Male Chilli Red Guppy 3.5cm

Male Chilli Red Guppy

The Male Chilli Red Guppy is a stunning guppy variety that truly highlights its colours. Whilst most guppies tend to have incredibly bright and flashy tone, the chilli red guppy stands out with its almost pastel red. 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 Chilli Red guppies really do live up to their name with a bright paprika red through the body, which makes them quite different from other strains are the lack of vibrant intricate patterns or neon streaks. The front half of the body is metallic silver with a light green shimmer which transitions to the red. The fins are all much smaller and more of the traditional style compared to more common long-fin type guppies too and 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. These are a livebearer which mean the females will give birth to fully formed fry instead of eggs. Females tend to have less red around the fins and body compared to males along with smaller fins however will get larger. The wild habitat of the natural guppy is widespread from South America to Mexico.

Tank Recommendations for Male Chilli Red Guppy

Being a very small and easy to care for fish a trio of these male chilli red 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, a lot of plant growth will also make these fish contrast really well but also makes for handy locations where guppy fry can grow. Guppies however are infact considered to be a ‘hard water fish meaning they prefer the water to have an elevated PH and are not like a tetra. This higher PH of 7 - 8 can be achieved with a PH buffer or African cichlid lake conditioning salts.


Breeding

Breeding chilli red or any other guppy for that fact is super easy and very different from any other aquarium fish. Where a vast majority of aquarium fish lay eggs, guppies actually give birth to live young just like mammals. If you are looking to breed guppies it is recommended that there is a ratio of one male to around 3 or more females to make sure that females do not constantly get stressed by the males attempting to breed. When gravid the female guppy will develop a dark black ‘egg spot’ near her ventral fin which is in fact the developing fry. She will then release these in a safe location in the aquarium which is why it is recommended to have a lot of plant cover in the aquarium. Guppies may also eat any fry they find in the aquarium, so aquarists often have a ‘grow out aquarium’ however this is not necessary. With these guppies specifically it is recommended to line breed or regulate the offspring produced as it will ensure that the genetic traits of the patterning and green are maintained however there is a lot of room to experiment and hybridise to create new and better colour strains!

Suitable Tank Buddies

The male chilli red guppy is a very peaceful aquarium fish and males are no different in aggression when compared with females. They are great with a wide range of nano aquarium fish however because of their bright and flashy fins, certain fin nipping species would be avoided. The other factor is that guppies are a fish that need higher PH so keeping them with south American tetras may not be very suitable as these lower PH.

Usually Compatible

Pseudomogil species such as fork-tail rainbows, blue eyes, rice-fish, and nano aquarium fish which can tolerate hard water conditions.

Sometimes Compatible

Medium-growing or possibly fin nipping species. Bettas should also be avoided because of their similar flashy nature to guppies which could lead to aggression from the bettas end.

Rarely Compatible

Large and aggressive species which would prey on the guppies such as oscars, or jaguar cichlids.

Feeding your Male Chilli Red Guppy

The male chilli red guppy is very easy to feed once it is settled into the aquarium. It will readily eat a wide range of foods but would prefer to have high a high-floating nano pellet or flake due to its top-dwelling behaviour. Giving them nutritional food with a good protein level and varied ingredients can result in the colours being slightly more enhanced.