quickly becomes exhausted, the abdomen retracts and the back arches. The disease cannot be treated and sick individuals are destroyed.
2. Red scab and split fin. This disease is typical only for male guppies. The disease is characterized by the appearance of a reddish coating on the male's caudal fin, which can spread to the entire tail and destroy it. The damaged part of the tail is removed using a sharp razor. You can help the fish if the plaque occupies no more than one third of the tail. For complete healing, it is recommended to add table salt to the water at the rate of 2-3 g per liter of water.
3. Fin rot occurs in females. In the presence of the disease, disintegration of the interradial tissue is observed. For treatment, use bicillin-5, biomycin or white streptocide. Medicines dissolve in a common aquarium, the course of treatment lasts 1-3 months.

To avoid many possible diseases of guppies, you need to keep the aquarium clean and change the water on time. After purchasing new fish, it is advised to place them in a separate container for a while and observe them. Only after such a kind of “quarantine” are newcomers released into the general aquarium.

Types of guppies

Today, many varieties of these miniature aquarium inhabitants are known. Over several decades, 13 varieties of guppies have been bred. Today there are 8 known color options for guppies, and in total there are about a hundred combinations of colors and shapes of these amazing creatures.

Two types of classification are considered: they are divided into species depending on color (this classification is considered the most subjective) and depending on the shape of the tail and fins.

Classification depending on color

The color of each fish can be divided into three components: the color of the skin, scales and plaque on them. Cell pigment is considered as an addition to coloring. When dividing guppies by color, the main or dominant color is taken into account, which determines whether the specimen belongs to a particular breed. Let's briefly look at the most popular of them.

Moscow guppies can have a green, purple or blue body color with a uniform metallic sheen.

Tuxedo guppies seem to be dressed in a tuxedo (this is how the name of the breed is translated) - the back of the body is dark in color.

Spaniards are half-black guppies with a yellow tail. The caudal fin has a red border and a subtle black pattern.

Panda. The guppies of this variety have a white front part of the body, and a black back part and caudal fin.

Neon guppies are colored in a variety of pearlescent shades that dominate the entire body.

Carpet guppies are distinguished by their tail, which is covered with a mosaic.

Leopard. The coloring of these guppies resembles the skin of this predator.

Blonde – these fish have a light-colored body.

Glass guppies have no color pigment at all. These fish have red eyes.

Galaxy. Guppies of this species have a mosaic coloration.

Savage - a variety gray tone with spots of different colors all over the body.

Carnation. This type of fish has a tail. orange color with black patterns.

Japanese guppies are characterized by a semi-black body and light fins in a variety of light colors.

Berlin guppies have a semi-black body and red fins.

The swallow is characterized by highly elongated fins.

Sunset guppies have colors that resemble the sky at sunset (their name translates to "sunset").

German guppies are mostly yellow in color.

As a result of crossing various types, guppy mix obtained. Representatives of this species have a wide variety of colors and shapes. A distinctive feature of the species is the large females, their maximum size– 6 cm. Males grow to only 3 cm. Greenish and neon inclusions are scattered over the surface of the entire body.

Classification depending on the shape of the tail and fins

Guppy fish have very different fin and tail shapes. Based on this feature, they are further divided into several varieties. The main ones are discussed here.

1. Fan-tailed guppies are distinguished by a lush tail fin and a fin on the back that falls to the bottom.
2. Triangel. The tail of representatives of this species is similar to an open fan or an isosceles triangle. The dorsal fin is wide and raised upward.
3. Sharp-angled fantails.
4. Veil-tailed or skirt guppies have a tail in the shape of a closed fan, the fin of the back is directed towards the top.
5. Flag-tailed guppies have a tail shaped like a flag. The dorsal fin is pointed.
6. Double sword. The tail fin of these guppies is oval with long rays. The dorsal fin is narrow in shape.
7. Lower sword. In representatives of this species, the caudal fin has an oval shape, the lower rays, similar in shape to a sword, are elongated. The dorsal fin is narrow, straight with a sharp tip.
8. Top sword. The fish are similar to the previous variety, only their upper ray of the caudal fin is longer.
9. Lyretail guppies have a tail fin that resembles a lyre in shape. The dorsal fin is raised upward.
10. Spear-tailed. Their caudal fin is similar to the tip of a spear, the dorsal fin is curved.
11. Shovel-tailed - their tail is shaped like a shovel.
12. Round-tailed guppies have a semicircular tail and a fin of the same shape on the back.
13. Spine-tailed guppies have a round tail with an elongated ray in the middle. The fin on the back is raised up.

1. Guppies can reproduce even in a glass of water.
2. Guppy fish, along with other organisms that have a short development cycle, are often the subject of research by geneticists and help track the laws of heredity.
3. High sensitivity of fish of this species to pollution environment made it possible for ecologists to use them to study the effect of chemicals and the level of wastewater treatment.
4. Since the mid-19th century, it has been noticed that in the presence of these small fish, the incidence of malaria sharply decreases. Taking this fact into account, guppies were specially introduced into areas of the West Indies and America where malaria was rampant.

Guppy fish are the most popular, picky and common fish among beginner aquarists. With all this, they will be a worthy decoration of the aquarium, since the males have a rather attractive appearance. Their beautiful tail flutters as the fish swims. It looks quite impressive. But the appearance of the female is much more modest. Let's talk about how to distinguish a female guppy from a male and what are the main criteria for differences.

How to determine the sex of a fish

Already at the age of 2 weeks, you can determine the gender of the guppy. For an adult fish, this is even easier; you need to visually examine the body of each fish, its shape and color.

So, let's first examine the body of the fish. You can tell a boy from a girl by their body shape. Males have a more elongated and longer body. In females it is rounded and they are larger in size than males. In some cases, a magnifying glass is used to examine the fish’s body in more detail. But this is if the fish is in a calm state and swims up to look at you, and does not hide in the plants or against the opposite wall.

