The photograph shows one of the breeding female Guppies in my tank. Guppies are the most favorite live bearer of mine, like thousand other aquarists from across the world. Guppy or Poecilia reticulata is probably the most popular freshwater aqurium species in the world. The fish is named after Robert John Lechmere Guppy (a British-born naturalist, 1836-1916) who has discovered this tiny fish in Trinidad, way back in 1866. However, this fish was known to European Aquarists, even before that.
This is a very hardy fish, making it suitable for the beginners. It prefers hard water and can withstand salinity levels up to 150% seawater, making this fish suitable for even a marine tropical community setup.
Its most famous characteristic is its tendency for breeding prolifically. It is known to give birth even while in transit from the pet shop to the home tank. The females are usually ready for conception again within a few hours, after giving birth and can use stored sperm from the previous mating to become pregnant again. Guppies prefer 22 °C (72 °F) for reproduction, but can do well in higher temperature like 26-27 °C, too.
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