Common Name: Guppy
Scientific Name: Poecilia reticulata
Categories: Genus of the Peociliidae, Sub-genus Lebistes, Sub-family Peociliinae
Origins: Americas; SE of the USA, Central America, northern and eastern South America as far a Uruguay as well as neighboring island groups, especially the Greater and Lesser Antilles. Northern Brazil, Venezuela, Barbados, Trinidad, and the Guineas. They were introduce to combat malarial mosquitoes in various tropical places, mainly in the Philippines, and Southeast Asia.

Description: Males up to 1.2 in. (3cm) females to 2.4 in. (6cm). Even in the wild the these specimens show a wide variety of colors and patterns, especially the males. The females coloring is more drab. The Guppy has a large selection in caudal fin types, such as fantail, spadetail, round tail, speartail, and pintail.
Diet: Worms, crustaceans, insects, plant matter, dried food, midge larvae.
Environment: They are found in calm waters of all types; streams, river lagoons, ponds, lakes, and often in the brackish waters of rivermouths and lagoons.
 Water temperature 72 - 83F. (22 - 28 C.) and should be medium-hard and slightly alkaline, however salt is not a necessity and is not always tolerated. Have a medium fine tank bed, along with background plants (Sagittaria, Vallisneria, Ludwigia, waterweed, etc.) and a large area for swimming.
Tank Mates: Species or community tank, although do not but in together with fin biting fish.
Breeding: Live-bearer. Breeding should be done in medium-hard, neutral to slightly alkaline water at a temperature between 60 - 90F..* During breeding periods, offer live foods, ie. midge larvae, along with general purpose and vegetarian flake foods. Gestation period of 4-6 weeks, 20-100 live young. After giving birth, the female has a tendency to eat her young. The use of breeding traps and vegetation will help prevent this. The fry should be kept in a separate tank and fed like young Mollies.