Unlike other fish, guppies do not lay eggs. They mate and female guppies give birth to live fry, which are capable to swim and eat from the first second of their life.
What is a guppy?
guppy, (Poecilia reticulata or Lebistes reticulatus), colourful, live-bearing freshwater fish of the family Poeciliidae, popular as a pet in home aquariums. The guppy is hardy, energetic, easily kept, and prolific.
How big do guppies get?
Guppies grow to an average of 2 inches long, so the smallest tank size we recommend is a 5-gallon aquarium for a trio of guppies. But given how quickly they reproduce, a 10- or 20-gallon aquarium would be more appropriate in the long run.
Are guppy fish good pets?
Guppies are a common and easy-to-care-for option. In fact, guppies make great pets and can be excellent additions to the tanks of both experienced fish owners and aquatic pet newbies, said Sam Williamson, former marine biologist and fish expert of more than 20 years.
What is special about a guppy? – Related Questions
How long does a guppy live?
The average female guppies will live about 3 years, although there are many exceptions to this rule. The average male guppy will live about 2 years, which is also typical for most males in that situation.
Will guppy fish bite?
They nibble on your fingers, but they are so small that their bites don’t hurt. Leave your hand in the tank long enough for your skin to get soft, though, and the guppies can begin to inflict damage.
What kills guppy fish?
Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate levels
Guppies are very sensitive to ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate level spikes, as these can compromise their immune systems and quickly kill them. Check your water, and you should see that Nitrates are less than 40 ppm, while ammonia and nitrite should both be at 0 ppm.
Can I keep 3 male guppies together?
You can keep only male guppies in a tank. However, when you keep only male guppies in a tank, you will see a lot of aggression and bullying among them. To spread out the aggression, it is recommended to keep at least 6 male guppies in a male-only guppy tank.
How often should I change my guppies water?
The ideal water hardness for guppies is dGH 8-12. The correlation between water hardness and pH is very important. Usually, the higher the water hardness, the higher the pH level is. The general rule for most species is to change half of your water every week so it always remains fresh and clean.
Can I put my guppy in tap water?
In most cases, tap water contains quite a big amount of chlorine. This substance is deadly for any guppy. It will kill them pretty quickly or slowly depending on how much of it there is in the water.
Can you touch guppies?
Can You Touch Your Guppies? Yes, but I wouldn’t advise it doing it too often. You should also definitely hold them or get them out of the water. It won’t hurt the guppy immediately, but it will stress it out, which can affect its health over time.
How many times a day should I feed my guppy?
Adult Guppies should be fed once or twice a day. If you feed them more, you can overfeed them, and they can get sick. Guppy Fry can be fed three to five times a day. You want to give them smaller amounts of food during each feeding because they are smaller and cannot eat a lot.
Do guppies stop eating when full?
Guppies will continue to eat or search for food even when they do not need it. Do not feed your fish an additional meal because the fish appear hungry. In fact, guppies that actively seek food will prevent food debris from building up and dirtying your water.
Do guppies need air pump?
Do Guppies Need an Air Stone or Water Pump? As mentioned before, guppies need oxygen to live. Water oxygen exchange happens through surface agitation. To agitate the surface of the water, you will need to use an air pump with an air stone or a water pump.
Why are my guppies shaking?
Shimmying is a symptom rather than a single disease, and an indication that a fish no longer has proper control of its nerves and muscles. It occurs when fish are under severe stress, most often because of environmental problems. The classic scenario is when mollies are kept in soft or acidic water conditions.
Why do fish go crazy after water change?
Osmotic shock happens when the fish is unable to regulate its uptake of ionic compounds, which leads to too much absorption or too much release of fluid. Impaired osmoregulation then causes a condition known as dropsy, which leads to fish swimming erratically after water change.
Why is my guppy hiding in the corner?
Stressed Guppy
Here are the top factors which will stress guppies and will make them hide in one corner: transportation and new habitat. inadequate water temperature. small or overcrowded fish tank.
Why do guppies fish jump out of tank?
Their research was published in April in PLoS ONE. Fish are known to jump out of the water for three reasons: to catch non-aquatic prey such as insects or spiders, to escape from predators, and to avoid obstacles in their migration routes.
How long can guppies survive out of water?
But some of the most petite types of aquarium fish, like neon tetras and guppies, can only survive out of water for ten minutes! Generally, freshwater fish have a maximum out-of-water survivability time ranging between ten minutes and one hour.
How does a pregnant guppy look?
Identifying Your Pregnant Guppy
It will become darker and larger as the babies grow. Your guppy will grow in girth considerably and may appear “boxy” shaped. Her color may fade. Once she is fairly close to giving birth, her gravid spot will appear black.