Photo: Andrew Bogott, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Swamp guppy
Micropoecilia picta
5 cm
Adult size
50 L
Minimum volume
10
Minimum group
5 years
Lifespan
Water parameters
Understand these values- Genus
- Micropoeccilia
- Diet
- carnivore
- Social life
- shoal
In the wild
Overview
Described in 1913 by Charles Tate Regan as Poecilia picta (“painted”), the swamp guppy is a close relative of the guppy. Some authors place it in the genus Micropoecilia, others, like FishBase, keep it in Poecilia.
The male, which barely exceeds 3 cm, wears orange or red colouring barred with black, while the silvery female reaches 5 cm. Unlike the guppy, there are almost no captive-bred forms: the fish sold remain close to the wild form.
- Scientific name
- Poecilia picta Regan, 1913Current valid name; in the hobby: Micropoecilia picta
- Classification
- Cyprinodontiformes › Poeciliidae
- IUCN Red List
- Least concern (LC)
Natural habitat
North-eastern coast of South America, from Trinidad to the Amazon delta (Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, French Guiana, Brazil)
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Rivers and lakes
It lives along the north-eastern coast of South America, from Trinidad to the Amazon delta, via Guyana and French Guiana.
It mainly frequents the slightly brackish water of canals and drainage ditches along coastal marshes, but also travels quite far inland. The water there is warm (26 to 28 °C), hard and alkaline; a little salt benefits it in the aquarium.
Behaviour
Peaceful, it lives in a group and suits a species tank or one shared with other small species that tolerate hard or even brackish water. It is more delicate than the guppy and copes poorly with soft, acidic water.
A livebearer like the guppy, it gives birth to fully formed fry; several females per male reduce harassment. It feeds on small prey and algae.