The next point you need to pay attention to is the size of the fish. Adult males reach only 3 centimeters in length, while females can be almost 2 times larger and reach 6 centimeters.

Another important point, which we definitely pay attention to in order to distinguish a boy from a girl, is the color of the body and the brightness of the pattern. Males always have brighter colors. The tail can be of any color depending on the type of fish and have any pattern. But they all differ in beauty and brightness. Nature has endowed them with such an attractive appearance to attract females. The tail of a fish can be of a wide variety of colors and shades, it is green and blue, purple and orange, black and with white spots, there are even striped tails in males, the male guppy can have such a variety of colors.

Some females are not much inferior in color to males, but it is still not difficult to distinguish them.

However, you need to know this nuance: some varieties of female guppy fish also have bright colors. Then you need to compare the sizes of the fish. Photos of guppy fish on the Internet will be a good help; they will allow you to distinguish a female guppy from a male one, compare and draw certain conclusions on whether they belong to one sex or another. You can also study what colors are inherent in these fish, perhaps with future offspring your female guppy will give such a beautiful and interesting color.

Another important distinguishing feature will be the so-called pregnancy spot, it is located next to the anal fin and next to the tail. It is this spot that will indicate that you see a female guppy in front of you. Males simply cannot have such spots. And if the female is also pregnant, then this spot becomes larger, larger and darker.

Studying the fins

The structure, shape and color of the fins will also help you conclude who is in front of you, a female or a male. First, pay attention to what kind of dorsal fin the fish has. In males they are larger and when the fish swims, they seem to flutter. In females they are much smaller in size and there is no flowing effect during movement.

Next we look at the caudal fin and its shape. This will also help us in determining the sex of the fish. Males are distinguished by a wide and long caudal fin, they are often brightly colored and may even have attractive patterns. All this is also aimed at attracting females. In girls they are short, this is another difference between female and male guppies.

The gonopodium is the reproductive organ of the male guppy.

An important point to pay attention to is the anal fin, more precisely its shape and length. This fin is located very close to the tail, in the lower abdomen of the fish, it is the smaller of the lower fins. In males, this fin is narrow and quite long; you can also see its pointed tip. This is a gonopodium. He will serve the male as an inseminator during mating.

The female has a triangular anal fin and it is short (don’t forget that you can see a “pregnancy spot” very close to it). These are, perhaps, all the main differences in the fins and their appearance.

How to determine the sex of guppy fry

From the very first day that a female guppy gives birth to babies, many aquarium owners wonder when and how to distinguish female guppy fry from males. After all, guppies are viviparous fish and they give birth to already formed fry that are ready for independent life. With proper care, they grow quickly and already at the age of 2 weeks you can try to determine the sex of guppies in fry. If you can discern a dark stripe under the fish's belly, it will be a female. This is how she develops a “pregnancy spot”. Males do not have such a spot.

For those who have professionally decided to start breeding guppy fish, this information is quite important, since it is necessary to carry out jigging on time, and if this is not done, then there may be such troubles as earlier fertilization of females, which will lead to defective pregnancy or death of fry, and this is not in interests of any aquarist.

It is also necessary to know that puberty males occur at 4-5 weeks of their life, which means that by this age the color should already appear on their fins. This will help distinguish guppy fry by gender. However, this does not always happen exactly at such a time. Several factors can influence this. One of the important ones is feeding the fry. If the food is incorrectly selected or infrequently fed, long time The fins do not become colored, but remain pale. In this case, it is important to reconsider the fish’s diet and listen to advice on feeding the fish.

Guppy (lat. Poecilia reticulata) is an aquarium fish that is known even to people who are very far from aquarium hobby, let alone amateurs. Perhaps every aquarist has kept a couple of guppies at least once in his life, and many started their journey with them, and even now keep luxurious, selected species of guppies. To answer all the questions about them, you probably need to write a book, but we will try to consider the most popular ones.
Male guppies of different breeds

The homeland of the guppy fish is the islands of Trinidad and Tobago, and in South America - in Venezuela, Guiana and Brazil. As a rule, they live in clean, running water, but also like brackish coastal waters, but not salty sea waters. They feed on worms, larvae, bloodworms and various small insects. Because of this feature, they even began to be massively populated in areas where there are a lot of malaria mosquitoes, since guppies eat its larvae. Male guppies in nature are much brighter than females, but their coloring is still far from the aquarium breeding forms. She must protect them from predators, since the fish is small and defenseless.
Wild guppies in nature:

The aquarium fish guppies got their name from the name of the discoverer (Robert John Lechmere Guppy). Robert Guppy was the first to find and describe this fish on the island of Trinidad in 1866.

Description

A small fish, with males smaller than females, and usually reaching a length of about 5 cm. A guppy lives for 2-3 years, since its small size and warm water speed up metabolism and shorten its lifespan.
As for appearance, it is almost impossible to describe. Guppies cross so often and so much that even dozens of selective forms can be counted, and even more common ones. Males and females are strikingly different from each other, but we will talk about this difference later.

Difficulty in content

A great fish for beginners and pros. Small, active, beautiful, very easy to reproduce, undemanding in maintenance and feeding, it seems that the list can go on forever. However, we would warn novice aquarists against purchasing bright, selective forms of guppies. How to understand that the form is selective? If all the fish in the aquarium are strictly the same color, and the males have long and uniform fins, then these are demanding guppies.

If the males are all different, like the females, the coloration is a riot of colors and colors, then these are the guppies that the average aquarist needs. The fact is that as a result of crossing, they become very beautiful, but also very capricious, losing their advantages. Hybrid forms of guppies already have weak immunity and are very demanding in terms of maintenance. So if you just decide to try your hand at aquarium keeping, buy the simplest but colorful goops.

They will delight you no less than the selection forms, but they will live much longer and there will be fewer problems. And for the pros, there will be selective forms of guppies - they need to be carefully sorted, bred and cared for even more carefully.

