Guppy fish is a type of freshwater fish that are popular in aquariums. They are known for their bright colors and interesting personalities. Guppy fish in many colors, including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple, are relatively easy to care for. Guppies have a life span of 2-3 years and go through several different growth stages. And trust me, it is beautiful to watch them grow older, and seeing your fish’s different sizes and body types is beautiful. But what are the growth stages of guppy fish?
The growth stages of guppy fish include the fry stage, juvenile stage, teen or early stage, adult stage, and old age. Guppy fry is born without any color, and they only grow to about 0.25 inches during their fry stage, which lasts for about a month. They develop their coloration and patterning at the juvenile stage, growing to about 0.50 inches long. The teen or young stage is when they really start to fill out and develop their adult coloration. They grow to be about 0.75 inches long during this stage, lasting two to four months.
At the adult stage, guppies and their colors are fully developed. They usually range from one to two inches in length. And finally, at the old age stage, guppies lose their coloration, and their fins may become frayed.
In this blog post, we will discuss the different growth stages of guppy fish. We will also answer common questions about guppy fish growth rates and breeding habits!
Growth Stages Of Guppy Fish
Guppies are a great addition to any aquarium; they can live for several years with proper care. However, you need to understand the different growth stages of guppy fish if you want to be a successful breeder.
Guppies go through five main growth stages: fry, juvenile, teen/young, adult, and old. Let’s take a closer look at each stage.
Fry Stage
This is the earliest stage of a guppy’s life, and it lasts from the day they are born until day 30. During this time, guppy fry will grow very quickly. They will double in size every week, and their color will start to develop. It would help if you were very careful when caring for fry as they are very delicate.
Juvenile Stage
The juvenile stage lasts from day 30 to day 60. Around the three-week mark, you’ll notice some coloration in your guppy fry as they transition from the fry stage into juveniles. At this stage, guppy fry has developed their fins, and their bodies are more elongated. So you might also start to see some of their colors at this stage.
Sexing guppies is also possible during the juvenile stage. While they are still growing and their fins are longer, you’ll be able to distinguish males from females. To sex guppies, look at their fins’ overall body shape and length. Males typically have longer fins than females. Another way to tell the difference is that males tend to be more colorful than females.
Guppies spend around two months in the juvenile stage before they become adults. During this time, they grow rapidly and develop their adult coloration. So if you’re raising guppies for the show, pay close attention to their color patterns during the juvenile stage. Some color patterns will only begin to emerge at this time.
Teen/Young Stage
At around two months old, guppy fish enter their teenage stage of life. These guppies are larger than fry and juveniles but haven’t reached their full size yet. During this stage, guppies will continue to grow and develop their colors. For most guppies, this stage lasts between the 2nd and 4th months of their lives. By the end of this stage, guppies should get close to their adult size, and their colors should be fully developed. This is an exciting time for guppy owners, as they get to watch their fish gradually transform from juveniles into adults!
Adult Stage
Guppy fish reach adulthood around the four- to the six-month mark. By this time, they are fully grown, and their colors will be at their brightest.
Their fins are fully developed, and their colors are usually at their brightest. The colors of fancy guppies are usually more pronounced in adults. Guppies typically live for two to three years if properly cared for.
During the breeding season, guppies may become aggressive as they compete for mates. However, guppies are generally peaceful fish and make good additions to community aquariums.
Old Age
Guppies are old when they reach their second or third year. At this stage, guppies lose some colorations, and their fins may become shorter. They will also become less active and may not breed as often. Unfortunately, old age is a natural part of a guppy’s life cycle, and there is nothing you can do to prevent it.
How Long Do Guppies Take To Grow?
Guppy fish is popular among many aquarium enthusiasts because of its bright colors and easy-going personalities. But guppies are also known for their rapid growth rates. Most guppies will reach their full size within six months.
However, their colors will continue developing and changing until adulthood. Guppies go through three main stages of growth: fry, juvenile, and adult.
The fry stage is the earliest growth stage and lasts about four weeks. During this time, guppies are very small, and their color patterns are not yet fully developed.
The juvenile stage lasts about eight weeks when guppies develop adult color patterns. The final growth stage in adulthood is when guppies reach around six months old.
Even though guppies have reached their full size, their colors will continue to develop and change during this stage. So, if you’re wondering how long it takes for guppies to grow, the answer is anywhere from four weeks to six months, depending on the growth stage.
How Big Do Guppy Fish Grow?
Guppies grow relatively quickly compared to other fish species. They will reach their full size within six months, though their colors will continue developing until adulthood.
Adult guppies can range in size from 1.5-2.5 inches, depending on the guppy variety. While guppies can vary in size, most grow between 0.6-1.4 inches for males and 1.2-2.4 inches for females.
So, if you’re looking for a low-maintenance fish that won’t outgrow your tank too quickly, guppies are a good option. Guppies can make enjoyable, low-maintenance pets that brighten up any home aquarium with proper care.
How Fast Do Guppy Babies Grow?
