Family Poeciliidae
Size: 2 to 2½ inches
Temperature: 74 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit
Water: Undemanding
Origin: Trinidad and Northern Venezuela

Although they are ideal community tank residents with fishes of similar size and temperament, if you intend to breed your guppies it is best to house them in a species-only tank. You can house three pairs in a 10-gallon tank or five to six pairs in a 20-gallon tank. There are many color and fin varieties of guppies available today, all descended from the wild Poecilia reticulata.

It is best to house them in a 10- to 20-gallon long tank. They need well-oxygenated water, but do not like much water motion, so a power filter is out. The old-fashioned inside box filter or a large sponge filter seem to work best. Decorate their tanks with live bunch plants (potted) to offer the fish security as well as something for them to nibble on. Frequent partial water changes are a must because of the many feedings the fish should receive.

Guppies will consume a wide variety of meaty and plant foods. They relish small live foods, flakes, freeze-dried Tubifex worms, algae, parboiled zucchini slices, plus any other small foods you can provide. The key is variety and frequent feeding.

Guppies are livebearers that are easily spawned in the aquarium without much preparation. However, if you want to breed good-quality guppies you will need to be selective. Choose a pair of guppies that have the color, finnage and size you like. Males are brighter in color, smaller and have a modified anal fin called a gonopodium.

Once they have spawned, separate out any males and raise these into healthy adults. Now you have your breeding stock. Choose a male and one or more females from the original batch and begin your selective breeding. In this way you will be able to properly control the genetics.