Guppies are one of the brightest and most colorful tropical freshwater fish in the world. In addition to having a small body, maintenance is also relatively easy and inexpensive. Guppies can be a good choice if you are just starting out with setting up an aquarium or learning how to care for fish. With proper and careful arrangement of the aquarium, feeding, and care, guppies can thrive.
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Part 1 of 3: Managing Habitat
Step 1. Choose the right aquarium for your guppies
Ideally, the aquarium used should have a volume between 20-40 liters. However, don't overcrowd the aquarium. For best results, place one fish with a body length of 2.5 centimeters for every 8 liters of water volume. If you have a 40 liter tank, for example, try to keep about 5 fish. This way, you can take better care of your aquarium and keep your fish healthier.
Some breeders and guppy lovers may think that you don't need to follow this ratio. However, the more fish you keep in your tank, the more often you will need to clean and change the water. Therefore, take this into account when determining the size of your aquarium and the number of fish you want to keep
Step 2. Remove the chlorine content in the water
There are several ways that can be done to remove chlorine levels in water. You can leave it in the tank (with the lid open) for about a week to allow the chlorine to evaporate, or you can purchase a chlorine-removing product. It is important that you remove the chlorine content in the aquarium water, as well as any water that will be added to the tank later.
- You can buy chlorine-removing products at pet supply stores for relatively low prices. You may also need to purchase a chlorine test kit to make sure the water in the tank is completely free of chlorine before adding fish.
- Almost all tap water contains a certain level of chlorine. Therefore, you can use purified, filtered, or distilled water that is free of chlorine. However, as a precaution, it's a good idea to keep testing the chlorine levels in the water before adding the fish to the tank.
- Try to keep the pH in the water in the range of 6.8 to 7.8 (7 is ideal). You can use a pH test kit to check the acidity of the water.
Step 3. Keep the water temperature within the range of 24-30 degrees Celsius
Attach a thermometer to the aquarium to monitor the temperature of the water. If the water needs to be warmed, you can purchase a small heating device to place in the tank.
- If you need a heater, make sure you buy a device that fits the size of your existing aquarium. For example, if you are using a 20 liter tank, you will need a less powerful device than the heating device for a 75 liter tank. Check with a pet supply store clerk if you're not sure which kit you need.
- So that the water temperature is not too hot, it's a good idea to position the aquarium in a place that is not exposed to direct sunlight. Use a heating device if you need to raise the water temperature, and use artificial light in the aquarium instead of relying on sunlight. If for some reason the water temperature feels too hot, remove some of the water and replace it with colder water to slowly lower the temperature of the aquarium water.
Step 4. Use the filtration system in the aquarium
Usually, the aquarium is equipped with a filtration device/system. If not, you will have to buy it separately. You will also need to replace the filter media when the media is visibly dirty or browned so make sure you observe it every time you clean the tank.
- Even if your aquarium comes with a filter, you can always replace it with a different or better filter kit if necessary. Make sure the filtration system used is able to handle debris from the number of fish kept and the size of the aquarium.
- An ordinary filtration system is sufficient to maintain oxygen levels in the water. However, you can also install an airstone device to add oxygen to the water if you are using a larger aquarium.
- You will need to prepare the aquarium and run it for a month without fish. Therefore, refrain from buying fish before the preparation period is over. The aquarium filter media is a place to live (and thrive) for bacteria that can clean water-soluble toxic substances. Keep in mind that fish contaminate the water of their own habitat with their feces. These impurities and toxic substances cannot be removed by the mechanical filter system; only the bacteria on the filter media can convert this highly toxic substance into a less toxic substance (which you can then get rid of by changing some of the water every week). In the month of preparation, feed the bacteria with fish food (one piece every 3 days) so that the bacteria are ready when the guppies are introduced into the aquarium. This process is known as “cycling”.
Step 5. Add plants and decorations to the aquarium
Start at the bottom of the aquarium. Add substrate to the bottom of the aquarium. Rocks or gravel can be the right substrate choice for guppies. After adding the substrate, add plants. You can use live plants because they play an important role with bacteria in destroying toxic substances in water. In addition, plants also provide a place to hide for guppies because these fish like to hide.
- Make sure you rinse all the substrate and decorations before placing them in the tank. You also need to make sure the aquarium equipment is free of any dust or debris that may have been carried from the store.
- Do not include natural objects, such as shells, roots, or sand, as these may contain parasites or may change the pH (or increase it if you add limestone). This can lead to disease or death in guppies. Therefore, it would be best if you buy aquarium supplies from a pet supply store to prevent problems. Only people who are experienced in caring for fish are able to choose natural objects because they are able to distinguish between roots or rocks that are harmful and not to water quality. Usually, they have studied and searched for information about these rocks or roots from the start.
Step 6. Provide light to the aquarium
Ideally, guppies should be in an environment without light for 8 hours per day. Dark duration that is too long or too short can cause defects in body growth. You can place a light over the tank and set a timer to make sure your guppies are exposed to the right amount of light each day. You can also turn the lights on or off manually every morning and night.