Guppy babies grow quickly, gaining up to double the length they were born in during their first month of life. After that, they continue to grow slower, adding only about a quarter of an inch in length each week until they reach adulthood.
During their first few weeks, baby guppies are vulnerable to predators and need plenty of hiding places to survive. Therefore, a good rule of thumb is to provide one hiding place for every two or three baby guppies.
At What Age Do Guppies Start Breeding?
Guppy fish go through different growth stages in their lives. At around two months old, guppies start maturing sexually and become young guppy. Guppy breeding occurs when the guppy is around 3-4 months old.
The best time to breed guppies is between 6 and 8 months old because they are fully mature, and their colors are more vibrant.
If you want to breed guppies for the show, you should wait until they are at least eight months old. Guppies can live up to 3 years old, but the average lifespan of a guppy is between 1-2 years.
Guppies are not the only type of fish that have a spawning season. Most tropical fish have a spawning season from late spring to early summer.
This is because the water temperature is warm during this time, and food is abundant for the fry (baby fish).
Some fish, like guppies, can breed year-round if the conditions are right. The female guppy usually has a litter of about 10-25 fry (baby guppies) every 28 days.
If you want to breed guppies for profit, you need a lot of space and time because you will need to care for the fry (baby guppies) until they are big enough to sell.
If you want to breed guppies for fun, you can set up a small breeding tank with just a few fish. You don’t need to worry about selling the fry (baby guppies) because you can give them away to friends or family.
How Can I Make My Guppies Grow Faster?
There is no sure way to make your guppies grow faster. However, there are a few things that you can do to help them grow:
Give Them High-quality Food:
This means feeding them food that is rich in nutrients and vitamins. You can find high-quality guppy food at your local pet store.
Guppy Fish are omnivores, which means they eat plants and animals. In the wild, guppies eat small insects, crustaceans, and worms. You can either buy live food or freeze-dried food for your guppies.
Live food is usually more expensive but is also more nutritious for your fish. Freeze-dried food is a good alternative if you can’t find live food or don’t want to deal with the hassle of feeding live food to your fish. Feed these guppies once or twice a day every day and try not to skip a day; guppy fish cannot live long without food.
Give Them Plenty of Space:
Guppies need plenty of space to swim and explore. If they are confined to a small tank, they will not be able to grow properly. A good rule of thumb is to have at least 20 gallons (75 liters) of water for every guppy.
If you have a lot of guppies, you might need to upgrade to a larger tank. You can find tanks of all sizes at your local pet store or online.
Change the Water Regularly:
Guppies produce a lot of waste and can quickly build up in the water. This can make the water toxic for your fish and cause them to get sick. Therefore, it is important to change the water regularly to keep your guppies healthy.
A good rule of thumb is to change at least 20% of the water weekly. Then, you can use a siphon to remove the dirty water from the tank and add fresh water.
Provide Hiding Places
Hiding places are important for guppies because they help reduce stress. Guppies are prey animals, and they are always on the lookout for predators. Therefore, they will be constantly stressed out if they don’t have somewhere to hide.
You can provide hiding places by adding plants, rocks, or driftwood to your tank. You can also buy pre-made hiding places at your local pet store.
How Do I Know My Guppy Is Pregnant?
The easiest way to know if your guppy is pregnant is by looking for a gravid spot. The gravid spot is a dark patch on the female guppy’s belly and will usually be darker than the surrounding area.
If you cannot see the gravid spot, you can look for other signs of pregnancy.
For example, pregnant guppies tend to be more reclusive than usual, often hiding in plants or other hiding spots. Pregnant guppies also have a rounded belly, and their tail might become shorter than usual. If unsure, you can ask a vet or an experienced fish keeper for help.
How Do I Make My Guppies More Colorful?
If you want your guppies more colorful, feed them high-quality food. Many guppy foods on the market are made specifically to bring out their colors. Unfortunately, these usually contain more carotene than other fish foods.
You can also add live plants to your tank. Guppies love to nibble on leaves, which will help them get the nutrients they need to stay healthy and colorful. Live then also help to oxygenate the water and provide hiding places for your fish.
Finally, make sure you are doing regular water changes. Dirty water can stress out your fish and cause them to lose color. Aim to do a 25% water change weekly to keep your guppies happy and healthy.
You can also consider buying color enhancers from your local pet store. These are usually added to the water and help bring out the colors in your fish. Follow the directions on the bottle, as too much can harm your fish.
You can have a tank full of beautiful, colorful guppies with a little effort!
Conclusion
In conclusion, guppies go through several growth stages in their lifetime. Guppy fry grows quickly and can reach its adult stage within a few months. Guppies can start breeding when they are around two months old and can get pregnant at any age. You can make your guppies grow faster by providing them with high-quality food and plenty of swimming space.
Guppies are a great addition to any aquarium; they can live for several years with proper care. Thanks for reading! We hope this article helped you better understand the growth stages of guppy fish.
Please comment below if you have questions or want to share your experiences with guppy fish!
