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VoidParadigm
03-02-2010, 01:18 PM
I'm getting some confusion about the size guppies are when full-grown.

Places I researched varied a lot saying anywhere from 1.5-2.5'', but is this just the body or including the tail?

Just wondering 'cause I noticed one of the Red Delta-tails I bought yesterday sounds tiny if you just count his body, but seems full-grown if you add in the finnage.

So, what's your personal opinion of the body size of a full-grown guppy?
(Or at least, the average. I figure with all the different strains and inbreeding it could vary.)
Northernguy
03-02-2010, 01:45 PM
The largest guppy I have ever had grew to about 3 1/2" long.It was a half black female.
The rest are average size,1 1/2-2 1/2" long.
VoidParadigm
03-02-2010, 01:48 PM
Just the body or tail too for that big female, NG?
Northernguy
03-02-2010, 01:56 PM
The tail was included.
I lost her after she dropped some fry.I think the males had a lot to do with her demise.
VoidParadigm
03-02-2010, 02:11 PM
Big, in any case. Maybe it's just me but the large ones I see are always female. :shrug:
Northernguy
03-02-2010, 02:21 PM
Most female guppies are larger than the males.I think its that way with most livebearers.Swordtails may be different.
VoidParadigm
03-02-2010, 02:24 PM
Fair enough. Seems a little backwards, though. I guess it would help considering she has actual babies growing in her instead of eggs. More room, etc. Most species I know about the breeding for you're supposed to make sure the male is bigger than the female. But all those are spawners.

Ah well. Food for thought. Or, rather, fish.
The Curious
03-02-2010, 05:22 PM
Ah well. Food for thought. Or, rather, fish.
Hehe...

Marine fish are measured from the beggining of the tail to the nose (tail is not included). Freshwater fish are measured from the end of thier tails to the tip of their nose (tail included). I know that this is correct in scientific terms.

The biggest guppy I've ever seen is about 3 inches including the tail. I clean tanks for local businesses and one of my clients has a 30 gallon guppy tank with a couple of these monsterous guppies. She said they drop about 70-80 fry at a time.
VoidParadigm
03-02-2010, 06:03 PM
Yikes. 70+ fry?
Good for to-sell breeders, but for the hobby aquarist that's murder. :lol:
The Curious
03-02-2010, 07:31 PM
Yikes. 70+ fry?
Good for to-sell breeders, but for the hobby aquarist that's murder. :lol:


Yeah...she has an Oscar as well...so there is no worries about too many fry...they just end up being Oscar food.