A variety of guppies: photos and names

Fans of observations of the underwater kingdom believe that the most popular aquarium fish are guppies. These babies are a subspecies of the Peciliev family, numbering more than one hundred and seventy most diverse species of live-bearing freshwater fish.

There are varieties of guppies (photo and name we will introduce in this article), which can adapt to life in moderately salty water.

Distribution in nature

This fish was brought to Europe from the island of Trinidad, where they live in fresh clear water and feed on live food (mosquito nets, larvae, moths, mosquitoes, small insects). In natural conditions guppies are much smaller than aquarium ones. Species of guppy fish are found in the north of the Amazon, in Venezuela and Brazil, in South America on the islands of Barbados, Trinidad.

They are unpretentious and can live in different conditions. For this reason, they can sometimes be found in small cool reservoirs. Surprisingly, the wild population lives in the Moscow River in the Lyubertsy area, and these exotic fish are not even frightened by severe Russian frosts.

Sexual differences

All varieties of guppies (photos you can see in this article) have some common characteristics. First of all it concerns sexual differences. The viviparous female does not lay eggs like an overwhelming number of fish, but gives birth to live fry. It is noticeably larger than the male - its body length varies from 3 to 7 centimeters. From the male it can be distinguished by its color, which is not so rich and bright, and if the female is waiting for the offspring, then her abdomen is enlarged. In individuals living in natural conditions, colorless caudal fins and grayish scales, inhabitants of aquariums, selection species, have a more vivid coloring.

Males do not exceed four centimeters in length. They are distinguished by a movable copulatory pen, which is called gonopodia. It can be with a claw and without it. It is the organ of reproduction. Male thoroughbreds have a large, beautiful and long tail. Thanks to him, the small body seems much larger.

Types of guppies

Varieties of guppies, photos and the name of which can be found in almost every guide to aquaristics, amaze with its diversity. In this article we will introduce you the most popular of them.

Poecilia reticulata

This is the most common aquarium species, belonging to the family of Pecilia fish. Small specimens, whose life span in the aquarium is three years. This species was derived from the crossing of wild specimens.

Micropeciles

Fish from the family Peciliev has a beautiful colorful color. She has a more pointed mouth, and some representatives of the species have stripes on each side and a round spot near the tail. Males grow to four centimeters, females to five. These fish like slightly salted water and prefer to live in a separate aquarium. Owners need to know that this species can not be crossed with ordinary guppies.

Guppy Endler

This close relative of a normal guppy was first described in 1937 by Franklin F. Bond, who discovered it in Lake Laguna de Patos (Venezuela), but then the fish did not become popular. Moreover, until 1975 it was considered extinct. To date, there is a huge number of subspecies of this fish. Species of the guppy of the aquarium Endler, we will introduce you below.

Female of this species, as a rule, golden or silvery, and in males - a bright color throughout the body. Guppy Endler is much smaller than its counterparts, their size does not exceed four centimeters. There is such a fish for not more than a year and a half.

Types of tails and fins

Today, the species of aquarium fish guppies can be divided into two categories: color and type of fins and tails. Feather tail can have different length and shape. The longest is for needle-tailed individuals - equal to the length of the body. Dorsal fins of all species without exception are raised at the base. By type of tail fish are divided into:

• Needle-tailed - with rounded tips;
• Flag-tailed - resembling a raised flag;
• Vaalehvostyh (or skirts) - the plumage resembles a veil;
• Spear-tailed - like a pointed spear;
• Lyrex - has the form of a lyre;
• Double sword - the lower and upper feathers are like a sharpened sword;
• Upper sword - caudal upper rays pointed and shaped like a sword;
• Triangle is a triangular tail that resembles a fan that is not fully open;
• Like a fan with a rounded tip.

Guppies: varieties in color, photo

All existing types of guppies are selective, artificially derived varieties of common fish. The color is the most common blue with red, yellow tails, as well as red fireworks, German red blond, Berlin gold, tomato and others.

Yellow German guppies

Fish have a distinct yellow color: from light yellow to bright-lemon. The breed, bred by German breeders, has a gentle golden hue, scales are shimmering in different colors - from the saturated ultramarine to light-blue color, the head of the fish is white.

Moscow blue guppies

They have a characteristic rich and brilliant blue color: from pale blue to the color of a dark night sky. The breeding categories have magnificent plumage, and the body size reaches 4 and 5 centimeters.

Moscow blue-green

Have a blue-green color with black, blue, golden and white impregnations. The head is silvery, light.

Red blonde

Its unusual name for the fish was due to the bright red color, which predominates in the color of the tail. The head is white and the body is whitish with golden sputum.

Carnations carpet

This fish has a tail like the torn edges of a flower. It is painted in orange-red or orange with dark impregnations, reminiscent of a complex carpet pattern.