Feeding the guppy

It is very easy to feed them; they eat a wide variety of foods - artificial, frozen, live, even dry. They eat flakes, granules and other artificial foods with pleasure, but it is better to choose well-known brands, such as Tetra. Among the living, the best food to eat are bloodworms, tubifex, brine shrimp, and coretra. It is important to remember that guppies have a small mouth and stomach, the food should be small, and it is better to feed it two to three times a day, in portions that the fish will eat in 2-3 minutes. Guppies also love food with a high content of plant substances, so that their gastrointestinal tract remains healthy and their immunity is high; in addition to regular flakes, buy food with herbal supplements and feed them twice a week.

Separately, I would like to say about dry food - this is not branded food, but dried daphnia, which is often sold at poultry markets. I strongly advise against feeding fish with this food, even guppies. It is poor in vitamins, nutrients and is essentially just a dried shell. It inflames the gastrointestinal tract of fish and they die.

Like all tropical fish, guppies love warm water (22-25 °C), but can live in a wider range of 19.0 - 29.0 °C. As for water parameters, for ordinary forms this practically does not matter. They adapt to local conditions so quickly that moving to a new aquarium is tolerated without any problems at all. It would be ideal if the aquarium has: 7.0 - 8.5, and hardness 12.0 - 18.0, but the parameters can be completely different, which will not prevent the guppies from living and reproducing.

The aquarium can be small; 20 liters is enough for 5 fish. But, the larger the volume, the more fish you can contain and the more beautiful it will look.
It is best to have a lot of plants in the aquarium, as this will look like natural environment habitat and will significantly increase the survival rate of fry in a general aquarium. Lighting can be anything from bright to dim.

It is advisable to use a filter; for guppies, an internal one is quite enough, but if there is an external one, then great. It’s just better to cover the holes in it with an additional fine mesh, since a powerful filter is not only capable of sucking in fry, but even adult fish.

Guppies cannot be called a schooling fish, but keeping them in pairs makes little sense. It is very small in size and in small quantities is almost invisible in the aquarium. For guppies, the rule is simple - the more there are in the aquarium, the more impressive and beautiful they look.

Compatibility with other fish

A very peaceful fish that does not cause any trouble to its neighbors. But she can be offended, especially by large and predatory fish, which perceive the guppies only as food. So it’s not worth keeping with fish like , or keeping them.
You should also not keep them with fish that can tear off the fins of male guppies - some gouramis, for example.
Guppies get along best with peaceful and small fish: - , .

Sex differences

It is very, very easy to distinguish a female guppy from a male. Males are smaller, slimmer, they have a large caudal fin, and the anal fin has turned into a gonopodium (roughly speaking, this is a tube with the help of which male viviparous fish fertilize the female). Female guppies are larger, have a large and visible belly and are usually quite pale in color. Even juveniles can be distinguished quite early; as a rule, those of the fry that first began to color will be males.

Guppy breeding

One of the easiest fish to breed is domestic guppies; they breed very easily in home aquariums. The fact is that they are viviparous, that is, the female carries the eggs in her stomach, and a fully formed fry is born. For the first hours he will lie down and hide, but very soon he will begin to swim and feed.

To breed guppies you need...a male and a female. Not even that, one young and active male is enough to court 3-5 females tirelessly. That is, for successful breeding it is quite possible to keep one male for 3-5 females. More males are possible, since males do not fight with each other, but only compete. You will see how the male tirelessly pursues the female, but this is normal and you do not need to do anything about it. The fact is that during such pursuits he impregnates the female and soon you will have fry.

Female with dark spot - coming soon! What does it take for guppies to reproduce? Fresh and clean water, good and plentiful feeding and a couple of fish of different sexes. As a rule, guppies are quite successfully bred in a community aquarium. But they also eat their fry, and neighbors will help if they are there. This means that it is better to place pregnant females in a separate aquarium.

How can you tell if your guppy is pregnant? In a pregnant female, the spot near the anus begins to darken, this can already be seen by the eyes of the growing fry, and the darker it is, the sooner she will give birth.
Place the mother in a separate aquarium, with the same water and thickets of plants, where the fry can hide from her (yes, she can eat her children). When the due date comes (maybe up to a month, if you were in a hurry to put her away), she will give birth without any problems.

Immediately after giving birth, the female needs to be bred. Taking care of baby guppies is quite easy, just like taking care of their parents. What to feed guppy fry? You can feed them finely ground branded flakes (which you feed the parents), but it is better to feed them dry egg or branded food for fry. Note that there is such a relic of the past as dry food. This is dried daphnia and cyclops and can still be found commercially. So, it is strictly not recommended to feed guppy fry this rubbish. The nutritional value there is slightly higher than zero; in fact, it is an analogue of battering ram. Will you grow a lot if you eat one ram? The same can be said for adult fish.

They need to be cleaned regularly so that any leftover food does not spoil the water. You can also add snails to this aquarium, for example or. They do not touch the fry, but will eat the leftover food.

How the fry is born:

It is important that the water is clean, but it is impossible to change a lot at once, since the fry are still weak and a large water change is dangerous for them. The easiest way is to change about 10% of the water every one or two days, or 25% once a week.
The water temperature for guppy fry is very important, and you need to keep it at 24-26.5C.
At proper care and feeding, the guppy fry grow quickly and within a month to a month and a half begin to color.

Frequently asked questions about guppies

What fish can you keep with guppies?

Some species have already been listed above, but you can also look at the article - everything on this list is well suited for keeping with guppies.

How do you know if a guppy is pregnant or about to give birth?

Typically, a female guppy gives birth to fry once a month, but the timing may vary depending on the water temperature and living conditions. Note the time since the last time she gave birth and observe. In a female ready for another birth, the spot becomes darker; the eyes of the fry are visible.

How does a guppy breathe?

Like all fish - dissolved oxygen in the water, do not forget to include aeration and filtration.

How long do guppies live?

About two years, but it all depends on conditions and temperature. The higher the water temperature, the shorter their life. Some fish live up to 5 years.

