For questions related to guppies - popular, polymorphic, live-bearing, tropical aquarium fish characterized by remarkably visible sexual dimorphism. Please include other tags relevant to the issue, such as [health] or [feeding].
Guppies are small, omnivorous, generally peaceful and regarded as relatively easy for beginner aquarists. In most cases, they are a good fit for community aquarium - however, the ornamental caudal and dorsal fins of male guppies could attract nipping, so it's wise not to keep them together with known fin nippers, such as tiger barbs.
What is more, please take into account that if male and female guppies are kept together, large male-to-female ratio could lead to the females being excessively chased by the males, and thus stressed.
Lifespan of guppies is variable, around 1 to 2 years.
Guppies are prolific breeders and it's relatively easy to have them reproduce in the aquarium. Gestation period varies in length, but it is said to be generally about 20 to 30 days.
Optimal, approximate water parameters for guppies are:
- pH: 6.8 to 7.6;
- temperature: 22 °C to 28 °C;
- hard water.
Parameter values regarded as optimal often differ from source to source - guppies are known for being able to live in much wider ranges. What is more, although they are freshwater fish, they could tolerate some salinity in the water and benefit from it. According to Wikipedia, the optimal salinity levels are around 1 tablespoon of salt per 19 liters.
