Guppies are the most common aquarium fish. They are perfect for beginners and are always interesting for enthusiasts. This is a very small fish, females are rarely reach 5 cm, and males do not exceed 2.
Females are grayish and uninteresting, but some may have rare colored spots on the back fin. But the male is different, this is one of the most beautiful fish. Absolutely all of the adult male’s body is covered with bright and beautiful colored spots, creating an extraordinary pattern and yet it all shines and glows. Bright iridescent pattern starts at the head and ends at the tail, including all of the fins. Each individual is unique, and two identical patterns can not be found. Also, variety of forms does not leave indifferent: the dorsal fin is pointed, then oblique, then rounded, then stretched, and sometimes even hangs as a long braid.
Guppies are is absolutely unpretentious to the conditions of keeping and are able to proliferate even in the 2-liter jar. For their reproduction good food and the water temperature of 20-28 degrees is necessary, well, more vegetation is desirable. The number of fingerlings depends on the age and size of females, they may be from 10 to a hundred pieces. With sufficient feeding guppy spawns juvenile every 3 – 6 weeks, regardless of the season.
Guppies get along well with other fish, even small predators, but in this case, pregnant females should be kept elsewhere, with an increase in water temperature for a couple of degrees. After the appearance of juveniles a female is returned to the aquarium, and the juveniles must be given time to grow up, 2 – 3 weeks. If only the guppies are in the aquarium, the fish can stay there. The fry grow very rapidly, and in 2.5 – 3 months become adult fish. From that moment they cease to grow, but is getting more colorful and prolific. Males reach the peak of the beauty at the age of 1 year. More bright color of males can be got by isolating them from the females, or by increasing the water temperature to 25 – 27 degrees. In such circumstances, specialists improve guppies, selecting for breeding the most beautiful of the males.
