What is a Guppy?

Guppies are a group of colorful freshwater fish native to South and Central America, they can also be found in other parts of the world were they were introduced for mosquito control or released by humans for other reasons. There are close to 300 different types in the wild and many more captive bred strains. Guppies are omnivores that generally eat algae, aquatic plant matter, small crustaceans, and aquatic insect larvae. 

FUN FACT: Guppies can be found on every continent except Antartica

Guppies are type of fish known as livebearers since they give birth to live young instead of laying eggs like most fish species. Gestation period is typically between 4-6 weeks and females typically give birth to about 20-40 fry at once but have been recorded giving birth to more than 100 at once. Females can store sperm from males after mating and become pregnant multiple times after one mating. They have relatively short life spans ranging from 3-5 years in captivity but usually less in the wild (1-3). Males tend to exhibit a plethora of different colors as well as having ornate fins and tails while females tend to have a more subtle and drab appearance. The bright colors and fancy fins are key to attracting potential mates.

Fun Fact: The most expensive guppies are sold for about $100 in the aquarium trade.

---

Follow My Blog

Get new content delivered directly to your inbox.