all about guppies
Guppies are adorable and so cute and easy to care for if you do it correctly, they can live 2-3 yrs. Here is all the info you need to know when caring for guppies. I am NOT a professional this is things I know and learned on my own and my own experiences.
Tank Setup & Size
• Tank Size: A minimum of 5 to 10 gallons is recommended for a small group, though a 10 to 20 gallon tank is better for stability and managing fast reproduction.
• Water Temperature: 76°F to 78°F (or 72°F to 82°F). This is very important if you are planning to breed guppies.
• Filtration: Use a gentle filter like a sponge filter so tiny baby fry do not get pulled in also adult Guppies do NOT care for a lot of water flow and lots of bubbles due to tiny bodies making it hard to swim.• Decoration & Plants: Add live plants (like Java moss) they love plants and having hiding places.
driftwood and rocks as well, be sure no sharp places or points as you do not want them to get cut or to get injured.
Diet & Feeding
• Omnivorous Diet: Feed a varied mix of high-quality flakes, micro-pellets, and frozen or live options like brine shrimp or bloodworms. My guppies love frozen baby brine shrimp. You can purchase these at any local petstore.
• Variety: Rotate different food types to support vibrant coloration and overall health. I only give my guppies special foods 1-2 times a week.Group Dynamic: Keep them in social groups. A common ratio is
2-3 females per 1 male to reduce male harassment. My males will chase my females like crazy! Even during birth and try to breed with them as well! From what I read it says the females release some type of smell or chemical that drives the male crazy during birth. And be prepared if you are wanting Guppy Fish they breed like crazy, My Glass Belly females are pregnant the same day or next day after giving birth!
some info that may help when raising guppies
Breeding & Fry Care
• Livebearers: Guppies give birth to live young rather than laying eggs. Gestation lasts about 20 to 30 days. They have anywhere from 2-200 fry, so don't be shocked.. my females only began with very few 5-6 fry at a time second birth more than 20 and each time they are pregnant they are bigger and have more babies. When my glass belly guppies are prengant you can see the fry eyes inside her belly.
• Protecting Fry: Females can store sperm for multiple broods. Provide dense plants or separate the fry so the adults do not eat them! And they will chase them so either have lots of hiding places or be ready to scoop out fry and get them in a safe tank alone. I sometimes come home after work and start finding babies hiding and begin scooping them to a tank alone when I notice them, so they are not in survial mode and can live more safe and happy. I never use a breeder box for my females during birth due to it stresses them out so bad.. natrual birth are always the way to go!
Here is more info on births with guppies:
Gestation and Delivery Facts• Pregnancy Length: Typically lasts between 21 and 30 days. My guppies always give birth by day 20-24!
• Litter Size: A single female can produce anywhere from 2 to 200 fry per birth (usually 10 to 50 for a standard delivery).
• Duration of Labor: Giving birth usually takes a few hours, though some deliveries can stretch out over a full day or up to 48 hours for first-time mothers.
• Sperm Storage: Females can store sperm and give birth multiple times every 30 days without needing a male present, my glass belly females hold stuff in and are instantly pregnant after giving birth, you can already see the yellow color fry sacks right after birth. Each time they are bigger and seen to hold more!
How to Care for the Mother and Fry
• Protect the Fry: Adult guppies (especially the mother) will readily eat the newborns right after coming out. I always let my females give birth naturally and do not use breeder box's due to being stressed. If you are doing this, be sure the fry has hiding places.
• Water Quality: Keep the water clean and well-filtered with a gentle sponge filter, maintaining temperatures between 72°F and 79°F.
• Feeding: Feed the tiny fry specialized liquid fry food, crushed flake food, or baby brine shrimp multiple times a day. I used Hikari first bites fry food. You can find this at Petco or Amazon. My fry grew like crazy with this food and Baby brine shrimp.
Other fish compatible with Guppies:
Bottom Dwellers & Scavengers: Corydoras catfish,bristlenose plecos, and otocinclus catfish help clean up food scraps, mystery snails and bladder snails (these guys ALWAYS hitch hike off of my live plants! I pick them out sometimes, they do not bother guppies and even clean a little)Small Schooling Fish: Neon tetras, cardinal tetras, and harlequin rasboras are active, peaceful, and fast enough to coexist without bothering guppies.
I myself do not have any other fish besides my cleanup crew in with my guppies.Invertebrates: Cherry shrimp, Amano shrimp, and nerite snails add great cleanup utility. (Note: Guppies may eat very tiny shrimp lets) I do have some Cherry Shrimp in my tanks to help with clean ups.Fish to Avoid• Fin-Nippers: Tiger barbs, silver-tip barbs, and tetras known for nipping can damage the long tails of fancy guppies.
• Aggressive or Large Predatory Fish: Cichlids, angelfish, and large carnivores will view guppies as food.
• Bettas: Male (and sometimes female) bettas may attack brightly colored, long-finned guppies out of territorial aggression.DO NOT GET ANY OF THESE or more Aggressive fish! They will eat Guppies.
What is the difference between assorted Guppies and Glass Belly guppies??
Glass Belly Guppy
Lacks silver pigment cells (iridophores) and guanine production in the abdominal region. This makes the belly transparent or semi-transparent
During Pregnancy: You can clearly see internal organs, the digestive tract, and the distinct dark eyes and bodies of developing fry growing inside a pregnant female
Often bred alongside blonde or albino traits to reduce dark melanin and maximize transparency. Males typically show bright, vivid colors (like red or orange) with a small translucent abdominal area, while females are mostly see-through.
Can be slightly more delicate, sensitive to stress or poor water conditions, and may stay a bit smaller than standard lines
The Eyes- Eyes are Big and black.
Regular Guppy
Has normal skin and silver/iridescent pigment cells (guanine) in the belly area, making internal organs and developing fry hidden from view.
During Pregnancy-The lower abdomen appears dark or swollen during pregnancy, but you cannot clearly see individual details inside.
Generally hardy, active, and reaches a typical full guppy siz
Features standard opaque scales and normal metallic or solid color distribution.The Eyes: eyes always have a small silver ring around them and don't seem to be very big.
Here are my reasons why I prefer Glass Belly Guppies over regular or assorted Guppies
Glass Belly Guppies are RARE and not easy to Find
They are different and cute, and you can see threw them.
You can tell when they are pregnant, it's so exciting to see the Fry grow inside their belly.
And they seem to have babies over and over compared to regular Guppies.
The Eyes-They have big black eyes
Orange koi glass belly guppy female
Hope you the best with your guppies, If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact us.
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Yellow lace glass belly guppy female
One month old orange koi glass belly fry
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