Poecilia reticulata
Note: Due
to variations within species, your item may not look identical to the image
provided
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Synonyms |
Acanthophacelus guppii, Girardinus guppii,
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Distribution |
South America: Barbados, northern Brazil, the
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Sexual Dimorphism |
Males have a gonopodium and generally much longer
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Maximum Size |
5cm (2?) |
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Water Parameters |
Freshwater to slightly brackish. pH:7-8, dH: 8-20
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Temperature |
18-28 deg C (64-82 deg F) |
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Compatibility |
Community |
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Lighting |
No special requirements |
Care
Guppies, although undeniably very pretty, are not the hardy
fish that they used to be. Years of intense breeding and selection has weakened
this species, and so because of their now delicate nature, they should be one
of the last species added to a mature aquarium. Prefers quieter waters and
appreciates plant cover.
Feeding
Offer a good quality flake food plus small frozen foods
such as daphnia, cyclops, brineshrimp and mosquito larvae.
Breeding
Guppies are livebearers, which means that the babies are
free-swimming at birth. If choosing to keep a breeding group of guppies, try to
ensure that you have at least two females to every male. This will ensure that
no single female will bear the brunt of the males continuous amorous
intentions. Once inseminated, the female will gestate for approximately 20
days, after which time she will give birth to between 5 and 60 young. Parents
will eat their young if not separated, but if kept in a planted aquarium, a
number of young usually manage to survive on to adulthood. Guppies are
relatively short-lived, their average lifespan being between 3 and 5 years