Male 24K Gold Guppy 3.5cm

Male 24K Gold Guppy

The 24k gold guppy took the aquarium hobby by storm when it first appeared in aquarium stores, and photos were shared. Many people were quick to call the photos fake, but once they were seen in person, they became one of the most popular strains. The solid gold colour of these fish is something almost exclusive to them. Guppies, in general, are a great entry-level tropical fish because of how easy they are to care for, how colourful they are, and how easily they breed—which means even more guppies!

Male 24k gold guppies really do live up to their name, with a bright, metallic gold colour from head to tail. Normally, in the hobby, when a fish is called “gold,” it tends to be a shade of yellow or orange, but these guppies are actually gold. The metallic scales are best observed from above and, above all, catch the light amazingly. To complement the gold, these guppies also have flashes of white through the fins and face. The fins are much smaller and more traditional in style compared to the more common long-fin guppies. These guppies will look great in almost any aquarium setting, whether it’s a hardscape-only aquarium or a planted community tank.

Guppies are one of the easiest fish in the aquarium hobby to breed, which is why they are such a popular species. They are livebearers, which means the females give birth to fully formed fry instead of laying eggs. Females tend to have less colour around the fins and body compared to males and smaller fins; however, they grow larger in size. The natural habitat of wild guppies is widespread, ranging from South America to Mexico.

Tank Recommendations for 24K Gold Guppies

Being a very small and easy-to-care-for fish, a trio of male 24k gold guppies can be kept in nano aquariums, with the minimum being a 37-litre aquarium. A sand or gravel substrate would be fine for these fish as well. Plenty of plant growth will also make these fish contrast beautifully and provide handy locations where guppy fry can grow. Guppies are considered a “hard water” fish, meaning they prefer water with an elevated pH and are not like tetras. A higher pH of 7–8 can be achieved with a pH buffer or African cichlid lake conditioning salts.

Breeding

Breeding 24k gold guppies, or any guppy for that matter, is very easy and quite different from most other aquarium fish. While the vast majority of aquarium fish lay eggs, guppies give birth to live young, much like mammals. If you are looking to breed guppies, it is recommended to keep a ratio of one male to around three or more females to prevent females from becoming stressed by constant breeding attempts.

When gravid, the female guppy will develop a dark black “egg spot” near her ventral fin, which is actually the developing fry. She will then release them in a safe location in the aquarium, which is why plenty of plant cover is recommended. Guppies may also eat fry they encounter, so some aquarists use a separate grow-out aquarium, although this is not necessary. With these guppies specifically, it is recommended to line-breed or regulate the offspring produced to ensure the genetic traits of the patterning and colour are maintained. However, there is also plenty of room to experiment and hybridise to create new and improved colour strains.

Suitable Tank Buddies

The 24k gold guppy is a very peaceful aquarium fish, and males are no more aggressive than females. They do well with a wide range of nano aquarium fish. However, due to their bright and flashy fins, fin-nipping species should be avoided. Another important factor is that guppies require a higher pH, so keeping them with South American tetras may not be ideal, as those species prefer lower pH conditions.

Usually Compatible:
Pseudomogil species such as fork-tail rainbows, blue-eyes, rice fish, and other nano aquarium fish that can tolerate hard water conditions.

Sometimes Compatible:
Medium-growing or potentially fin-nipping species. Bettas should also be avoided due to their similar flashy appearance, which can lead to aggression from the betta.

Rarely Compatible:
Large and aggressive species that would prey on the guppies, such as oscars or jaguar cichlids.

Feeding Your Male 24K Gold Guppy

The 24k gold guppy is very easy to feed once it is settled into the aquarium. It will readily eat a wide range of foods but prefers floating nano pellets or flakes due to its top-dwelling behaviour. Providing nutritious food with good protein levels and varied ingredients can help enhance their colours slightly.