When we start to have an aquarium and we introduce the fish inside it, it is very common to have the guppy fish. It is one of the best known and most popular fish, especially in those who start in this world. However, many people have doubts when it comes to establishing the differences between male and female guppy fish.
In this article we are going to tell you all the characteristics of the guppy fish and what are the differences between the male and female guppy fish.
Guppy fish
These fish are tropical in type and live in fresh waters. They are native to South America and belong to the Poeciliidae family. They are quite famous since they have a very striking color. It is so colorful that it is called the rainbow fish. In the world there are almost 300 varieties of these fish and almost all have different types of colors, sizes and shapes of the tail.
They are generally very peaceful animals that keep swimming in groups all the time. They are very active swimmers and you will practically find them in continuous movement. It is recommended to have the guppies in the aquarium is to house 4 individuals for every 50 liters of water. In this way, they can have enough space to satisfy their needs and live with other fish.
We can often find males chasing females in order to impress them. The ideal thing so that the relationships between these fish can occur naturally is to establish a ratio of one male for every 3-4 females. This way we will ensure that they do not get stressed. If you see that your fish is continually hiding, it is signaling that it is sick or excessively stressed. Stress usually comes from excess de peces in the aquarium or because its needs are being met.
Differences between male and female guppy fish
There are differences between the male and female guppy. Firstly the males are smaller than the females as well as a more intense color, They are even distinguished from females by the anal fin, modified into a copulatory organ (gonopod).
Their sex differences are not that different from humans, since they have an X chromosome and a Y chromosome. The XX combination produces females, the XY combination results in males. Guppies are sexually mature at an age of 3-4 months.
The guppy's fertilization is internal, the gonopod is introduced into the female's sexual opening, discharging the sperm, then the eggs develop in a cavity inside the female's womb. Birth comes when the outer shell of the egg is broken. Gestation lasts an average of 28 days although it can vary depending on many factors, such as the temperature of the water, the nutrition, the age of the female and even the stress that she may suffer.
When the fry are born they are around 4-6 mm long, from the moment of their birth they already feed on the same food that both the male and the female guppy eat, although in smaller quantities. Around 100 fry are usually born. Keep in mind that guppies eat their own young, therefore they need our help if we want any young to survive.
How do we save the fry? Days before they are born, the strand must be separated in an aquarium, we place some floating plants in the aquarium to give protection to the young once they are born, returning the female to the main aquarium.
Differences in color
We can also find the differences between male and female guppy fish by color. We can find countless colors in this type de peces. As we mentioned at the beginning of the article, these fish are called de peces rainbow. The most normal thing is that we find a paler color in the upper half of the fish and a brighter color in the back. These are one of the reasons why The ones that guppy tails are so well known for. And they are very colorful and striking.
Some varieties can be found with a metallic appearance as they have iridophores. These are cells that do not have color but are responsible for reflecting light. It is these cells that create this iridescent effect. Some males may be smaller in size and have poorer coloring. Females tend to be more showy. Although it is not a conditional aspect, it can help us to differentiate the gender of the fish in order to have the proportion that we have mentioned above.
To avoid stress for the fish, the ideal is to maintain the ratio of one male for every 3-4 females. Otherwise, we will have problems in the aquarium due to excessive stress on both sides. On the one hand, females receive greater harassment from males when trying to impress them. On the other hand, the males feel a greater pressure to compete with the females present in the aquarium.
Reproduction
Knowing the differences between male and female guppy fish can be essential when reproducing these fish in the aquarium. You have to know that the offspring hatch in the female in her womb. Its gestation lasts about a month. When the young are born they are completely free and are capable of feeding and being independent.
However, other fish may be able to eat the young. Therefore, it is advisable to know how to identify the differences between the male and female guppy fish to remove the female to a separate aquarium. This aquarium is known by the name of farrowing.
For optimal care of these animals, the following characteristics are recommended in the aquarium:
- Aquarium temperature around 18-28 degrees.
- PH of the water in values of 7-8.
- The dGH (hardness) from 10 to 25 º GH.
- Feeding 1 or 2 times a day.
- Weekly water changes of min. 25%.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the differences between male and female guppy fish.