How often should you feed your guppies?

Every day, and in small portions two to three times a day. For example, morning and evening. Once a week you can have a fasting day, but keep in mind that the fish will actively look for food and the first victims will be their own fry.

Why do guppies' tails break?

There could be many reasons, but the most common is old water that is rarely changed. Ammonia and nitrates accumulate in it, and they poison fish and destroy fins. Replace the water regularly with fresh water. There may also be a sudden water change, injury or poor feeding when there are few vitamins.

If the guppy's tail is missing, then this is an alarming sign - either someone is cutting it off, and you need to carefully examine the fish with which it is kept, or it is sick infectious disease, and you need to look even more closely at the other fish.

Why does a guppy's tail stick together?

Again - either old and dirty water, either an infection or poor feeding. Try changing 20% ​​of the water once a week and monitor the condition of other fish.

Why does a guppy have a crooked spine?

Such fish are found in almost any species; as a rule, this is a defect from birth. If this happens in an adult fish, it may be due to the fact that it is kept in too small an aquarium, with a large number of fish. In guppies, the spine is also curved due to old age, and this is normal, but the most common cause is fish tuberculosis or mycobacteriosis. The disease is complex, and its treatment is not easy and does not always bring results. To avoid the spread of infection, it is better to isolate such fish.

Why do guppies only give birth to females?

An exact answer to this question has not been found. Apparently, when there is an excess of males, the laws of nature come into play and the population compensates for the females in order to preserve itself.

Is it possible to keep only one guppy in an aquarium?

It’s possible, although it looks a little sad... Still, this is a cheerful and lively fish that loves company. If you are looking for a fish that would be beautiful, unpretentious and would live wonderfully on its own, then look towards the betta.

Do guppies need oxygen and a filter?

Not required, but recommended. You can buy an inexpensive internal filter with a sponge. It will perform its functions quite well and will not suck in fish. Please note that if you bought a filter and it is placed higher (so that the surface of the water in the aquarium is in motion), then you have absolutely no need to buy additional aeration or, more simply, oxygen.

Does a guppy need soil and plants?

It's your choice. An empty aquarium is easier to clean, but it looks worse, the fry can’t survive in it, and the frogs themselves like to frolic among the plants. I am for an aquarium with soil and plants.

Does a guppy need light?

No, fish do not need light at all, other than what falls on the aquarium during the day. Plants need light to grow.

Do guppies spawn?

No, they are viviparous. That is, the fry is born completely ready for life and can immediately swim. Sometimes he falls out in the egg, but it breaks and he swims. Sometimes it has a yolk sac, which it quickly digests.

Do guppies sleep?

Yes, but not like people. It's more likely leisure when the fish become less active at night but still swim. And it’s better to turn off the lights at night, although some people don’t do this, but isn’t it dark in nature at night?

How many fry does a guppy give birth to?

Depends on the female, her age and size. Usually about 30-50 pieces, but sometimes 200 each

How long does a baby guppy grow?

Very fast in good conditions. Males become sexually mature at two months, and females at three.

Can guppies be kept in sea water?

No, they tolerate lightly salted water well, but they die in sea water; these are freshwater fish.

Why do guppies swim on the surface?

They breathe oxygen dissolved in the water, and your aquarium does not have enough of it. Because of which? Perhaps it’s too hot, perhaps you haven’t cleaned the aquarium or changed the water for a long time, perhaps it’s too crowded. Be sure to turn on aeration or filtration (place the filter closer to the surface of the water to enhance gas exchange) and replace some of the water with fresh water.

Why do guppies jump out of the aquarium?

They can do this either accidentally or because of bad water - for example, if it has not been changed for a long time and the soil in the aquarium has not been siphoned off. The reason may also be a low amount of oxygen in the water, read about this above.

Why does a guppy's tail stick together or stick together?

Unfortunately, it is impossible to pinpoint the exact reason, even if the aquarium is near you. This may be improper feeding (monotoneous, only dry food or plenty of it), the water parameters may be unsuitable (too much ammonia), or it may be illness. The minimum that needs to be done is to change some of the water, siphon the soil and change the type of food.

What kind of catfish can you keep with guppies?

Any small ones. More or less large catfish, almost all predators. The only exception is that it can be kept with guppies. Well, any corydoras will get along great with guppies and will be very useful, eating up the remaining food from the bottom.

Caring for guppy fry

The most unpretentious of the fry, they survive in the wild. But, if you regularly change the water, give enough food for them to eat in a couple of minutes and feed the fry two or three times a day, then they will grow quickly, color and delight you. What to feed guppy fry? There are no difficulties in feeding, they eat crushed flakes, but it is better to give brine shrimp naupilia or chopped tubifex.

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For guppies, breeding in an aquarium? natural process. How often your fish will produce offspring and how viable the fry will be depends on general conditions content.

Breeding guppies can be a fun activity, as fish of different colors interbreed well, resulting in unique, new colors of guppies.

How to distinguish between a female and a male guppy

In this species of fish, sex determination does not cause difficulties.

Males, as a rule, are smaller than females and slimmer - from 2 to 4 cm, their tail is much larger, and the anal fin has turned into a gonopodium (a tube through which fertilization occurs).

Female guppies are relatively large - up to 6 cm, they have a noticeable belly and are paler in color.

How do guppies reproduce in an aquarium? Peculiarities

To breed guppies, you should select several females and one male (more are possible, but one is enough), who will constantly pursue the females and fertilize. During such a period, it is better not to disturb him - this is a condition for successful breeding.

The aquarium must have clean water; the fish are fed generously during this period. After pregnancy becomes noticeable in female guppies, will they have an enlarged belly (closer to childbirth, it resembles a trapezoid) and a darkening spot in the anal area? they are placed in separate spawning aquariums with a volume of approximately 5 liters. This is done so that the fry do not become food for neighbors.

