A lyretail guppy is a type of guppy fish (Poecilia reticulata) with a lyre-shaped tail fin. The tail fin is split into two symmetrical lobes, with the top lobe being longer and more pointed than the bottom lobe. Lyretail guppies are popular aquarium fish due to their beautiful and unique tail fins.
Lyretail guppies are available in a wide variety of colors and patterns, including red, green, yellow, blue, and black. Some lyretail guppies also have iridescent scales, which gives their fins a shimmering appearance.
Lyretail guppies are relatively easy to care for, making them a good choice for beginner aquarists. They are a peaceful fish and can be kept in a community aquarium with other small, non-aggressive fish. Lyretail guppies prefer to live in warm water with a temperature range of 72 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. They also need plenty of hiding places, such as live plants or rocks, to feel secure.
Origin
The origin of lyretail guppies is not entirely clear. However, it is believed that they were first developed in the early 1900s by selective breeding of wild guppies from South America. Lyretail guppies quickly became popular aquarium fish due to their unique and beautiful tail fins.
Today, lyretail guppies are bred all over the world. There are many different varieties of lyretail guppies available, each with its own unique color and pattern. Lyretail guppies are also available in a variety of sizes, from small to large.
Appearance Of Mail and Female Lyretail Guppies
Male lyretail guppies: are smaller than female lyretail guppies, but they have larger and more colorful tail fins. Male lyretail guppies also have a modified anal fin called a gonopodium, which they use to fertilize the female’s eggs.
Female lyretail guppies: are larger and rounder than male lyretail guppies. They have shorter and less colorful tail fins. Female lyretail guppies also have a normal anal fin.
Care Guide:
Tank Setup
Lyretail guppies are relatively easy to care for, but they do require a few specific things in their tank in order to thrive. Here is a basic tank setup guide:
- Tank size: Lyretail guppies need a tank that is at least 10 gallons in size. This will give them enough space to swim and explore.
- Filter: A filter is essential for keeping your tank water clean and healthy. Choose a filter that is rated for a tank size that is larger than your actual tank size. This will ensure that the filter is able to keep the water clean even when there are more fish in the tank.
- Heater: Lyretail guppies prefer warm water, so you will need a heater to keep the water temperature between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Substrate: The substrate is the material that will cover the bottom of your tank. A good substrate for lyretail guppies is a fine sand or gravel. Avoid using substrates that are too sharp or coarse, as these can damage the fish’s fins.
- Decorations: Decorations can help to make your tank more aesthetically pleasing and can also provide hiding places for your fish. Some good decorations for lyretail guppies include live plants, rocks, and driftwood.
Feeding
Lyretail guppies are omnivores, meaning that they eat both plants and animals. A good diet for lyretail guppies is a combination of flake food, live food, and frozen food.
- Flake food: Flake food is a good staple food for lyretail guppies. However, it is important to choose a high-quality flake food that contains all of the nutrients that your fish need.
- Live food: Live food, such as brine shrimp, daphnia, and bloodworms, is a good source of protein and fat for lyretail guppies. Live food can be fed to your fish as a treat or as part of their regular diet.
- Frozen food: Frozen food, such as frozen brine shrimp and frozen bloodworms, is a convenient way to feed your lyretail guppies live food. Frozen food is also a good source of protein and fat.
It is important to feed your lyretail guppies a variety of foods to ensure that they are getting all of the nutrients that they need. You should also avoid overfeeding your fish, as this can lead to water quality problems.
Diseases
Lyretail guppies are susceptible to a number of diseases, including:
- Ich: Ich is a parasitic disease that causes small white cysts to form on the fish’s body and fins. Ich is highly contagious and can be fatal if not treated promptly.
- Fin rot: Fin rot is a bacterial infection that causes the fish’s fins to rot and disintegrate. Fin rot can be caused by poor water quality, stress, or injury.
- Dropsy: Dropsy is a condition that causes the fish’s body to swell up with fluid. Dropsy is often a sign of a more serious underlying problem, such as organ failure or infection.
If you notice any of these signs or symptoms in your lyretail guppies, it is important to quarantine them immediately and seek treatment from a veterinarian or aquarist.
Other Care Tips
Here are some additional tips for caring for lyretail guppies:
- Water changes: It is important to perform regular water changes in your lyretail guppy tank. This will help to remove waste and toxins from the water and keep it clean and healthy. Aim to change 20-30% of the tank water once a week.
- Testing: It is also important to test your water regularly to make sure that the pH, temperature, and ammonia levels are within the safe range for lyretail guppies. You can purchase test kits at most pet stores.
- Maintenance: In addition to regular water changes and testing, you will also need to perform routine maintenance on your tank, such as cleaning the filter and heater.
With proper care, lyretail guppies can live for up to five years.
Breeding
Lyretail guppies are relatively easy to breed. To breed lyretail guppies, you will need a separate breeding tank that is at least 5-10 gallons in size. The breeding tank should be equipped with a filter and heater, but it should not have any substrate. This will make it easier to remove the fry after they are born.
Once you have set up your breeding tank, you can add a male and female lyretail guppy. The male will chase the female around the tank until she is ready to mate. Once the female is ready, she will allow the male to fertilize her eggs.
The female lyretail guppy will give birth to live young after about 28 days. The fry should be removed from the breeding tank immediately after birth to prevent the adults from eating them. The fry can be raised in a separate tank until they are large enough to be added to the community tank.
Here are some additional tips for breeding lyretail guppies:
- Make sure that the male and female lyretail guppies are healthy and mature before breeding them.
- Feed the male and female lyretail guppies a high-quality diet to ensure that they are in good breeding condition.
- Keep the water temperature in the breeding tank between 78 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. This will help to increase the chances of a successful breeding.
- Provide the female lyretail guppy with plenty of hiding places in the breeding tank. This will help her to feel secure and reduce stress.
- Remove the fry from the breeding tank immediately after birth. This will prevent the adults from eating them.
With proper care, lyretail guppies can breed successfully many times throughout their lifetime.
Where to Buy Lyretail guppies and average cost
Lyretail guppies can be purchased from a variety of places, including:
- Local fish stores: This is a good option if you want to be able to see the fish in person before purchasing them. You can also ask the store employees for advice on how to care for lyretail guppies.
- Online fish retailers: This is a convenient option if you are unable to find lyretail guppies at a local fish store. However, it is important to choose a reputable online retailer to ensure that you receive healthy fish. one popular place to buy online is liveaquaria.com
- Aquarium clubs and societies: Many aquarium clubs and societies sell fish to their members. This can be a good option if you are looking for a specific type of lyretail guppy or if you want to get advice from other hobbyists.
- Breeders: If you are looking for a specific type of lyretail guppy, you can contact a breeder. Breeders can often provide you with fish that are not available at local fish stores or online retailers.
The average cost of a lyretail guppy will vary depending on the color, pattern, and size of the fish. However, most lyretail guppies will cost between $2 and $10 per fish.
If you are looking to buy lyretail guppies, it is important to do your research and choose a reputable source. You should also inspect the fish carefully before purchasing them to make sure that they are healthy and free of any parasites or diseases.
Here are some tips for buying lyretail guppies:
- Ask the seller about the fish’s health history.
- Inspect the fish carefully for any signs of parasites or diseases.
- Avoid buying fish that are lethargic or have any visible injuries.
- Choose a reputable source for your fish.
Once you have purchased your lyretail guppies, be sure to quarantine them in a separate tank for at least two weeks before adding them to your community tank. This will help to prevent the spread of any diseases or parasites to your other fish.
