pepetj

I happen to purchase native Guppies from an experienced fishkeeper from whom I purchase plants regularly (he supply plants to most LFS). I thought of getting guppy fry to feed my Opossum Pipefish.

He collected these guppies inland and keeps them in his plant farm ponds. He feeds them sparingly so they keep eating algae and bugs. I notice a striking Endler's amorphous color pattern in some of the males, others are barely colored with a light yellow patch and/or a little red spot.

I figure for small tanks these fish are a nice stocking option. At least the less colored ones might even work out well with Bettas (pH at the plant farm ponds ranges from 6.8 to 7.2).

What made me post this here is the discovery that what otherwise looked like juvenile females are fully mature pregnant ladies. These females are at most one inch long and their dark patched-belly shows that they are definitely pregnant.

I wonder if these fish stay at this size, I figure once reaching sexual maturity they shouldn't grow much... or am I mistaken?

Pepe
Santo Domingo

Butterfly

Sounds about right Pepe. Endler females while larger than the males still aren't as big as female guppies.
Carol