The female carries the eggs in her stomach for about a month; this period can be extended to 7 weeks - it all depends on the type of fish and the conditions of detention. Since the guppy is a viviparous species, it does not lay eggs: an already formed fry is born.

Before giving birth, the female refuses to eat, moves little, tries to swim to the heater in the aquarium, and her tail trembles. Usually, during the first spawning, the female brings up to 25 fry, and in subsequent births several times more.

Pregnant and postpartum female guppies should have vegetation in their aquarium. Mother guppy can eat her fry, and aquarium plants will give the babies a place to hide. However, in order not to risk the offspring, it is best to separate the female guppy from the babies into a common aquarium immediately after giving birth.

Caring for guppy fry

Babies are born as fully formed fish, so caring for baby guppies is no more difficult than caring for adults.

It is recommended to feed the offspring in the first month with finely ground branded flakes for fry (not to be confused with low-nutrient dry food!) up to four to five times a day. From the second or third month, their diet is exactly the same as that of adults.

Leftover food should be carefully removed. To do this, you can add, for example, ampularia to the aquarium, which will collect the remains of food without touching the fry. It is important that there is clean water in the aquarium, but it is not recommended to make large changes - it is enough to change 10% of the water every two days.

The water temperature should be in the range of 24-26.5°C.

With good care, guppy fry grow quickly and begin to color by 4-6 weeks. Grown-up babies are transplanted into a common aquarium. At about 4 months, guppies become sexually mature.

Endler's guppies: breeding in an aquarium

Unlike ordinary ones, in dwarf guppies, guppi/endler's guppy, reproduction has the following features:

1. The birth mark of female Endler guppies is somewhat lighter than that of ordinary ones.
2. The belly of pregnant females remains round before giving birth.
3. Endler's guppies do not eat their fry, so they are reared only to provide the babies with proper nutrition.
4. Pregnancy in a female Endler guppy lasts 22-23 days.
5. At the same time, from 5 to 25 fry are born.
6. By two months, females become sexually mature.

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:

Kingdom: Animals.

Type: Chordata.

Class: Ray-finned fish.

Order: Cyprinodontiformes.

Family: Poeciliidae.

Genus: Pecilia.

Scientific name: Poecilia reticulata, Peters, 1859.

Also known: Lebistes poecilioides De Filippi, 1861; Girardinus guppii Günther, 1866.

Water parameters for keeping guppies in an aquarium:

Temperature: 20 - 26 C;

Acidity, 6.5 - 8.5 pH;

Hardness: up to 25 gH;

Maximum size: 6cm (females), 3cm (males);

Aggressiveness: peaceful;

Filtration is good, weekly 25% water changes.

Guppy, also known as Poecilia reticulata, also known as Millions Fish, has always been one of the favorite fish not only for beginners, but also for seasoned aquarists. Their coloring is as individual as a fingerprint, making each fish a unique and inimitable work of art. Each guppy is a masterpiece!

No wonder guppies were the most popular fish of the last century. Enthusiastic breeders managed, in just a few decades, to transform wild guppies - they were mostly gray fish, with a few colored spots. But, in the hands of breeders, guppies turned into fish with the most saturated and bright colors.

Everyone's favorite guppies go beyond just their gorgeous appearance, their personality is characterized by the perfect balance of activity and confidence.

Habitat of guppy

They live in the northeastern part of South America, central America, the southern part of the Caribbean, primarily Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana with the islands of Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, and the Netherlands Antilles. Currently, as a result of artificial acclimatization, these fish have spread across all continents. Wild specimens are relatively rare in home aquariums; most of the fish presented in our stores come from commercial farms.

Incredibly, this type of fish has adapted to almost all biotopes: from high mountain streams to muddy swamps and canals. Some populations also exist in brackish water bodies. However, fish feel most comfortable in places with dense vegetation.

A little history about guppy

The story of the little guppy fish begins with the settlement of the family of Robert Guppy (R. Guppy), a lawyer by profession, on the island of Trinidad, not far from the delta of the South American Orinoco River. The son of a lawyer, Robert John Lechmere Guppy, a paleontologist, was fond of botany and collected beautiful tropical flowers in the vicinity of the capital of Port of Spain, Trinidad. The St. Anna River flowed through this town, in the upper reaches of which small fish were found in 1866. Later that same year, Lechmere Guppy caught several specimens and took them with him to England. Under the careful supervision of Lechmere Guppy, the fish safely survived the four-week sea voyage and were presented at the British Museum natural history, whose director was the most famous scientist at that time, Dr. Elbert Gunther. The fish were described as belonging to the genus Girardinus and were named after the Guppy who found and delivered them, Girardinus guppyi. (interesting fact, these fish are kept to this day in the British Museum.) However, Elbert Gunther did not know that seven years earlier these fish were described by Professor Wilhelm Karl Hartwig Peters from specimens obtained from Venezuela, the length of which was 39 mm, and the height the body of females is 9 mm, which is why the name Poecilia reticulate Peters existed from 1859 to 1861. And in 1861, the Italian researcher F. De Filippi studied preserved specimens of a small guppy fish obtained from Barbados and described a new genus Lebistes, and the fish was named Lebistes poeciloides. Subsequently, in accordance with the rules of scientific priority, they were named Lebistes reticulatus (Peters, 1859). The fish were mentioned under this name in aquarium literature until 1963. In 1963, under the leadership of ichthyologists D. E. Rosen and R. M. Bailey, the last revision of viviparous fish belonging to the poecilid fish took place (the results of which were published in 1963 in the Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History), based on which the guppy fish was the original name Poecilia reticulate Peters, 1859 was returned.

In the countries of continental Europe, the pronunciation of the word Guppy, distorted in the German manner, as “Guppy,” has taken root. Here's the right one English name fish, consumed in the USA, Canada, Great Britain and Australia - Guppy.

Subsequently, this fish could be found in the literature under the following names: Millions Fish, Million Fish, Fancy Guppy, Ornamental Guppy, Rainbow Fish, Fancy Millions Fish Guppy.

