Guppy males are usually 1.5-3.5 cm (1.6-1.4 in) long, while the female is about 3-6 cm (1.2-2.4 in) long. Likewise, the average body weight for a male is 0.07 ± 0.1 g, while females weigh 0.13 ± 0.1 g. Lastly, the mean height clocks in at 9mm.
Guppies can be born with a bent spine, develop it suddenly or progressively as they reach adulthood. It’s characterized by a curvature in the spine that looks like the letter S. Guppy bent spine is caused either by scoliosis or fish tuberculosis, both of which are untreatable.
No, guppies don’t die right after giving birth because they do not belong to semelparous species that die after reproduction. However, risks of dying due to pregnancy and labor-related complications are present. Factors like water temperature, energy lost during reproduction, or size at reproduction can kill a female guppy.
Guppies aren’t technically schooling fish, but they love to live in a social group. So, although guppies can live alone in a tank, it’s not necessarily good for them. There’s no tangible impact right at the start, but the stress of living alone and mating frustration can grow over time.
Mostly, a guppy laying on the bottom of the tank is out of habit. But there could also be other reasons behind it. A pregnancy, illness, stress, low water conditions, overstocking, and diseases are a few of them. Sometimes, they’ll move to the bottom just to get a goodnight’s sleep.
Guppies have smaller bodies and brighter colors, making them easy targets for predators. In the wild, cichlids, jumping guabine, and blue acara are the most common guppy predators. In the tank, big fishes like leopard bush fish, goldfish, clown knife fish, and large angelfish can quickly eat an adult guppy.
Derived from the general practice among fish keepers, the most suitable guppy male to female ratio is 1:3. Thus, for every male guppy, there should be at least three females. However, many people also go by a 1:2 ratio.
Guppies are labeled as beginner-friendly fish that can thrive in a wide range of conditions. That’s why it’s easy to overlook their needs. One such …
At least three pigment cell varieties from different skin layers contribute to development of black, blue, and orange spots in guppies. A research by scientists from Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology used electron microscopy to understand the relative contributions of multiple pigment cell types to the visible skin color.
There are lots of exciting backstories behind guppy and its vibrant colors. The signature black, orange, and blue spots are the legacies of millions of …