The peacock’s eye guppy is a fish that probably everyone knows. These individuals are distinguished by quite significant sexual dimorphism. This means that the male and female can be easily distinguished at first glance. Until recently, guppies were famous for their very high resistance to diseases. Unfortunately, irresponsible commercial breeding has somewhat reversed these trends. The peacock’s eyes are small and multiply easily. For them to thrive, however, they need the right conditions. What aquarium does a guppy require? You will learn about water temperature and surroundings in our article. Read now!
Peacock eyes – origin
Currently, the vast majority of guppies that end up in aquariums are captive bred specimens. Wild individuals are extremely rare. However, this fish is native to the northeastern part of Central America. It can also be found on the shores of the Caribbean and in places such as:
- Guiana;
- Venezuela;
- Trinidad and Tobago;
- Netherlands Antilles;
- Suriname;
Guppy, i.e. a fish that is not afraid of new places
Guppies are an extremely resistant species that adapts perfectly to the prevailing conditions. Fish have been artificially introduced into the ecosystems of more than fifty countries around the world. They can now be found both in Great Britain and in the poorer countries of the subtropical and tropical regions. The latter found their way to guppies in order to reduce the population of mosquitoes that transmit malaria.
Guppies – classification
The guppy was first caught in Cuba in 1886. This small fish is classified into the family of viviparous fish.
Peacock guppy eye – look
We distinguish guppies mainly due to the shape of their caudal fin. The following types are distinguished:
- double sword;
- veil;
- proportczyk;
- flame;
- upper sword;
- lower sword;
- racket;
- needle;
- shoulder;
- lira;
- gupik Endlera.
In breeding, crossing of fish between species is not practiced, because it leads to the depletion of color variants. Peacock eyes caught from captivity are practically unheard of in aquariums.
Guppy – female and male. How to tell them apart?
There is significant sexual dimorphism in guppies. The female guppy reaches a size of about 5-6 centimeters. Her anal fin is slightly rounded. Within it, there is a slightly darker pregnancy spot. The male guppy, on the other hand, is slightly smaller and slender. Its caudal and anal fins are longer and more impressive. Males are also more interestingly colored.
Peacock guppies – character and disposition
Guppies are active fish that are considered to be quite mild. However, it is not uncommon to notice their tendency to nibble on each other. The most vulnerable to these unpleasant forms of contact are fish with long and veil-like fins, such as angelfish.
Peacock ponds in the aquarium – which option to choose?
In their natural environment, peacock ponds live in very large groups. The shoals are always dominated by females, of which there are definitely more than males. This diagram should also be kept in the aquarium. Male guppies are very insistent towards females, so there should be at least two per one. The best solution (for a person who does not want to breed them) is to buy individuals of only one sex. Usually, aquarists choose males that have a more stately appearance.
Guppy fish – aquarium and requirements
Guppies are small fish that do not have high expectations. This does not mean that you can keep them in a ball or a small jar. The minimum size of an aquarium for several individuals is 54 liters. However, remember that the larger the aquarium, the better. In larger tanks, it is much easier to maintain a suitable environment for the fish.
It is very important that the guppy aquarium is filled with many plants.
Water for guppies
Guppies are not particularly demanding in terms of water parameters, but you need to keep them at an appropriate level.
- water temperature – around 26-28O Celsius;
- water pH for guppies – 7-8;
- water hardness – 10-30 dGH (these fish require quite hard water).
Interestingly, peacock eyes are very tolerant of water salinity. They feel good both in sweet, bacch (slightly salty) and sea food.
What kind of fish should I keep guppies with?
Guppies feel best in the company of their own species, which is why they are perfect for species aquariums. They can also be successfully kept in the company of other beautifulls:
- gambusiów;
- gladioli;
- platek.
What fish should not live with guppies?
You can also place rainbow, zebrafish or cuiras living at the bottom of the tank. However, it is definitely not worth keeping them with fish such as:
- fighters;
- rapids;
- tetry;
- Siamese algae eaters;
- spiked bellies.
For large carnivorous fish (as well as for recently popular crabs), peacock eyes will be a dinner rather than a company.
Guppies – plants in the aquarium
Guppies should live in aquariums with lush vegetation. The water biocenosis is then more stable. Vegetation turns out to be indispensable for these fish. For juveniles, it is a source of food, while for adults it serves as a hiding place, especially at night when sleeping.
You can also use floating vegetation in the reservoir. However, it should not be too lush, as it will limit the inflow of sunlight.
Guppies – nutrition
Both in the natural environment and in the aquarium, guppies do not despise virtually any food. These are omnivores that are very fond of mosquito larvae. In their natural environment, they eat mainly:
- water insects;
- spiders;
- small molluscs;
- larvae;
- spiders.