Description of guppy

A wide variety of colors within a species, the ability to reproduce easily and quickly, allowed breeders to create an incredible variety of breeds with all types color combinations and patterns.

Guppies are small fish with an elongated body structure. Like platies, mollies and swordtails, they are members of the family Plaeciliidae, which have teeth on the upper and lower jaws.

The length of the male guppy does not exceed 3 cm, the female - 6 cm. The male's body is elongated, slender, somewhat flattened on the sides. The female's body is also elongated, with the posterior part more flattened laterally. Male guppies are much brighter and have not only a beautiful pattern, but also luxurious tails and fins, while the fins of females are short and the color is weak. In males, the anal fin has turned into a fertilization organ - the gonopodium.

The lifespan of this wonderful fish in the wild is quite variable, with an average of about 2 years. Under favorable conditions in the aquarium, the fish lives from 1 to 3 years. It is worth mentioning that, like neons, the lifespan of guppies decreases with increasing temperature due to the acceleration of metabolism.

Behind long years By keeping guppies in aquariums and careful selection, many species of guppies have been obtained, the care and maintenance of which are not at all so simple. Currently, it is very difficult to classify guppies, since as a result of numerous crossings, more and more new breeds are developed every year. The basis for classifying guppies is body color (mainly in males), size, shape and color of fins. The name of the fish is obtained solely by the color of the caudal fin: so if a guppy has a yellow body color and a red tail, then it will be called a red guppy.

Female wild guppies have exceptionally transparent and colorless fins, and the body of the fish is gray with a greenish, bluish or olive tint. Subsequently, breeders obtained females with colored fins, as well as 8 different body color options:

Albinos (recessive)- characterized by a complete absence of pigmentation. Albinos have a completely suppressed ability to synthesize melanin. A characteristic sign is red eyes;

White (double recessive)- obtained by crossing light and blue guppies;

Golden (recessive)- characterized by double the amount of black pigment content in contrast to gray ones. And the presence of dark edges on the scales distinguishes it from light guppies;

Cream (double recessive) - obtained by crossing light and golden guppies.

Light (recessive)- which are characterized by a complete absence of dark pigment in the skin;

Gray (natural)- obtained by crossing gray guppies with representatives of any other background color, which in the first generation receive only gray offspring;

Silver (double recessive)- obtained by crossing golden and blue guppies;

Blue (recessive)- characterized by the absence of yellow and red pigments on the skin, however, red spots with yellowness may appear on the fins.

You can choose guppies not only by color, but also by the shape of the caudal fin. Let's look at the main standards for fin shapes recognized by breeders:

1. Fan-tails - the shape of the caudal fin - a sector of a circle (an open fan). The length of the caudal fin ranges from 8/10 to 5/10 of the body length. The angles at the base are from 90, not less than 75. The rear end of the caudal fin is rounded and convex. The upper and lower edges of the caudal fin are either rounded or straight;

2. Fantails are acute-angled - the shape of the caudal fin is an elongated horizontally isosceles triangle. The length of the caudal fin ranges from 8/10 to 5/10 of the body length. The angles at the base range from 30 to 55. The posterior end of the caudal fin has straight edges. The dorsal fin is narrow with a pointed end;

3. Edged fantails - the shape of the tail fin is an isosceles triangle. The length of the caudal fin is from 8/10 to 5/10 of the body length. The angles at the base are from 70, not less than 50. The rear end of the caudal fin has straight edges. The dorsal fin expands from the base and has a blunt end;

4. Top sword - the shape of the tail fin is oval. The length of the caudal fin ranges from 6/10 to 9/10 of the body length. The angles at the base of the caudal fin between the upper and lower rays of the “swords” and the axis of the body form an angle of 15 or are parallel to the axis of the body. The dorsal fin is narrow with a pointed end.

5. Bottom sword - the shape of the tail fin is an oval. The length of the caudal fin ranges from 6/10 to 9/10 of the body length. The upper and lower rays are very similar in shape to “swords”. The angles at the base of the caudal fin between the upper and lower rays of the “swords” and the axis of the body are at least 15. The dorsal fin is narrow with a pointed end;

6. Double sword - the shape of the tail fin is oval. The length of the caudal fin ranges from 6/10 to 9/10 of the body length. The upper and lower rays are very similar in shape to “swords”. The angles at the base of the caudal fin between the upper and lower rays of the “swords” are at least 30. The dorsal fin is narrow with a pointed end;

7. Veil-tail - the shape of the caudal fin is a skirt. The length of the fin is from 8/10 to 5/10 of the length of the body, the width is ¾ of the length of the caudal fin. The posterior end is concave with pointed upper and lower edges. The dorsal fin is narrow with a rounded end;

8. Spade-tail - the shape of the caudal fin is a bayonet spade. The length of the caudal fin is ½ the length of the body, the width is 8/10 of the length of the caudal fin. The upper and lower edges of the fin are parallel. The dorsal fin is straight with a sharp end;

9. Lyretails (lary-tail) - the shape of the caudal fin is a lyre. Fin length less than 4/10 body length. The lower and upper rays are curved and pointed. The dorsal fin is curved with a pointed end;

10. Pin-tails - the base of the caudal fin is round. The length of the caudal fin is 4/10 of the body length. The dorsal fin is thin with a pointed end;

11. Round-tailed (round-tail) - the shape of the caudal fin is round. The length of the fin is 5/10 of the body length. The dorsal fin is rounded and extends to the caudal fin;

12. Pointed or spear-tail - the shape of the caudal fin is a sharp spear. The length of the caudal fin is 8/10 of the length of the body, the width is 6/10 of the length of the caudal fin. The dorsal fin is curved with a pointed end;

13. Flag-tail - the shape of the caudal fin is a rectangle, rounded at the base of the fin. The length of the fin is from 8/10 to 5/10 of the length of the body, the width is 4/10 of the length of the caudal fin, and has straight edges. The dorsal fin is narrow with a pointed end;

Small in size, but overly active, guppies require a small aquarium. For three guppies, an 18 liter container is quite suitable. When choosing an aquarium for guppies, it is worth considering their very good fertility. The number of females should be 2 - 3 times more quantity males.

