The Red Moscow Guppy, scientifically known as Poecilia reticulata, is a striking and popular tropical freshwater aquarium fish cherished for its vibrant colors and easygoing nature. In this comprehensive care guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about keeping and breeding Red Moscow Guppies in your home aquarium. From their appearance to tank setup, breeding, feeding, and common diseases, we’ll provide you with expert advice to ensure your guppies thrive.
What is a Red Moscow Guppy?
The Red Moscow Guppy (Poecilia reticulata var. “Black Moscow”) is one of the most popular and striking guppy varieties. It is known for its solid red and gold coloration, with elegant, long tails in males. Red Moscow Guppies are typically hardy and adaptable, making them a good choice for both beginner and experienced aquarists alike.
Appearance: Male and Female
Red Moscow Guppies exhibit sexual dimorphism, meaning that males and females have distinct differences in appearance:
Male Red Moscow Guppy
- Color: Males boast a dazzling solid red coloration, often with a metallic sheen, which extends across their entire body.
- Size: They are typically smaller, reaching a length of around 1.2 to 1.6 inches (3-4 cm).
- Fin Shape: Males feature elongated dorsal and anal fins, which are often more vibrant and eye-catching compared to those of the females.
- Tail: Their caudal fin (tail fin) is larger and more ornate, with a fan-like shape and a bold red color.
Female Red Moscow Guppy
- Color: Females are slightly less vibrant, displaying a red hue that may be less intense and may include some iridescence.
- Size: They are larger than males, typically measuring 1.6 to 2 inches (4-5 cm).
- Fin Shape: The dorsal and anal fins of females are more modest and less flamboyant.
- Tail: Their caudal fin is generally smaller and may exhibit a rounder shape compared to the males.
It’s important to have a good balance of male and female Guppies in your aquarium, as this will promote their natural behavior and allow for breeding opportunities.
Origin
The exact origin of the Red Moscow Guppy is unknown, but it is believed to have been developed in Thailand in the 1960s. It was then brought to the United States and other countries, where it quickly became a popular guppy variety.
The Moscow Red Guppy is thought to have been developed by crossbreeding a variety of guppies, including the Endler’s Guppy (Poecilia wingei) and the Koi Guppy (Poecilia reticulata var. “Koi”). The Endler’s Guppy is a small, brightly colored guppy that is native to Venezuela. The Koi Guppy is a larger guppy with a variety of color patterns, including red and white.
Tank Setup
To set up a tank for Red Guppies, you will need the following:
- A tank that is at least 10 gallons in size.
- A filter to keep the water clean.
- A heater to maintain the water temperature at 65-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
- A thermometer to monitor the water temperature.
- A substrate, such as sand or gravel.
- Aquarium plants and decorations.
Once you have all of your supplies, you can begin setting up your tank:
- Rinse the substrate well to remove any dust or debris.
- Add the substrate to the tank.
- Add the aquarium plants and decorations.
- Fill the tank with water.
- Add the filter and heater.
- Turn on the filter and heater.
- Allow the tank to cycle for at least 2 weeks before adding any fish.
Once the tank has cycled, you can add your Moscow Guppies. Start by adding a few fish at a time to give the filter time to adjust.
Water Parameters
Red Moscow Guppies prefer the following water parameters:
- Temperature: 65-80 degrees Fahrenheit (18-27 degrees Celsius)
- pH: 5.5-8.0
- KH: 10-30 dKH
- Ammonia: 0 ppm
- Nitrite: 0 ppm
- Nitrate: Less than 20 ppm
It is important to test the water parameters regularly to ensure that they are within the ideal range for your fish. You can use a variety of water testing kits to test the pH, KH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels in your aquarium water.
If the water parameters are outside of the ideal range, you can make adjustments by adding or removing water, using aquarium buffers, or adding salt to the water. It is important to make any adjustments gradually to avoid shocking your fish.
Tank Mates
Red Moscow Guppies are peaceful fish that can coexist with other peaceful community fish such as Half Black Guppy, Yellow Guppy, Black Moscow Guppy Blue Moscow Guppy tetras, mollies, and peaceful barbs. Avoid housing them with aggressive or fin-nipping species, as their long fins can make them targets for bullying.
Breeding
Red Moscow Guppies are relatively easy to breed. To breed Moscow red Guppies, you will need a separate breeding tank. The breeding tank should be at least 10 gallons in size and should be equipped with a filter and heater. The water temperature in the breeding tank should be maintained at 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit (24-27 degrees Celsius).
Once you have set up your breeding tank, you can add a male and female Red Moscow Guppy. The male should be at least 2 months old and the female should be at least 4 months old.
The male guppy will court the female by swimming around her and displaying his fins. The female will accept the male’s advances by allowing him to fertilize her eggs.
Once the female is fertilized, she will carry the eggs for 21-30 days. During this time, it is important to feed the female a high-quality diet to ensure that she stays healthy and strong.
When the female is ready to give birth, she will hide in a secluded spot in the aquarium. The female will give birth to live fry. The fry will be very small and will need to be fed a special fry food.
Once the fry are large enough, they can be transferred to the main aquarium.
Here are some additional tips for breeding Red Moscow Guppies:
- Make sure that the breeding tank is well-planted. The plants will provide hiding places for the fry and will help to keep the water clean.
- Feed the female a high-quality diet during pregnancy.
- Monitor the female for any signs of stress or illness. If the female becomes stressed or ill, she may abort the fry.
- Remove the male from the breeding tank after the female has given birth. The male may eat the fry.
By following these tips, you can increase your chances of successfully breeding Red Moscow Guppies.
Feeding
Red Moscow Guppies are omnivores and will eat a variety of foods, including flake food, freeze-dried food, and live food. It is important to feed your guppies a high-quality diet to ensure that they stay healthy and colorful.
Here are some specific foods that you can feed your Red Moscow Fish:
- High-quality flake food
- Freeze-dried bloodworms
- Freeze-dried brine shrimp
- Microworms
- Daphnia
- Baby brine shrimp
- Spirulina flakes
It is best to feed your Red Moscow fish 2-3 times per day. Feed them only as much food as they can eat in a few minutes. Overfeeding can lead to water quality problems and health problems for your fish.
Where to Buy moscow Red guppies?
There are a few different places where you can buy Red Moscow Guppies. Here are a few options:
- Local fish stores: Many local fish stores sell Red Moscow Guppies. It is a good idea to call ahead to see if the store has them in stock before you go.
- Online retailers: There are a number of online retailers that sell Red Moscow Guppies. When buying online, it is important to choose a reputable retailer and to read reviews from other customers before making a purchase.
- Breeders: You can also buy Red Moscow Guppies directly from breeders. This is a good option if you are looking for high-quality fish.
How Much Do Red Moscow Guppies Cost?
The price of Red Moscow Guppies can vary depending on a number of factors, including the quality of the fish, the breeder or retailer, and the location. In general, Red Moscow Guppies are relatively affordable fish. You can expect to pay anywhere from $2 to $10 per fish.
If you are looking for high-quality Red Moscow Guppies, you may need to pay a bit more. Breeding Pairs of Red Moscow’s go for over $50 from a quality breeder. However, it is important to note that you do not need to spend a lot of money to get good quality fish. There are many reputable breeders and retailers who sell Red Moscow Guppies at reasonable prices.
