Tips for Breeding a Better Wild Guppy

The guppy, scientifically known as Poecilia reticulata, sometimes called the millionfish, are used as pets in freshwater aquariums. However, guppies are also found in the wild. Those bred to be sold for home aquariums can loose their wild qualities and begin to change in color and body shape. Wild male guppies are brown or black with some colored spots. Wild females are dull gray with no spots. To obtain a wild strain of guppy, you will need to obtain it from breeders who advertise online and in fish magazines.

  1. Protect the Guppy Frys

    • Cover the inlet of each filter and pump with a sponge pre-filter. This will keep the frys safe. Place fine-leafed aquatic plants along the bottom of your aquarium. Frys will be able to conceal themselves from their cannibalistic parents here and increase their survival rate. Some good fine-leaved plants include cambomba, hornwort and anacharis, as they grow quickly and are durable. Besides planting these plants in the soil, you could also let them float.

    Separate Adults and Frys

    • The female gives birth about once a month. As soon as a female gives birth, her babies are at risk of becoming snacks. Although plants that let the frys hide help increase the survival rate of the frys, if you want to further increase the survival rate by protecting the frys, place a pregnant female in her own tank where she can give birth. This should be a 5 to 10 gallon tank.

    Water

    • Test the aquarium water's pH often using a pH testing kit. This kit typically contains strips that you dip into the water and analyze the color the strip turns according to the kit's instructions. Healthier, better guppies breed in water at pH 7, which is neutral. Anywhere between pH 7 and 7.5 is fine. Test different bottled waters before filling up the aquarium.

    Aquarium or Tank

    • Although wild guppys live in ponds, you should not move your home bred wild guppys into a wild ecosystem or water that is connected to larger bodies of water such as lakes, ponds and rivers. Guppies are very invasive and can harm or destroy any ecosystem that they enter.

    Food

    • To promote breeding of healthy wild guppies, feed them flake food and live or freeze-dried tiny fish. Guppies are able to consume an amount of food no larger than the size of their eye. Keep this in mind when selecting fish to feed your guppies.