Guppies remain among the most common choices for aquarists, mostly thanks to their vibrant colors and ability to adapt. Furthermore, some people fancy this species as they can breed effortlessly. That said, not everyone is equipped to handle guppy breeding.
In today’s article, let’s examine all facets related to the procreation of guppies. For example, how fast do guppies grow? And what makes guppies grow faster? If you are interested in this topic, keep scrolling down!
Contents
How Fast Do Guppies Grow?
Generally speaking, it takes guppies roughly half a year to grow from small fry to a fully mature adults. Compared to other fish, guppies do take a longer time to reach adulthood. That is not to mention their limited lifespan, which mostly lasts from 1.5 to 3 years only.
While the growth rate of guppies is slow, there are methods designed to hasten the process. If you can afford such measures, it is possible for your fish to mature faster. Thus, you get to enjoy their lively personalities for an extended period.
Guppy Growth Stage
Every guppy has to go through 4 stages of growth, which include birth, juvenile, young guppy, and adult guppy.
Birth
Guppies are born as fry, meaning their parents give birth to live fish only. With an average length of no more than ¼ inch, guppy fry is decidedly tiny. Within a few days since being brought forth, guppies will have a clearly shaped body.
Juvenile
The next stage usually takes place for 3 months. When guppies are still considered a juvenile, they need to be fed and taken care of excessively. If the conditions are favorable, juvenile guppies should be able to grow another ½ inch.
Young guppy
Now, guppies are expected to be sexually mature and start showing interest in mating. This young stage is expected to last approximately 4 months, where the fish keep growing. In most cases, guppies can be as long as 2 inches.
Adult guppy
The adult stage is where the rest of the guppies’ livelihoods will be. Here, most of their activities include breeding, eating, swimming around, and even engaging in fights with other fish if provoked!
What Affects Guppies Growth?
If you think your guppies are having a hard time growing, chances are the factors below are impeding their way.
Water volume
An enormous tank with too much water and too few fries mean they have to swim for a much longer distance for food. Furthermore, they do not have enough hiding spots to prevent being eaten.
On the other hand, being put somewhere with little water to enjoy themselves means guppy fries have to compete for resources. Both of these scenarios are harmful to their natural development.
Tank size
While guppies are indeed small, they still need a certain space to move around comfortably. A guppy should be given 2 gallons of water, so anything below this threshold can be a problem.
Simultaneously, if a guppy has to live in a large tank, it might experience exhaustion and fatigue due to excessive swimming.
Tank mates
Guppy fries can fall prey to larger, more aggressive tank mates, especially their parents. Since adult guppies can feed on their babies, it is important that you find a way to separate them temporarily.
Until guppies reach their juvenile or young stage, leaving them exposed to bigger fish may lead to their death.
FAQs
1. What makes guppies grow faster?
Since guppy fries take a long time to mature, you are recommended to take extra steps should you want things to go quicker.
Provide a heater
Guppies enjoy heat and warmth. They also prefer stability over fluctuations. Thus, your water tank should be kept at roughly 80 degrees Fahrenheit or 26.7 degrees Celcius.
Anything colder or hotter will not suffice. Since the natural temperature of indoor water tends to be a bit on the colder side, consider investing in a heater to keep your tank warm.
Control the diet
During the juvenile stage, guppies take in as much food as they can. The quality of such food will determine how fast your fries grow.
If you can give them high-quality diets such as live foods or guppy flakes, your fish will no doubt be more likely to grow exponentially.
Maintain the right tank conditions
If the tank’s water is muddy, high in nitrate and ammonia, or generally dirty, guppy fries will not survive. Make sure to change the water frequently, clean up any waste buildup and filter the water.
This way, you can create the perfect habitat for fries.
2. At what age do guppies get their color?
When they are first born, guppies are mostly transparent or white, with no outstanding color streaks. However, they will soon become colorful after 1 to 6 weeks. The exact duration will depend heavily on which strands you have and how much effort you put in regarding their rearing.
3. How can you tell how old a guppy is?
It is difficult trying to pinpoint the exact age of a guppy. In most cases, you have to rely on their colors and size. If the guppies look tiny and do not have any bright colors, chances are they are still a few weeks old only.
On the other hand, fully grown guppies are slightly bigger and more visually pleasing.
4. Do guppies die after giving birth?
No. Female guppies still live after giving birth. In fact, female guppies can give birth multiple times, with a frequency of roughly a month. The only elements affecting their livelihoods are the food, water conditions, and tank mates.
Conclusion
Now that you have learned how fast do guppies grow, it is time to apply the knowledge to real life. Next time you buy a batch of guppy fries, keep an eye on their four stages and make sure they stay alive until maturing!
Alex is a pet freelance writer and editor with more than 10 years of experience. He attended Colorado State University, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, which was where he first got some experience in animal nutrition. After graduating from University, Alex began sharing his knowledge as a freelance writer specializing in pets.
