Swamp Guppy

The Swamp Guppy, also known as Red Picta, is a beautiful wild form from South America, where it can be found in Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana, among other places. Its natural waters, which it often shares with the guppy (Poecilia reticulata), can be soft or brackish. The Swamp Guppy females grow up to about 5.5 cm long, males remain significantly smaller at about 2-3 cm. In particular, the intensive orange to red body colouration, which is decorated with black spots and bands (variable depending on the original habitat), makes this guppy visually very appealing and interesting. In aquaristics, Micropoecilia picta is still quite new and rarely available.

Care in the aquarium

Micropoecilia picta is a bit more demanding to care for than its relatives, Poecilia reticulata (guppy) or Poecilia wingei (Endler’s guppy). It needs an aquarium volume of at least 80 liters as well as dense planting on the edges of the tank, roots or stone structures in order to be able to withdraw if necessary. There should still be enough free swimming space for this lifely fish and the water current should not be too strong. Since the swamp guppy needs clean water that is low in nitrate and germs, the water should be changed regularly – ideally weekly – and the tank should not be overcrowded with fish. Ideally, humic substances, for example in the form of alder cones, peat or Liquid Humin+, are also added to further strengthen the swamp guppies’ immune system.

Feeding

Small frozen and live food are optimal for this fish. In addition, conventional types of fish food can be fed in the appropriate size.

Sexual characteristics and breeding

In contrast to the intensely colored males, the swamp guppy females are kept in a simple silvery-grey to olive-green color, which does not make it difficult to determine the sex. Males also remain significantly smaller at around 2 – 3 cm and have a slimmer physique than the 4 – 5.5 cm tall, rounder females. The propagation of swamp guppies in the aquarium is not as easy as one is used to from guppies and requires a little more expertise and optimal water parameters.