Although the temperature range for keeping guppies is quite wide, you need to ensure that the temperature is stable 20 - 26 C; gH up to 25; pH ranges from 6.5 - 8.5, but around 7.0 is better. Sudden changes in temperature and water characteristics (pH, gH) have a bad effect on the condition of the fins of males. Therefore, it is worth changing the water more often, but in small volumes (no more than a third). Helpful addition table salt(1 level tablespoon per 10 liters of water). Strong currents should also be avoided. As a substrate, you should give preference to dark-colored fine gravel, which will only emphasize the beauty and brightness of the fish. The presence of driftwood and stones will give the aquarium natural look. Preferably moderate lighting with a duration of up to 12 hours a day.

It's worth mentioning that sudden change temperature and chemical composition water, mainly pH, can be detrimental to guppies, and the content long time in old water reduces their resistance to disease. Therefore, don’t forget to test the waters with specialized tests or take into account the Indian fern - a wonderful indicator of well-being. If the fern grows near the bottom, then the situation in the aquarium is good. If the situation worsens, the roots of the plant begin to rot, and it floats to the surface, or even dies.

Among the plants, we can recommend the mentioned Indian fern, Carolina cabomba, nitella, floating riccia, Brazilian periofolia, Canadian elodea, Limnobium shoots, etc.

In a 100 liter aquarium with constant aeration and filtration, and regular water changes, you can keep up to 300 male guppies, or about 100-150 females.

Guppy compatibility

They are compatible with any peaceful species of fish, but their veiled - sedentary forms - cannot be kept even with such non-aggressive fish as barbs. Therefore, it is better to keep purebred guppies in a species aquarium. The aquarium should not contain plants with hard leaves or objects with sharp edges (stones, snags) that could damage the fish’s fins.

Based on experience, we can definitely say that they get along with guppies and are compatible with the following fish: (be careful, they can pinch and offend guppies. Especially adult specimens), , all , , , (speckled catfish), , small , , , .

We draw your attention to the fact that you should remember not only the compatibility of fish, but also the capacity of the aquarium. Do not overload the aquarium with fish, especially since guppies breed like rabbits. It is also advisable when selecting fish to always take into account water parameters that will be comfortable for everyone.

What to feed guuppies

Guppies are omnivores, but prefer live food: small bloodworms, daphnia, brine shrimp, coretra, cyclops, tubifex. They always willingly eat squid, sirloin sea ​​fish, finely chopped pieces of meat (beef), liver, heart, cereals, dry and vegetable food.

Guppies should not be overfed, as the fish are prone to obesity and then lose their ability to reproduce. The frequency of feeding is determined by the age of the fish, preferably 2-3 times a day. The fry are fed three times a day in small portions. After identifying and separating the sexes, they switch to two feedings a day.

Feeding aquarium fish guppies should be correct, balanced, and varied. This fundamental rule is the key to the successful keeping of any fish, be it guppies or astronotuses. The article “” talks about this in detail, it outlines the basic principles of the diet and feeding regime for fish.

In this article, we note the most important thing - feeding fish should not be monotonous; the diet should include both dry food and live food. In addition, you need to take into account the gastronomic preferences of a particular fish and, depending on this, include in its diet food either with the highest protein content or, conversely, with plant ingredients.

Popular and popular food for fish, of course, is dry food. For example, food from Tetra, the leader, can be found on aquarium shelves all the time and everywhere. Russian market, in fact, the range of food from this company is amazing. Tetra’s “gastronomic arsenal” includes individual food for a specific type of fish: guppies, goldfish, cichlids, loricariids, labyrinths, arowanas, discus fish, etc. Tetra has also developed specialized foods, for example, to enhance color, fortified, or for feeding fry. For example: Tetra Guppy is a balanced food for all types of guppies consisting of mini-flakes made specifically for the small mouths of guppies and other viviparous fish. The high content of plant ingredients and minerals helps improve the taste and active growth of guppies. The food contains special color enhancers for bright colors.

You can find out detailed information about all Tetra feeds on the company’s official website -.

It should be noted that when purchasing any dry food, you should pay attention to the date of its manufacture and shelf life, try not to buy food in bulk, and also store the food in a closed state - this will help to avoid the development of pathogenic flora in it.

In addition to all of the above, I would like to dwell on the method of preparing a specialized mixture for complete nutrition of guppies of any age - the “Modified Gordon Formula” (MFG). To prepare the mixture you will need 454 g of beef liver, 454 g of dried brine shrimp, about 84 g of oatmeal, 2 tablespoons of table salt. Separate all the veins from the liver and chop finely, fill with cold water and grind in a mixer for 3 - 4 minutes. Then add salt and mix. The result should be a liquid mixture. Now add the dried brine shrimp and mix until smooth, and only then start adding oatmeal until you get a pudding-like consistency. Place the resulting mixture in small jars and sterilize in boiling water for 45 minutes. The paste will thicken and lighten a little. We close the banks. The prepared mixture can remain in the aquarium for up to 8 hours without disturbing the water parameters, after which the residues, if any, are removed from the aquarium.

Remember that if you are going somewhere for a long time, do not feed your guppies. An adult guppy fish can withstand up to a month of fasting.

Breeding and reproduction of guppies

Guppies are viviparous fish. That is, they do not spawn, but give birth to full-fledged fry. The fry need a separate aquarium because they are in danger of being eaten in the first minutes after birth: these fish are prone to cannibalism!

You can use any container as a spawning ground for guppies: a plastic basin (5 liters), a small round aquarium (5 liters) or just a three-liter jar. Naturally, any of the containers must be perfectly clean.

