Hobbies And Interests
Guppies
Guppies, who have the Latin name Poecilla reticulata, are a species of small fish that you can keep in an aquarium. They are hardy, easy to keep and have lots of energy. In the wild, guppies live in freshwater habitats, but they also thrive when kept as pets in hard water aquariums. Guppies have been selectively bred to create a number of varieties that have specific colors and patters, as well as different sized tails and fins. Male guppies tend to be more colorful than female guppies, and are also shorter. Males grow to around 4 centimeters, whereas females can grow to as large as 6 centimeters.
Reproduction
Female guppies reach sexual maturity when they are approximately 3 months old. From this point on, the guppies are highly prolific, meaning they will give birth to lots of young, even in an aquarium. The gestation period for a guppy is around 21 to 30 days. During this period, female guppies are referred to as "gravid," which means they are carrying young. Female guppies have large abdomens when they are gravid.
Birth
Guppies are livebearers, like all other members of the Poeciliidae family, which means they give birth to their young rather than laying eggs like most fish. They still produce eggs, but keep these inside their bodies. Stress can cause females that are carrying young to give birth prematurely. If you move female guppies who are gravid into a new tank, they are likely to give birth a day or two after transportation.
Young
The young of guppies are larger than those of egg-laying species of fish. From the moment they are born, young guppies, known as fry, are able to survive on their own. However, the adult guppies will eat the fry unless there are sufficient hiding places for them. Plants make good hiding places for the fry. If you are keeping guppies in an aquarium, you may want to move the adults to a separate tank after the fry are born.