Guppy with unusual tail, selective breeding I was told

Last year my son and I started our fish keeping journey. We started out buying with mostly guppies. One of our trips to our local fish store we saw a tank full of baby fancy guppies (AKA mutt guppies). They were irresistible, barely over 1/2" long. We asked about them and they said they were breeding guppies and this was the current batch of babies. As we were choosing which ones to take home we noticed one little guy with a frayed tail. I pointed it out and they told me they were selective breeding and had an entire tank of that type of guppy. I gave them a funny look and they brought me over to a tank fully of adult guppies with this type of frayed tail. We took home the frayed tail baby and one other.
To this day those are the only two guppies we have left in our community tank. I've searched high and low for a guppy with this type of tail and I haven't found anything like him.
He's a very cool looking guppy, much darker than the photo...more of a midnight blue. Has anyone seen anything like him?

 

I haven't. If i did, would probably be in one of our tanks over my wife's general objection to guppies.

 

I've not ever seen the like! It's gorgeous.

 

Looks like a Getta.

 

Los of guppies on Aquabid.
Many from award winning breeders.

 

Do you mean the shape or raggedness? The type is "delta" aka "triangle tail." It's fairly common, though not as much as "flag tail" in my experience. They're usually around $4 at petsmart. Unfortunately, this tail type tends to rip and become ragged over time as it snags on a sharp plant or piece of decor. This is likely what you saw in the adults.

 

Frayed cadual tail is called "crown tail" BTW. The ones in the picture are "ribbon fin"

 

Frayed cadual tail is called "crown tail" BTW. The ones in the picture are "ribbon fin"

"Ribbon." That was the 3rd name I was thinking of!

My first thought was either they're overselling delta or they're mixing crowntail and delta to make a new tail type (like combtail in bettas.)

For those wondering, ribbon, triangle tail, and delta are different names for the same tail type

 

Thanks for all the info. I added four female guppies to the tank. It's not likely the fry will survive based on the tankmates but we'll see what happens.

Frayed cadual tail is called "crown tail" BTW. The ones in the picture are "ribbon fin"

Very cool. The ribbon fin looks very similar to my guy.

 

Last year my son and I started our fish keeping journey. We started out buying with mostly guppies. One of our trips to our local fish store we saw a tank full of baby fancy guppies (AKA mutt guppies). They were irresistible, barely over 1/2" long. We asked about them and they said they were breeding guppies and this was the current batch of babies. As we were choosing which ones to take home we noticed one little guy with a frayed tail. I pointed it out and they told me they were selective breeding and had an entire tank of that type of guppy. I gave them a funny look and they brought me over to a tank fully of adult guppies with this type of frayed tail. We took home the frayed tail baby and one other.
To this day those are the only two guppies we have left in our community tank. I've searched high and low for a guppy with this type of tail and I haven't found anything like him.
He's a very cool looking guppy, much darker than the photo...more of a midnight blue. Has anyone seen anything like him?

Also guppies with this tailshape are called "swallow guppies". It's a shape that is popular in fancy guppies of the higher segment. So basically, at shows. And the elongated lower fins are called ribbon.
Again, it's a known feature. At least, if you're familiar with the serious guppy scene.

Do you mean the shape or raggedness? The type is "delta" aka "triangle tail." It's fairly common, though not as much as "flag tail" in my experience. They're usually around $4 at petsmart. Unfortunately, this tail type tends to rip and become ragged over time as it snags on a sharp plant or piece of decor. This is likely what you saw in the adults.

The tailshape in this case is not called delta or traingle tail but a swallow tail. And these cost more than an average commercial fancy guppy.

Frayed cadual tail is called "crown tail" BTW. The ones in the picture are "ribbon fin"

This isn't a crowtail but a swallow tail. A crowntail is much more and deeper ragged. Overhere a crowntail guppy:







I've made these illustrations to make clear what the difference is between swallow and crowntail.

Los of guppies on Aquabid.
Many from award winning breeders.

Guppy tailshapes like swallow and crowntail are shapes from the last decade and aren't illustrated yet like the ones you've shown.
But I've made an illustration myself with those included.

 

Also guppies with this tailshape are called "swallow guppies". It's a shape that is popular in fancy guppies of the higher segment. So basically, at shows. And the elongated lower fins are called ribbon.
Again, it's a known feature. At least, if you're familiar with the serious guppy scene.

The tailshape in this case is not called delta or traingle tail but a swallow tail. And these cost more than an average commercial fancy guppy.

This isn't a crowtail but a swallow tail. A crowntail is much more and deeper ragged. Overhere a crowntail guppy:
View attachment 875929
View attachment 875932View attachment 875933
View attachment 875934
I've made these illustrations to make clear what the difference is between swallow and crowntail.

Guppy tailshapes like swallow and crowntail are shapes from the last decade and aren't illustrated yet like the ones you've shown.
But I've made an illustration myself with those included.
View attachment 875930View attachment 875931

Wow...Amazing. I had no clue; I'm glad I asked the question.

 

Wow...Amazing. I had no clue; I'm glad I asked the question.

Most illustrations with those guppy tailshapes are only referring to what we've known for decades. It's a pity that those illustrations aren't really updated yet. That's why I've made an update myself on my own website by making new illustrations.

The connection to the guppy shows (and other livebearer shows) does give me a good insight of the trends in breeding forms of livebearers.