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Guppy Fish Care

Dhanya Joy
Appropriate care is essential to maintain aquarium guppy fish for a long time. They are relatively easy to care for, and inexpensive too.
Guppy fish are popular freshwater aquarium fish and their pretty, colorful looks attract a lot of people who eventually breed them in aquariums. These fish belong to the family Poeciliidae, and are commonly found in northern Brazil, Guyana, and Trinidad.
Male guppies are comparatively more attractive than female guppies. They have fancy patterns and come in a variety of colors. Caring, breeding, and looking after these fish is easy and not much is required to be done. They are quite a hardy lot and adjust well to changing conditions, but regular care is very important for them.
It is not only about their survival, but also about them living healthily and comfortably. In order to care for them appropriately, you need to arrange for a suitable tank and food. Follow the guidelines below to set up an atmosphere suitable for guppies.

Fish Tank

Arranging for a suitable fish tank or aquarium is the most important aspect of guppy care. They have specific tank and water requirements necessary for their survival as well as health. They need at least a ten gallon tank or ten gallon aquarium, even if you bring in baby fish. When they grow up fully, they will require that kind of space.
If you intend on purchasing another tank and shifting them once they have grown older, then a five gallon tank would suffice. Also consider the number of fish that you will keep in the tank before you purchase one. If you intend on not breeding the males and females but still want to have them, you will need to maintain them in separate tanks.

Tank Maintenance

Maintaining and cleaning the fish tank regularly is of utmost importance for their health. The aquarium water temperature should be maintained at around 75 °F to 84 °F, depending on the temperature conditions outside.
A light source will be required inside the tank and it should be kept on for at least 12 hours a day. The water should be cleaned on a weekly basis by replacing 20% of it with fresh, clean water.
Also, you will need to draw out the water from the bottom of the tank to get rid of the accumulated debris. Install a siphon in the aquarium for this purpose. You will need to maintain the pH level of the tank water as well. It should be around 7.0 to 7.2 and you can make use of tools available at pet stores for this purpose.

Fish Food

Guppies need to be fed foods that are high in proteins along with baby brine shrimp, which are one of their favorites. They should be fed small amounts of food thrice a day, but be careful not to overfeed them.
You can feed them flake food, white worms, brine eggs, mosquito larvae, and frozen dried plankton. This will also promote healthy growth of the fish and will make sure that the food in the tank has been consumed before you feed them again.

Guppy Fry Care
Guppy fry care is essential if you breed your guppies. Firstly, you will need to arrange for a separate tank where the fry can grow out. Immediately after the fry is out, move them to the fry tank and add some of the aquarium water and debris to it.
Remember to clean the tank regularly so that they can grow healthily. You can feed the fry baby brine shrimp or dry food, but do not overfeed them. Move them to the larger aquarium once they are 8 to 10 weeks old.
Looking after your guppy fish appropriately will ensure their survival and good health for long and it will surely be a pleasure having them around.