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How to look after
Poecilia reticulata
Guppy, Millions fish
Peters, 1859

Poecilia reticulata - Guppy, Millions fish - Gold cofre-tailed guppy
Gold cofre-tailed guppy
more images here

(Other members of the genus Poecilia)

ADULT SIZE: 6 cm

WATER CONDITIONS: Not critical

TEMPERATURE RANGE: 20-29 C

FOOD: Feed Poecilia reticulata small live-foods and fine grade dried foods

DISTRIBUTION: This species comes from Brazil, Barbados, Trinidad, Venezuela

AQUARIUM CARE: A terrific community fish that will breed easily in a community tank. Because of it's bright colours, ease of keeping and mild temperament, the guppy is one of the all-time most popular aquarium species, probably the best first fish for a new aquarist.

BREEDING: This requires almost no attention. The live-borne fry can be raised on flake food. Remove fry to a separate rearing tank or provide a well-planted tank to improve numbers surviving to adulthood.

Have you bred Poecilia reticulata? Why not fill in a breeding questionaire?, or examine existing Poecilia reticulata breeding reports

Similar species to Poecilia reticulata

Other members of the genus Poecilia

Other livebearer species

Other species from Brazil, Barbados, Trinidad, Venezuela

Poecilia reticulata
Guppy, Millions fish

Gold cofre-tailed guppy

Gold cofre-tailed guppy

Females have less of the colouration of the males, and in some cases no colouration at all

Females have less of the colouration of the males, and in some cases no colouration at all

Guppys come in many varieties!

Guppys come in many varieties!


Poecilia reticulata
Guppy, Millions fish
breeding notes

BREEDING: This requires almost no attention. The live-borne fry can be raised on flake food. Remove fry to a separate rearing tank or provide a well-planted tank to improve numbers surviving to adulthood.

Have you bred Poecilia reticulata? Why not fill in a breeding questionaire?


This page summarises breeding reports provided by visitors to this site, along with some statistical analysis. Please feel free to contribute - whatever your experience!

10 breeders have filled in breeding reports, a summary of the results are shown in the graphs below. You can read the full reports here.

To add details of your experiences of Poecilia reticulata, why not fill in a Breeding and maintenance Report.

Would Poecilia reticulata be a good addition to a community tank?
graph1
  1. Never
  2. Doubtful, only with VERY calm fish
  3. Only with species of similar size
  4. Yes, a good community fish

How would you describe the disposition of Poecilia reticulata?
graph2
  1. Very timid
  2. Slightly timid
  3. Neutral
  4. Somewhat aggresive on occasions
  5. Very aggressive

In which water conditions do you keep these fish?
graph3
  1. Very soft and acidic
  2. Moderately soft and acidic
  3. Neutral
  4. Moderately hard and alkaline
  5. Very hard and alkaline

At what average temperature?
graph4
  1. 10-15°C
  2. 16-19°C
  3. 20-23°C
  4. 24-27°C
  5. 28°C+

What, if any is the biggest difficulty encountered when breeding these fish?
graph5
  1. Poor egg production
  2. Poor egg survival
  3. Poor fry survival rate
  4. Deformities
  5. Skewed sex ratio

How would you describe sex ratios when breeding Poecilia reticulata? If you are unsure please leave this question unanswered.
graph6
  1. Almost all males
  2. Somewhat male heavy
  3. Roughly equal
  4. Somewhat female heavy
  5. Almost all females

In general, how difficult is Poecilia reticulata to keep and breed?
graph7
  1. Very easy
  2. Easy
  3. Average
  4. Difficult
  5. Very difficult

How sucessful have you been at breeding Poecilia reticulata?
graph8
  1. Very unsucessful
  2. Fairly unsucessful
  3. Average
  4. Fairly sucessful
  5. Very sucessful


Remember, each record represents only one persons experience; if you had different results, or used different methods, please share your experiences


Water conditions: Moderately hard and alkaline Water temperature: 24-27oC
Disposition: Active, but not aggresive Community tank?: Yes, a good community fish
Spawning Method: Long term (fry appear with adults)Breeding problems: none
Sex ratio: Roughly equalBreeding difficulty: Very easy
Sucess: Very unsucessfulYears Experience: 1
Other Comments: My female was full of fry when I got her - I had at least a dozen babies within a week!
Date this record created: 29th April 2016Breeding date: 2016
Breeder: Location:

Water conditions: Moderately hard and alkaline Water temperature: 20-23oC
Disposition: Active, but not aggresive Community tank?: Yes, a good community fish
Spawning Method: Long term (fry appear with adults)Breeding problems: none
Sex ratio: Roughly equalBreeding difficulty: Very easy
Sucess: Very sucessfulYears Experience: 10
Other Comments: Guppy breeding is very easy. A well planted tank is an advantage for fry survival, but generally these are really very easy fish to breed. I don't know any guppy breeder who has problems.
Date this record created: 25th May 2011Breeding date: 2011
Breeder: Location:

Water conditions: Moderately hard and alkaline Water temperature: 24-27oC
Disposition: Active, but not aggresive Community tank?: Yes, a good community fish
Spawning Method: Other (see below)Breeding problems:
Poor fry survival rate
Sex ratio: Somewhat female heavyBreeding difficulty: Very easy
Sucess: Fairly unsucessfulYears Experience: 2
Other Comments: some what planted aquarium lots of floating plants for fry. The growth rate are slow to very slow. mostly no or to none canibalism. sawing make take time (about a qwwk or two)
Date this record created: 8th April 2011Breeding date: 2010
Breeder: dustin Location: woonsocket ri

Water conditions: Neutral Water temperature: 20-23oC
Disposition: Active, but not aggresive Community tank?: Yes, a good community fish
Spawning Method: Long term (fry appear with adults)Breeding problems: none
Sex ratio: Roughly equalBreeding difficulty: Very easy
Sucess: Very unsucessfulYears Experience: 10
Other Comments:
Date this record created: 29th December 2010Breeding date: 2010
Breeder: Location:

Water conditions: Water temperature:
Disposition: Active, but not aggresive Community tank?: Yes, a good community fish
Spawning Method: Other (see below)Breeding problems:
Poor fry survival rate
Sex ratio: Roughly equalBreeding difficulty: Very easy
Sucess: Very sucessfulYears Experience: 5
Other Comments:
Date this record created: 21st December 2009Breeding date: 2009
Breeder: Location:

Water conditions: Neutral Water temperature: 24-27oC
Disposition: Active, but not aggresive Community tank?: Yes, a good community fish
Spawning Method: Long term (fry appear with adults)Breeding problems:
Deformities
Sex ratio: Somewhat female heavyBreeding difficulty: Easy
Sucess: Fairly unsucessfulYears Experience: 1
Other Comments:
Date this record created: 8th August 2009Breeding date: 2009
Breeder: sssLocation: mal

Water conditions: Neutral Water temperature:
Disposition: Active, but not aggresive Community tank?: Yes, a good community fish
Spawning Method: Long term (fry appear with adults)Breeding problems: none
Sex ratio: Roughly equalBreeding difficulty: Very easy
Sucess: Very sucessfulYears Experience: 4
Other Comments: we add live bearer salt to the water
Date this record created: 3rd March 2008Breeding date: 2008
Breeder: Location:

Water conditions: Moderately soft and acidic Water temperature: 16-19oC
Disposition: Somewhat aggresive on occasions Community tank?: Yes, a good community fish
Spawning Method: Long term (fry appear with adults)Breeding problems:
Skewed sex ratio
Sex ratio: Almost all femalesBreeding difficulty: Easy
Sucess: Fairly sucessfulYears Experience: 5
Other Comments: I have found Poecilia reticulata to be the least difficult to breed thus far.
Date this record created: 14th January 2008Breeding date: 2007
Breeder: Location:

Water conditions: Very soft and acidic Water temperature: 20-23oC
Disposition: Community tank?: Yes, a good community fish
Spawning Method: Other (see below)Breeding problems: none
Sex ratio: Roughly equalBreeding difficulty: Very easy
Sucess: Very sucessfulYears Experience: 1
Other Comments:
Date this record created: 9th January 2008Breeding date: 2008
Breeder: JordanLocation: NH

Water conditions: Very hard and alkaline Water temperature: 24-27oC
Disposition: Active, but not aggresive Community tank?: Yes, a good community fish
Spawning Method: Long term (fry appear with adults)Breeding problems: none
Sex ratio: Breeding difficulty: Very easy
Sucess: Very sucessfulYears Experience: 5
Other Comments: If you have a pair, this fish will breed! Heavily pregnant females are best separated to stop the males continually harassing them
Date this record created: 6th January 2008Breeding date: 1995
Breeder: Location:

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