Breeding Guppy Fish

Breeding is as easy as it can get when it comes to guppy fish. No special setup is needed. The guppy is an excellent choice for beginners and experts alike. This beautiful fish is a perfect choice for first time fish keepers and children. They are very hardy, and can survive in conditions where other fish would perish.

  • Getting Stock: The critical first step is to acquire quality breeding stock. These are usually only found by a credible guppy breeder. The guppies found in pet stores are usually commercially raised perhaps in Singapore or are the culls from breeders' tanks. In both cases the genetics inherit in these fish, which may be hybrids, usually take a lot of patience, tank space, work, and experience to create a line of fish that breed true and is truly regarded as "show" quality.
  • Choosing Stock: First of all, decide what colour will lift your spirits. It is important to enjoy the beautiful characteristics of your particular fish - and you will be choosing this colour strain for possibly years to come! Quality breeding guppies are not inexpensive, but they are worth the initial investment. The line of fish you get should breed true and contain homozygous genetics (all the fish from each drop grow up to look like the parents). The male should show all the best characteristics, and be rather young as well. Younger males are more virile and show more interest in mating.
  • Caring for the Guppy Fish: You will have to spend some time breaking in your guppy fish to a new environment. Since guppies are usually shipped in a dark box for a day or two and undergo temperature changes in a small amount of water, they are naturally stressed and susceptible to disease breakouts. It is very important to make sure that your newly acquired guppies have a suitable environment in which to "stretch their legs".A change in water conditions can cause considerable problems and perhaps dead fish. A sterile tank at least 5 gallons in size with an inside box filter should be ready to receive them. Consult with the breeder to get all water parameter information. Try to mimic the water the fish were accustomed to as much as possible. Some breeders recommend adding salt and/or formaldehyde, and/or Spectrogram antibiotic as a preventative. Since the sterilized tank with the new fish is not cycled, it will be necessary to monitor ammonia levels and remove a portion of water every day. In fact, it would be an excellent idea to set the tank up well in advance to getting the new fish and carry out a "fishless cycle"
  • Breeding: Once males & females are together they will breed. The males will often perform a courtship display in front of the female by spreading their fins and curving their body. Females appear plump when pregnant and often have a black spot (gravid spot) on their bellies. Fry (babies) can fend for themselves immediately after they are born. However, the fry are a delicacy to most fish. Dense floating plants provide good hiding places for fry. Female guppies mature in about 3 months, male mature sooner. A female's gestation period last approximately 4 weeks. Since females can store sperm, one mating can produce 4 to 8 sets of fry. This is known as superfetation.