Pictured is a pregnant female guppy

The female's pregnancy lasts approximately 5-6 weeks. Your main task is to monitor the growth of the female’s abdomen. As soon as you see that the female’s anus is slightly swollen, reddened and a dark spot appears on it, immediately transfer the fish to a separate aquarium! Sometimes it is recommended to transplant the male along with the female. I see absolutely no point in this: the female is already fertilized, and the male will only get in the way. By the way, a peculiarity of guppy reproduction: once a fertilized female can, without repeated fertilization, give birth to offspring several times).

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To breed guppies, you need to prepare an aquarium: put a little riccia in a 5-liter container, as well as some dense plants. The water temperature should be +26-27C, hardness and acidity are left as in a general aquarium. All this time, feed the female bloodworms: she will need strength. Depending on the age of the female and male, from 20 to 100 fry are born. At the moment when the female gave birth to the last fry, she must be removed.

The fry are born in a thin egg shell, which breaks after birth. The fry do not need parental care: they stay in a flock near the very surface of the water, where it is warmer, and constantly ask for food. The best food for them is ciliates; babies should be fed with it at least 4-5 times a day. As they grow, the number of feedings decreases to twice a day, and the food itself becomes more “adult”: artemia nauplii, chopped bloodworms, etc.

When breeding guppies Special attention give it to the fry. The fry do not grow very quickly, but that is not the problem. The fact is that the fry grow unevenly. In this case, smaller and weaker individuals risk dying from starvation: strong and healthy fry simply do not allow the weaker ones to eat. Therefore, you should sort the fry by size and place them in different jars.

Sometimes, during childbirth, “force majeure” circumstances may arise: the female cannot give birth. In this case, you need to help her: change the water in the spawning area (50%) and raise the temperature to 28 С+29 C. In this case, the female guppy will definitely give birth.

The fish reach sexual maturity at the age of 4-5 months.

About guppy breeding

The guppy has long been a remarkable specimen, providing ample opportunities for breeders. Modern selection makes it possible to obtain fish that are almost, if not completely, identical in all basic characteristics: color, shape and size. And if the number of stable variations is in the dozens, then the total number of guppies bred and sold through a network of pet stores around the world is in the millions. Guppies, like other popular livebearers, have been leaders in commercial rankings in Europe, the USA and Japan for many years.

Breeding new breeds is painstaking and routine work, requiring separate rearing of males and females in separate aquariums. Along the way, it is necessary to regularly and necessarily cull specimens with defects in development, shape, color and other selection characteristics. Each fish is caught and assessed in terms of compliance with all selection characteristics.

Upon reaching sexual maturity, female and male guppies begin to unite, at first only in pairs, and only after, as they become established necessary signs, in groups. Very often, only the first three litters of fish are used, due to the fact that all subsequent litters produce weaker and smaller fish, which in turn requires more effort to fully raise them.

One of the most important factors responsible for the successful selection of elite guppies is water quality, which in this case has three main indicators: purity, acidity, hardness.

Guppy diseases

Remember, it is better to prevent a disease than to treat it. Therefore, it is necessary to provide the fish with everything they need and recreate them as completely as possible. natural environment a habitat. And most importantly, do not forget to quarantine new fish.

Personal experience and useful tips:

Probably everyone knows these fish, even those who have never seen an aquarium. We can say that these fish are the fish of all the children of the former USSR (they were in all Soviet aquariums))). The fish is very beautiful and unpretentious. The tail fin is its beauty. The unpretentiousness of the fish lies in the fact that it can withstand “difficult conditions of detention.” I have seen a guppy tank with no aeration, no filtration, no plants, no proper feeding, etc. - horror, an aquarist’s worst nightmare. Nevertheless, the guppies managed not only to survive in such an aquarium, but even tried to reproduce. Of course, you shouldn’t mock the fish like that!!!

It is interesting that guppies reproduce - they are viviparous and actually do it on their own without any special stimulation. I recommend taking 3-4 females for 1 male, otherwise the females will simply be driven in. The fry do not need to be removed from the general aquarium, but then there must be floating plants on the surface of the water, for example, duckweed. The fry will hide behind these plants.

And do not confuse the TYPES and BREEDS of guppies. There are only 8 species of guppies:

This is a common guppy, Poecilia reticulata,

Endler's guppy Poecilia wingei (with 2 natural morphs - red and green)

And 5 types of Micropecilia (each with 2 color morphs).

The common guppy has more than 60 selective (artificial) breeds. And all other species do not have selection breeds.

Poecilia reticulate at one time was imported into most third world countries to fight malaria, because. These fish successfully exterminate larvae and adults of Anopheles mosquitoes, which transmit malaria.

There are standards, developed International Council on guppy selection. This Council constantly (about 6 times a year) supplies all its representatives with various kinds of information about the results of competitions, new directions in breeding and genetics, organizes various international competitions, and improves the criteria for evaluating guppies.

Currently created and there are various national and international standards for breeding forms of guppies. International exhibitions and championships are regularly held in Europe, America and Asia, which have become world centers for the mass, commercial breeding of guppies for export.

In 1911 The world's first guppy exhibitions were organized in Leipzing and St. Petersburg, in which anyone could take part, presenting 10 males of their own breeding.

In Moscow since 1957, regularly at the end of the first week of January by the “Guppy” section of the Moscow City Aquarium Club named after. N.F. Zolotnitsky held guppy exhibitions and competitions in which everyone could take part. Unfortunately, during the perestroika years this activity stopped.

All of the above is just the fruit of observing this type of aquarium fish and collecting various information from owners and breeders. We would like to share with visitors not only information, but also with live emotions, allowing you to penetrate the world of aquariums more fully and subtly. Register on, participate in discussions on the forum, create profile topics where you will talk about your pets in the first person and first-hand, describe their habits, behavior and content, share with us your successes and joys, share and learn from experience others. We are interested in every bit of your experience, every second of your joy, every awareness of a mistake, which makes it possible for your comrades to avoid the same mistake. The more of us there are, the more pure and transparent drops of goodness there are in the life and everyday life of our seven billion society.