Guppies are a very popular breed of freshwater fish, and they are kept by many fish owners all over the world. They have originated from various different parts of America and colonized most streams within their range.
Guppies are well known for being quick breeders, sometimes breeding up to once a month and laying between 10 and 20 eggs each time.
There are many different sub-breeds of Guppies, all with colorful patterns and variations. They often have fanned tails and scales that reflect light into an iridescent pattern.
The gorgeous look of Guppies is just one of the reasons why so many people decide to keep them in their aquariums.
But what about when the Guppies grow larger than their youthful size? Fish continuously grow, and some fish owners don’t realize how big their fish can actually get. So, today we’ll be looking at how big Guppies can get.
What Do Guppies Eat?
Otherwise known as the Rainbow Fish or the Million Fish, Guppies are found all over the world. They can adapt to almost anywhere and they are extremely hardy.
This means that they are rather difficult to kill – which should be good news for any budding fish owner!
Guppies live on a diet of invertebrates, plants, aquatic insects and larvae, algae, and diatoms. In aquariums, they can also live off generic fish food that you can get from the pet store.
How Big do Guppies Get?
The overall size of a Guppy will depend on a number of factors. They have to live in the correct environment to be able to thrive and grow to their full potential. There are also genetic factors that can affect the size of your Guppy.
Some of the most important factors that can affect the overall size of a Guppy are the water conditions, the space that they’re in, and their food sources.
There is also a variation of sizes depending on the sex of the Guppy. Male Guppies tend to grow to smaller lengths than female Guppies, which is similar in all species of fish. Female fish are almost always bigger than males.
Male Guppies can grow to an average size of 0.6 to 1.4 inches (1.5 to 3.5 centimeters). Meanwhile, female Guppies can grow up to 1.2 to 2.4 inches (3 to 6 centimeters).
However, there is also a subspecies of Guppy called the Jumbo Guppy. As you might have guessed, the Jumbo Guppies are a larger species than standard Guppies.
Jumbo Guppies can grow up to 5 inches in length (12.7 centimeters) – much larger than traditional Guppies, for sure!
Male Guppies can be expected to grow to their full length within seven weeks from hatching. Female Guppies are often measured later as they can continue growing for more weeks than this.
When Will A Guppy Stop Growing?
Guppies, much like every living thing, grow as they age. They mature from birth, and grow in width and length during this process. The rate of their growth can also depend on a number of factors.
For example, Guppies living in an area of high risk of predation can mature and therefore grow much faster than areas with a lower risk.
This is because their instincts force them to grow larger to put them at less of a risk of getting eaten by a predator.
There are four stages of the Guppy life cycle – Guppy fry, juvenile Guppy, young Guppy, and adult Guppy. A Guppy will typically go through these four stages within six months of their life.
After this, their rate of growth will begin to slow down, eventually stopping once and for all.
Once a Guppy stops growing in length, however, this doesn’t mean that the rest of them stops as well. Their limbs and tail continue to grow until they die. So, while the majority of the Guppy will stop growing within six months, they don’t technically stop growing at all.
This video shows the first 90 days in the life of some guppies. Don’t worry, it has been condensed to just over 2 minutes for you!
Why Do Guppies Stop Growing?
Guppies are great looking fish and they don’t cost much to buy and keep at all. This is one of the reasons why Guppies are so popular with fish keepers. However, this is sometimes a problem for the Guppies themselves.
As Guppies are so cheap, many fish owners make the mistake of overpopulating their tank. After all, the more the merrier – right?
Unfortunately, overpopulation can be a big problem in aquariums as fish get stressed very easily, which can lead to an early demise.
Guppies should live in a large aquarium of at least 5 gallons so that they have plenty of room to swim and enjoy themselves. The larger the tank is, the more likely the Guppy is to grow to its full potential.
Similarly, if you overpopulate the tank with too many Guppies, this could also stunt their growth. They will not have as much room to swim around in and thrive, and they might also get stressed which can stunt their growth as well.
If a Guppy is introduced to a tank with too many fish or that isn’t big enough, then they might stop growing prematurely. Ensuring that your fish are properly cared for will help to promote growing to their full size.
If you think that your fish have stopped growing before they have reached maturity, consider whether something should be changed about their environment.
Is there too many fish in one tank? Are they stressed or ill? Are they eating enough high quality food? You might just have to change one thing to spark their growth again.
Summary.
We hope that this article has helped you learn more about your Guppies and the size that you can expect yours to grow to. Female Guppies are often larger than males, with the exception of Jumbo Guppies.
Make sure that your Guppy is properly cared for and looked after to ensure that they grow to their full potential. This includes food sources, enough space, and lack of stressors.
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