Venezuela Japanese

Dwarfish variety of guppies with colorful color. It has multi-colored red, black, green, golden, blue spots and stripes.

Black Prince

This spectacular fish was bred in Moscow. Individuals differ in black color of caudal fin. Head with whitish silvery and golden tones. Fins can also be golden, silver, purple and blue.

Red Dragon

Completely scarlet variety of guppies. Her body can reach (and even exceed) four centimeters. At elite representatives of this kind even eyes are red. There are individuals with white, dark and golden impregnations.

Tiger King

The fish has a richly colored tail in orange and yellow tones, reminiscent of a tiger skin. He is fan type.

Green Cobra

One of the most popular in our country selection forms. This variety of guppies has a body painted in a greenish-golden color with a silvery radiance, which resembles that of a cobra. The tail is in yellow-green tones with brown stripes and spots, which also suggest association with the snake.

Guppy Berliners

Predominantly painted in various shades of blue: from blue to rich violet. Head and tail feathers are white. Dorsal fins - fiery orange.

Guppy Mix

This kind of guppy aquarium was obtained during the crossing of various elite fish. Has a clear and deep color of luxury categories.

Neon guppies

This type is distinguished by a silvery neon strip on the back. The tail is painted in a sky-blue color, the abdomen and feathers are golden and white. Good distinguishable dark, white, greenish blotches and overflows.

Guppy Sunset

The bodies of these fish, no more than four centimeters long, are painted in a neon silver hue, the fins are usually lemon-yellow, and the feathers of the tail have a red fringe reminiscent of a flickering candle flame.

Gouppi Endler: varieties

And now, as promised, we will tell you about the varieties of the smallest guppies - Endler. Among them there are interesting examples.

Blue Star

Representatives of the species differ with a blue back and brightly orange wings of gills. In all individuals, regardless of gender, the tail has a fan shape, the males have dark beads in the dark tones. They are transformed into a small xiphoid process.

Blue Snake

This species got its name because of the complex pattern in the form of snake skin, which is located on the sides of the body. The caudal fin is blue and the upper part of the tail is surrounded by a white band.

Campona El Tigre

The subspecies of Endler's guppy, living in the tributary of El Tigre, in Venezuela. At present there is no reliable information that this fish has survived in natural conditions, but in amateur aquariums it occurs quite often. This species does not have in its color blue tones. The dominant color is green.

Campona No. 3

On the body of this fish there are all the colors that are characteristic of Endler's guppy, but the males have characteristics that are characteristic only of this subspecies. This is a black xiphoid process on the upper rays of the tail, and on the side - a dark vertical stroke.

Campona No. 7

This variety of guppies differs from their congeners in the presence of unusual for many other types of flowers. The peculiarity of this subspecies is the "snake pattern" on the abdomen of the pectoral fins, and the upper part of the tail is colored bright yellow with a dark spot.

Campona No. 9

Fish, on the body of which the main colors are randomly arranged, in the form of spots. It is interesting that each male has his own individual pattern. The only thing that unites them is that the outstretched fin is always yellow. Males use it to attract females - they raise it high and slightly unfold, thereby attracting attention.

Campona № 17

Significantly different from other species is the bright red upper sword. The male on his side can see a round dark spot, and another, the same, is at the end of the tail.

Campona No. 25

Fish with a dominant orange color in color. On the tail are black and yellow longitudinal strokes. On the caudal fin "peacock eye" is clearly visible, and its edge is framed by a snake pattern, which is often called a cobra.

We presented you the most popular types of guppies. Fish, species, photos of which you see in this article, are really wonderful. They will decorate any aquarium, and even the beginner in this area can take care of them.

Maintenance and care

They are active, strong and enduring fish. They are not very demanding on the composition of water, but it is desirable that the pH is normal - 7.2, the hardness of water - 15 dH. In order to avoid sudden changes in the water temperature, install a heater that will constantly regulate it. Guppies feel great at a temperature of + 26 ° C.

Lighting

Guppy care involves proper lighting. It is a source of vitamin D, and its lack can provoke curvature of the spine of your pets. Do not bring benefits and constant coverage. For fry, no more than four hours should last a light day, for adult fish - eight. At night, the lighting must be switched off.

Scenery

They not only decorate the aquarium, but also serve as a shelter for fish. At the bottom, fill in gravel or sand, in which it is easier to place living plants and various structures. Do not forget to arrange shelters: caves, pipes, grottoes, etc.

Feeding

They are omnivorous fish, which should receive both vegetable and protein foods. At home, you can feed them processed foods: flakes and granules, live and frozen fodder (bloodworm, daphnia, mosquito larvae, artemia, tubule). You can give fresh chopped vegetables (zucchini, tomatoes, lettuce, spinach).