Even those who never had an aquarium know about these fish. For many decades, guppies, the content of which even a small child can afford, have been one of the most common fish. Their amazing survival allows them to be bred successfully even in the most unsuitable conditions. Many experienced aquarists breed guppies, the maintenance of which for beginners is a kind of springboard on the way to more demanding fish. They bring out all new varieties, striking in their sophistication and beauty.
Males of this species are significantly different from females, which allows them to be distinguished at a very early age. Coloring fish is the most diverse. Various dark and colored spots can be located on their body. Males have a body 2-3 cm long. The tail and dorsal fins can have different shapes. The anal fin folds into a tube and becomes the fertilization organ - gonopodia. The female guppy is slightly larger (4-5 cm), and its color is much inferior to the color of males.
These fish of the order of Cyprinidae (family of Pecilius) in the wild are found in fresh water in South America, so the water in the aquarium should have a temperature in the range of 20-28 degrees. Active reaction of water for their content: 6.5-8.5. Non-breeding guppies, the contents of which are possible even in small aquariums without aeration, practically do not respond to water hardness. Although these fish are very hardy in “extreme” breeding conditions, it is best to keep them in spacious containers with powerful aeration and filtration systems. Once a week, 1/3 of the water should be replaced.
Guppies can be fed with plant, live, combined and dry feeds. These fish feed from the surface of the water, so the tubule maker or other worms (except coronet and bloodworms) need to be minced and given in small portions in a feeder with a thin net. After feeding, feed residues should be removed so that water is not contaminated. To maintain biobalance in the aquarium, you can add salt to it (1 tbsp. / 10 l of water).
It is very easy to distinguish between mature guppies. Maintenance and feeding affect the rate of their development. Under favorable conditions, by 2 months, males and females can be distinguished. Aquarium guppies are viviparous fish. The maintenance of several males and females leads to the fact that they begin to actively copulate. Mating is in utero. It is carried out using gonopodia. Pregnant guppy females, the contents of which are best produced in the aquarium for spawning, after 4-5 weeks, up to 100 fry are tossed. Before childbirth, their abdomen greatly increases, becoming almost square. Females are looking for a dark, calm corner for spawning. In a general aquarium, most fry are eaten by adult fish. When breeding with guppies, keeping closely related individuals in the general aquarium is not allowed, since the appearance of a new generation worsens when mating.
To breed beautifully colored individuals, the male and female selected for this are planted in a small aquarium, where the fertilization process takes place. After 1-2 weeks, the pregnant female is left alone until the birth of the fry. The volume of the aquarium for spawning should not be less than 3 liters. It should have many plants for shelter. After 20 minutes, newborn fry rise to the surface of the water. The female after childbirth is immediately removed from the spawning grounds. Fry willingly eat ciliates, rotifers, brine shrimp, dry shredded feed.
Guppies, the contents of which are possible in one aquarium with other medium-sized and non-aggressive fish (swordfish, pecilia, neon, zebrafish), successfully inhabit all layers of water. The simplest specimens are not demanding, but the breeding forms of these fish can be picky, so it is preferable for beginner aquarists to choose "simpletons".