black guppies
Black guppies or Guppy black monk, scientific name Poecilia reticulata (Black breed), belongs to the Poeciliidae family. The key characteristic of this variety is the solid dark body coloration of the males. However, often lighter shades can appear in the head area. As a rule, the fish are small or medium in size. Fully colored large specimens are rare, as it is very difficult for them to retain black colors in the caudal fin.
Brief information:
- The volume of the aquarium – from 40 liters.
- Temperature – 17-28°C
- Value pH — 7.0–8.5
- Water hardness – soft to high (10-30 dGH)
- Substrate type – any
- Lighting – moderate or bright
- Brackish water is permissible in a concentration of up to 15 g per 1 liter
- Water movement – light or moderate
- The size of the fish is 3–6 cm.
- Food – any food
- Temperament – peaceful
- Content alone, in pairs or in a group
Maintenance and care
Like most other breeds, Black Guppies are easy to keep and breed in home aquariums and get along well with many other types of fish. They are considered an excellent choice for those who are taking their first steps in the aquarium trade.
Due to their modest size and unpretentiousness, they can be found in small tanks, the so-called nano-aquaria. Although they are not demanding on the choice of design, it is nevertheless desirable to provide several places for shelters, for example, in the form of thickets of living plants. Fry will find shelter in them, which will inevitably appear in the presence of a sexually mature male and female.
With the ability to adapt to a wide range of pH and dGH values, the Black Monk Guppy will thrive in soft to very hard and even brackish water. This feature greatly facilitates water treatment. It is enough to let the water settle and it can be poured.
The minimum set of equipment may consist of a lighting system and a simple airlift filter, provided that the tank has a small number of inhabitants.
Aquarium maintenance is standard. It is important to regularly remove accumulated organic waste (feed leftovers, excrement) and replace part of the water with fresh water weekly.
