Features of the content of guppies

Perhaps the most popular pets among those people who are just starting to populate their first aquariums are guppy fish. They are graceful, bright and immediately attract attention. It's a pleasure to watch such underwater creatures. Let's talk about how to properly keep guppies so that they delight you as long as possible.

Since the guppy fish themselves are small, they should select the appropriate aquarium. As a rule, these are containers with a volume of 25 or 50 liters. If it is not planned to share some larger neighbors, then this will be quite enough for the guppy. However, here it is worth considering the fact that if the container is populated with too many fish, then they will experience discomfort, and maybe even injure each other. That's why with the replenishment of your collection, you need to ensure that there is enough space for everyone and, if necessary, relocate guppies.

The aquarium must have a built-in filtration system. This is a reliable way to keep the water clean and your fish healthy. The condition of the filter must be monitored on an ongoing basis. As soon as it begins to darken, it is worth replacing it without delay. In this case, you need to act gradually. If you replace the entire filter at once, then ammonia, which appears in the water due to the fact that fish waste is floating there, will poison the water. That's why It is customary to cut the sponge in half and replace it in turn. If activated carbon is used instead of sponges, then it is enough just to replace it with a new portion.

Do not forget about changing the water.This should be done on a regular basis, at least once every 2 weeks. Ideally, every week it is sufficient to simply replace a quarter of the total volume of water with fresh water. Another important detail is the air pump. It saturates the water with oxygen, which is also important for the normal existence of fish. You can also place live plants at the bottom of the aquarium. They are known to give off oxygen too.

In nature, guppies live in warm climates, near the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. The water is clean and warm. Therefore, it is advisable to install a heater in the aquarium so that the water temperature does not change sharply, and the fish feel "at ease". The best option is a temperature from 23 to 26 degrees.

The decoration is also a very important detail. Of course, their main task is to decorate the underwater world. In addition, they can also serve as a refuge for fish. Sometimes they need to hide somewhere or hide from what they perceive as a danger.

To prevent guppies from getting hurt, the bottom should be lined with polished gravel or sand.... Fish will be able to burrow there. It will also be convenient to place decorative structures and plant underwater plants on it. To make the fish more interesting in the aquarium, you can additionally install decorative caves, clay pots or even mini-grottoes in it. The number of decorations depends on the size of the aquarium. They should not prevent the fish from swimming freely.

Having dealt with the basic needs of the fish, it is worth paying attention to other points, which will help guppies come to terms with their new home.

• Neighbor Compatibility... Guppies are quite peaceful fish that get along well with almost everyone. But because of the size, it should be borne in mind that larger and more predatory neighbors can easily start hunting guppies. Therefore, you should carefully select those who will live in the same aquarium with them. The best option is the neighborhood with the same small fish. For example, neons, tarakatums and others.
• Pairing. Those who plan to breed guppies in the future should initially buy the fish in pairs. Determining which gender an underwater creature belongs to is not so difficult. Males are usually slimmer and slightly smaller in size. But they have a larger tail fin. Females differ not only in their size, but also in paler color. Even among the fry, males can be immediately identified - they are the first to acquire a bright color.

Another important question that worries many is how to feed the fish, and how often to do it. The most important point to remember is that the guppy fish are very small. This means that their stomach is very small. That's why the feed should be small grains. At the same time, it is advisable to make the pet diet as varied as possible. You can pick up dry food, and frozen, and even live.

When buying food in a store, you should give preference to proven brands. They are still easier to trust. Cheap food is not worth taking, especially if they are dry. The guppy's stomach is very sensitive, so poor food can harm these creatures. If we talk about "live" food, then for guppies, options such as a bloodworm or a coretra are quite suitable. Fish will accept this food with pleasure.

To improve digestion, fish can also be given special flakes. They contain many plant substances. Regarding the frequency of feeding, we can say that guppy fish can eat no more than 2 times a day.Moreover, the portions should be small all the time.

It is necessary to take care of guppy fish from a very young age. At the same time, you will not have to spend a huge amount of time on this. In most cases, fish manifest themselves as independent creatures. They will find themselves a mate and take care of the offspring. As a rule, couples form immediately after the guppies reach reproductive age. At this time, it is simple enough that potential partners are in the same aquarium with them.

Determining that a fish is pregnant is quite simple. Her abdomen swells, and the fish becomes even larger. Pregnancy lasts for 1 month. Having noticed such changes, you need to start preparing for an important event. Ideally, you should have a ready-made fry reservoir on hand. This is necessary so that the newly-made parents do not eat the eggs. This is a completely common occurrence in the animal kingdom. In order for as many fry as possible to survive, it is worth placing live plants in a separate tank in a dense row... There should also be holes for the fry.

It costs about a day to keep a female guppy in a separate tank. After that, it can be planted in a common aquarium. Then you will have to deal only with fry. It is worth noting that they have weaker immunity than adults. Therefore, you can feed them more often so that they grow up and get stronger sooner. You need to give food in small quantities, 3 or 4 times a day. You can use brine shrimp larvae or special food. It is worth keeping the fry in the jig until they grow up, and their size will be at least 2.5 cm in length. The water in a separate tank should also be changed more often.

Guppies usually do not cause any problems to their owners. But, if a person engaged in aquaristics is a beginner, he may still face certain difficulties. First warning for novice breeders - you shouldn't buy expensive selection fish... At the beginning of your journey, it is worth picking up simple guppies. Then it will be easy to take care of them.

Bright and rare fish, on the contrary, require specific care. Therefore, even though they may look prettier and immediately grab the attention of buyers, it is better to approach an aquarium with simpler fish. After all, such colorful creatures appear as a result of crossing. And this, as in the case of other representatives of the animal world, makes them weaker and more prone to disease.

However, all guppies are susceptible to diseases as such. The main sign that something is wrong with your fish's health is the condition of the scales. If it disappears in places or the guppy is constantly trying to scratch itself against pebbles or driftwood, then something is definitely wrong with it. In this case, you can try to fix the problem by making the water more salty. All you need to do is add one small spoonful of salt to 10 liters of water. If such a home remedy does not work, you should use a special remedy purchased at a pet store.

Another sign that something has gone wrong - guppies become lethargic and lethargic. As a rule, in this case, their appetite also disappears.

Also, fish may have problems with fins. There are several possible options.

• Split fin. This indicates that the fish is injured. Adding iodine to the water in a proportion of 0.1 ml per 10 liters of water will help.
• Shabby tail. This manifests itself in the case of a neighborhood with predatory fish or when the aquarium is overpopulated. In this case, the fish needs to be resettled for a while. The tip of the fins can be gently trimmed with a razor. The main thing in this is to apply a cotton swab dipped in water to the gills of the fish. This must be done quickly and accurately.
• Fin rot is quite common... In this case, the abdomen becomes dull blue, and the body may become covered with ulcers. Traces of this disease can also appear on the tail and fins - red stripes appear. Such a disease is caused by the proximity to aggressive fish or the replanting of plants from untreated reservoirs. They are often carriers of various diseases. A preventive measure in this case is not to plant suspicious plants in the aquarium and buy them in trusted stores.

Besides, it is necessary to observe how the fish get along in a group. Especially if someone else lives in the aquarium besides the guppy. Some pets show aggression towards their relatives. They certainly need to be resettled so that everyone else is not threatened. Knowing these simple points, you can protect your fish and make their life in the aquarium calm and peaceful. In general, the bright Caribbean guppy fish are it is a great choice for those who do not know where to start settling their aquarium.

Interesting facts about guppies are shown in the following video.