If you take advantage of natural light (eg by placing the aquarium near a window or light source), make sure the light does not affect the water temperature too much. Also make sure the water temperature remains within the right range for the guppies. Utilizing natural light can actually trigger algae development problems, so it's a good idea to use artificial light
Part 2 of 3: Feeding Guppies
Step 1. Provide proper food for guppies
You can feed him a variety of foods, whether dry or wet, live or frozen. You can buy fish food (in the form of chips) for guppies that contain balanced nutrition. However, make sure you don't just provide foods that are only rich in protein. You need to balance the protein content with vegetable-based foods.
- Artemia (brine shrimp, earthworm pellets, dried blood worms, white worms, and mosquito larvae can be the right food choices for guppies.
- Chip pellets with fish food as the main ingredient can be the right choice. Read the packaging label before buying products for your guppies.
Step 2. Feed small amounts of fish 2-4 times a day
Instead of giving large amounts of food all at once, divide the feeding into several sessions throughout the day. Try to provide a variety of foods at each meal. For example, you can give artemia at one meal, then pellet pellets at the next meal.
Be careful not to overfeed. Usually, guppies can finish their food within 2 minutes
Step 3. Observe the digestive health of your guppies
Aquarium water can be a good clue to how well your fish are doing with the food they are given. If the water looks cloudy, or there is an algae problem in the tank, there may be a feeding problem.
If the tank seems cloudy, reduce the amount of food given by about 20% for a few days and see if reducing the amount of food helps the fish to re-adjust to their environment, and the water conditions can return to balance. A cloudy aquarium may also be caused by high levels of toxic substances in the water (eg ammonia and nitrite) due to the elapsed cycling period
Part 3 of 3: Keeping Guppies Healthy
Step 1. Keep two or three females for each male
You will need to keep a few fish in the tank because guppies are social creatures and live in groups. Make sure you keep fish in a 2:1 female-to-male ratio as males tend to pressure the females and chase them in the tank. Therefore, the presence of more female fish can prevent this problem.
- If you don't want the fish to breed, you will need to keep fish of the same sex in the same tank. Guppies give birth to young, not their eggs, so that when your fish breed, you can see the chicks right after they are born.
- Learn more about the process of raising guppies before breeding them.
Step 2. Clean the aquarium
You will need to replace some of the water (about 25%) with fresh, non-chlorinated water. You can also use a siphon hose to reach the bottom of the tank and suck up any food debris or algae that has developed at the bottom.
- When cleaning, don't drain all the water and replace it just like that. By removing and replacing only about 25-40% of the water, guppies can adapt better.
- The filter used must be able to manage and clean large amounts of water every day. However, using a siphon hose (available at pet supply stores) to remove algae or food debris at the bottom of the tank can help keep the tank cleaner and lead to a healthier guppy.
- Clean the glass walls inside the aquarium if the walls are already visibly dirty. Use a razor blade to scrape off any remaining debris adhering to the interior walls of the tank, then use a siphon hose to suck the dirt from the bottom of the tank. Also, periodically remove all decorations from the tank and rinse thoroughly to remove any build-up of algae or debris.
Step 3. Purchase a siphon hose from a pet supply store
You can use it while the fish are still in the tank, but make sure you clean it carefully. If you're concerned about the cleaning being done injuring your fish, you can remove any existing fish and place them in a separate container with chlorine-free water while you're cleaning the tank.
Step 4. Watch for signs of disease your guppies may show
Although this species is fairly healthy, guppies may sometimes show a fungal problem. Usually, the fungus appears on the fish's body as white dots (ich). However, this problem can be easily treated with over-the-counter medications purchased from pet supply stores.
- Make sure the aquarium is kept clean and maintained so that there are no health problems for the fish. If any guppies die, make sure you remove them from the tank immediately. If any fish show signs of illness, quarantine them in a separate aquarium while the fish undergo the healing process so that the disease does not spread to other fish.
- Some people suggest adding a little aquarium salt to the water to prevent mold development. If you keep several other types of fish as "friends" for your guppies, make sure they can tolerate the salt content of the water (eg corydoras can't live in salty water). Keep in mind that sea salt and cooking salt are different types of salt.
Tips
- While you can keep guppies of the same sex in the same tank, make sure they don't tear each other's fins in the first few weeks. Male guppies usually often do things like that.
- Guppies can usually coexist with most other fish species. However, don't place guppies in the same tank as fish that are known to nibble on the fins of other fish.
- Baby guppies are so small that you need to keep them away from their mothers to prevent them from being eaten as snacks. Cover the filter inlet tube with very fine wire gauze if necessary.
- Some species of fish may bite the guppies or may not want to share the same habitat. Therefore, choose the right “friend” for your guppies.
Warning
- Observe the pH level of the water regularly to maintain the health of the guppies.
- Adult female guppies purchased from a pet store can be introduced directly to males. The female fish can store the male's genetic material for one year so that even in an aquarium containing only female fish, the existing fish can give birth.