Interestingly, according to research conducted on peacock eyes, their diet is related to their place of living and their latitude.
What else to give guppies?
Living food will be the most nutritious for them. Its preparation, however, is quite time-consuming and not everyone decides to do it. You can also successfully choose flake food popular among aquarists. However, it is worth choosing good quality products, recommended by experienced breeders.
Varied food for guppies includes:
- blanched spinach;
- eyelet;
- diabetic;
- the waterhead;
- artemia;
- flakes with spirulina.
Peacock eyes sometimes nibble on some aquarium plants. They also look for algae that are found on roots and stones.
Guppies – feeding frequency
Guppies have a fairly fast metabolism and can digest a meal in less than an hour. That is why it is a good idea to provide them with a little more frequent feeding with smaller portions. The risk of overfeeding is no less here than with other fish, so you need to be very careful.
Guppies – reproduction
The reproduction of guppies in the aquarium
The males of these fish are extremely lively and always willing to breed. That is why it is so important to have at least two females per male. Otherwise, the guppy lady may be martyred by her partner.
As you can see, breeding guppies (like most viviparous fish) is extremely easy. The guppy is pregnant for at least three weeks, which is sometimes extended to a month. Peacock’s eyes are very prolific fish. A few hours after giving birth, the female is able to fertilize again.
What is the process of reproduction of guppies and how many fish do they survive?
The introduction to spawning in guppies is quite… spectacular.
- The male proceeds to courtship, which may take the form of intrusive harassment. He swims behind the female, stretches her fins and encourages her to mate. Importantly, in many cases, spawning is forced, which consists in placing the gonopodium in the female reproductive organ.
- Usually, after three weeks of pregnancy, she will give birth. The female gives birth to fry in batches, even for several hours. There can be a lot of little guppies. In extreme cases, there are even several hundred of them!
- Unfortunately, tiny fish are very often eaten by other inhabitants of the aquarium or rivers, and even become their parents’ food. Typically you can expect 30 to 50 fry.
How to avoid the consumption of babies by other guppies? The best solution is to provide adult fish with a varied and well-balanced meal.
Reproduction of guppies in natural conditions
How do peacock’s eyes reproduce in nature? The size of a single litter varies greatly there. Much depends on how vulnerable the fish are to the predator’s attack. The larger the shoal, the greater the chances of survival. In areas where predatory fish are more likely to be found, females give birth to more smaller offspring.
Access to food also has a significant impact. If there is less of it, animals can reduce the number of offspring. It should also be mentioned that the more guppies there are in a given area, the greater the decline in reproduction as the risk of cannibalism increases.
Guppies – price and breeding
Guppies are not particularly expensive fish. They are not only very small, but also easy to reproduce. The more popular varieties can cost as much as PLN 2-3 per piece. For the rarer ones, such as Koi or Magic Violet, you have to pay up to PLN 20. It is best to buy peacock-eyes fish from reliable breeders.
Guppies – diseases
Until recently, these animals were considered to be very resistant to diseases and were famous for the fact that they adapt perfectly to the conditions in the aquarium. To some extent, this is true. Years of irresponsible breeding and crossing individual varieties with each other made guppies much less resistant, and according to some – downright sickly. They are mainly threatened by:
- Thrush – peacock eyes with longer fins are the most vulnerable to this disease. It manifests itself as a white coating and requires a disinfectant to treat it. With thrush, you also need to oxygenate the water, raise the temperature and remove food from the bottom;
- Fin necrosis – is a bacterial disease that most often affects stressed peacock eyes living in too tight aquariums. Treatment consists of bathing in specialized solutions and improving the living conditions of the fish. Fin necrosis is not contagious;
- cotton guppy disease – is a bacterial disease that manifests itself as behavior change. Sick fish hide, become lethargic and more apathetic. Epidermal necrosis appears. It is necessary to thoroughly clean and sanitize the aquarium;
- ichthyosis is a very popular disease of fish that also affects guppies. How to fight it? First of all, it is important to saline the water and raise its temperature.
Guppy – summary
Guppies are very popular fish that quickly adapt to new conditions. They do best in aquariums with lush vegetation, but they can live in both salt and fresh water. However, it is worth providing them with a fairly large tank, in which there will not be too many fish. In poor conditions, the peacock’s eyes become stressed, which leads to many diseases.
Due to the relatively low price and high tolerance to aquarium conditions, peacock ponds may be suitable for beginner aquarists. If you are one of them, be sure to create optimal conditions in the tank for them.