Description
Scientific Name: Poecilia reticulata (Blue Mosaic variety) Origin: Selectively bred in captivity (Original species from South America).
Physical Characteristics This strain is bred specifically for its tail pattern and cool color palette.
-
The “Mosaic” Tail: The caudal fin (tail) is the highlight. It is large and fan-shaped (Delta tail). The base color is a vibrant blue, overlayed with a pattern of dark blue or black irregular spots and lines that connect to form a “mosaic” or leopard-like pattern. (Note: In some high-grade “Blue Neon” variations like the photo, the blue is so bright it almost hides the pattern).
-
Body Color: The front half of the male’s body is typically a shimmering silver, gold, or creamy white, sometimes with iridescent blue scales near the lateral line.
-
Dorsal Fin: The top fin usually matches the tail in both color and pattern, flowing backward like a banner.
-
Size: Males stay small and sleek, around 1.5 inches (3.5 cm), while females are larger and rounder with less vivid coloring.
Behavior and Temperament
-
Active Swimmers: They are high-energy fish that constantly dart around the middle and top levels of the aquarium. The males will frequently display their tails to females.
-
Peaceful: They are completely non-aggressive and safe for community tanks. However, their long tails make them slow swimmers, so they should not be kept with fin-nipping fish like Tiger Barbs.
-
Livebearers: Like all guppies, they reproduce rapidly. If you keep males and females together, you will see fry (babies) swimming in the tank regularly.
Care and Habitat
-
Tank Size: A minimum of 5 to 10 gallons is required.
-
Water Conditions: They prefer hard water rich in minerals (calcium/magnesium).
-
pH: 7.0 – 8.0
-
Temperature: 72°F – 82°F (22°C – 28°C)
-
-
Diet: They are omnivores. To keep the blue color intense, feed them a varied diet of high-quality guppy flakes, micro pellets, and frozen treats like bloodworms or daphnia.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.