Guppy Questions

[pondfreak4365]

As a result of a guppy population explosion, I have seperated the males and females. Each tank has fry that I move as soon as I can tell the gender. I got a tad lazy and didn't move a tiny female, and guess what, I have new fry! The female in question is only a few months of age and tiny, 3/4 inch maximum. Is this unusual?

The other part of my question is about coloration. I moved my females outside in a patio pond. The large mommas (some are 2 1/2 inches) have turned black with their only color located on their tails. Could this be a camoflauge? The pond has a black liner and they are nearly invisible now. I do plan to move this pond inside when it cools, but I live in Texas and that won't be happening for at least a month. Anyone hear of mature guppys changing their colors like this?

 

[pondfreak4365]

Found the answer on my own.

Guppyplace website covered this coloration question.

"A guppy hovering over a white sandy bottom will appear pale and match the scenery much like a chameleon. Lightening of body colour is also a result of a sudden change in pH, (alkalinity vs. acidity), temperature, or salinity. This change may last for hours or even days. In these cases, the melanin has simply concentrated itself in the centre of the cells. When the fish is resting above a dark bottom, the fish's eyes sense this and send information to cause the melanin to disperse in the melanophores, which will cause the fish to appear dark."


Guppies are just too cool

 

[Guppy Mad]

As a result of a guppy population explosion, I have seperated the males and females. Each tank has fry that I move as soon as I can tell the gender. I got a tad lazy and didn't move a tiny female, and guess what, I have new fry! The female in question is only a few months of age and tiny, 3/4 inch maximum. Is this unusual?

The other part of my question is about coloration. I moved my females outside in a patio pond. The large mommas (some are 2 1/2 inches) have turned black with their only color located on their tails. Could this be a camoflauge? The pond has a black liner and they are nearly invisible now. I do plan to move this pond inside when it cools, but I live in Texas and that won't be happening for at least a month. Anyone hear of mature guppys changing their colors like this?

No it isnt unusual for a female guppy to be so pregnant at a small or young age because they become sexually mature at 3 months for the females so you should always split them up at a very young age if you want no more babies?
Hope this helped

 

[pondfreak4365]

Thanks for the reply Guppy Mad.