How to Breed a Ribbon Guppy

Wide, ribbon-like tails distinguish ribbon guppies from other varieties. Some ribbon guppies also have long dorsal fins that trail behind them as they swim. The tail is a genetic trait that may not appear in all ribbon tail offspring. All guppies bear live young. Before birth, prepare a nursery tank with lots of plants to provide hiding places for the fry, or baby fish. Guppies breed easily and quickly, so make sure you have an outlet for your culls, those baby fish you do not wish to keep.

Things You'll Need

  • 4 aquariums, 10 gallons or larger
  • Aquarium plants
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Place the chosen male and two females with the best tails in one tank. You can recognize the male by the gonopodium, a small rolled up fin at the base of the fish. The pregnant female will carry her babies for 28 days. Her stomach will distend with the babies.

    • 2

      Place the pregnant mother into a nursery tank. The nursery tank may be a smaller partition in a larger, 10- to 15-gallon tank, or it may be an entirely separate tank. After the mother gives birth, remove her from the nursery tank and place her with the male. If both females get pregnant, keep their offspring in two separate nursery tanks. Allow the babies to grow for three to four months.

    • 3

      Choose the male with the best ribbon tail and the two best females from the fry of one mother. Place them in a tank and breed them. Give away or sell the rest of the fry. Repeat with the three best fish, one male and two females from the second female line. Choose only the fish that possess the ribbon tails and color you desire. Sell or give away the rest of the fish.

    • 4

      In the third generation, choose the best male of all fry and the two best female of all fry. Breed them, separating the genetic lines to the third generation.

    • 5

      Keep any culls or non-breeding fish in the fourth tank.