From the 1st rather plain fish netted from the canals/ reservoirs, they are a tough and simple fish to keep and breed. Their mode of reproduction is similar to, and much more amazing than most other fish species. It takes one mating to fertilise its eggs, with the mother nourishing the embryos developing inside her for an average of 28days, after which tiny fish are born out free-swimming and not eggs. This is also known as "live-bearing" in fishes. What's more, the female is able to store the sperm from a single mating into a few "packets" inside of her, utilising one packet each month without fail to fertilise her monthly-produced eggs. So to say, she is able to produce on average 3-6 batches of babies without having a mate/ partner for months. Thus, they're also known as the "millions fish" used to stock our reservoirs and canals for mosquito control. How the sperm packets are kept viable for months in the female is still not completely understood.
Their colour forms/ patterning, even tail forms are the most diverse among any species of fish currently known due to their complex genetic make-up. If you think bettas(a.k.a. fighting fishes) have very interesting tail forms/colours, you'll be blown off by what guppy forms/colours exist ! There is virtually no limit to the genetics of guppies.
Apart from being a peaceful community fish, they are relatively undemanding and easy to breed. The kick i get is actually the chance to try and maintain a certain challenging tail-form, or even hope to create a whole new colour pattern with them. Such is the attraction that websites and forums purely about guppies are set up and still buzzing with postings and updates about what new patterns/ colours are being experimented with and created. Doing a google will give you many results but the most "lively" forum that I check back at least twice a day would be the one in Singapore's AROFANATICS Guppy Forum. The whole (originally arowana-dedicated) website is buzzing with information and pictures, even sales/ auctions of fishes. The format is not much different in other sites but the encouragement/ generosity of the forum members extend so much that they share valuable strains of guppies, information and even meet up for hours just to chat and discuss about what else ? GUPPIES !
Moss would be the aquatic plant that is so versatile, low maintenance and guppy-friendly that i cant do without. My breeding tanks, guppy tanks, planted tank and even my electric catfish tank all contain it. No particular favourism but spiky moss seems to be more suited to my needs.
All talk and no show ? Of course NOT !
Albino Superwhite breeding group (genetically colour-recessive guppies) with spiky moss
My favourite swallow-tail form
and the NEW crowntail guppy !
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