Guppy: Content and Reproduction

Even those who have never had an aquarium know about these fish. For many decades guppies, the content of which even the smallest child is capable of, are one of the most common fish. Their striking survival allows them to successfully breed them even in the most unfavorable conditions for this. Many experienced aquarists are breeding guppies, the content of which for beginners is a kind of springboard towards more demanding fish. They bring out all the new varieties, amazing with their sophistication and beauty.

Males of this species differ significantly from females, which allows them to distinguish at a very early age. The color of fish is very diverse. On their body can be located various dark and colored spots. Males have a body 2-3 cm in length. The tail and dorsal fins can have different shapes. Anal fin turns into a tube and becomes an organ of fertilization - gonopodia. The female guppy is somewhat larger (4-5 cm), and its color is much inferior to that of males.

These fishes of the order karpozuby (family of Pecilia) in the wild are found in fresh water in South America, so the water in the aquarium should have a temperature within 20-28 degrees. Active reaction of water for their maintenance: 6,5-8,5. Non-selection guppies, the content of which is possible even in small aquariums without aeration, practically do not react 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, you should replace 1/3 of the water.

Guppies can be fed with plant, live, combined and dry food. These fish are fed from the surface of the water, so the tuber or other worms (except for the coret and the bloodworm) should be ground and given in small portions in a feeder with a thin mesh. After feeding, the remainders of the feed should be removed so that no water gets dirty. To maintain the biobalance in the aquarium, you can add salt (1 tablespoon / 10 liters of water) to it.

It is very easy to distinguish sexually mature guppies. Content and feeding affect the speed of their development. Under favorable conditions, as early as 2 months, males and females can be distinguished. Aquarium guppies are viviparous fishes. The content of several males and females leads to the fact that they begin to actively copulate. Their mating is intrauterine. It is carried out with the help of gonopodia. Pregnant female guppies, whose content is best produced in the aquarium for spawning, after 4-5 weeks, they swarm up to 100 fry. Before delivery, their abdomen greatly increases, becoming almost square. Samochki look for a dark, calm corner for spawning. In the general aquarium, most fry are eaten by older fish. When breeding with guppies, the content of closely related individuals in a common aquarium is not allowed, since the appearance of the new generation deteriorates during pairing.

To remove beautifully colored individuals selected for this male and female planted in a small aquarium, where the process of fertilization 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 a lot of plants for shelter. Newborn fry rises in 20 minutes to the surface of the water. The female after the delivery is immediately removed from the spawning grounds. Fry readily eat ciliates, rotifers, artemia, dry shredded feed.

Guppies, the content of which is possible in one aquarium with other small and non-aggressive fish (swordfish, pecilia, neon, zebrafish), successfully inhabit all layers of water. The simplest specimens are not exacting, but the selection forms of these fish can be fastidious, so beginners are better off choosing "simpletons".