Dumbo Guppy Fish – All You Need to Know

The Dumbo guppy is one of the many strains of guppies that have adapted to aquarium life perfectly. The breed comes in different color variations, including red mosaic, steelhead blue leopard, and blue and bright blue mosaic.

Some of the most noticeable features of the Dumbo guppy include:

• High adaptability to the tank life
• Prefers to inhabit the top of the aquarium
• Both males and females show multi-colored markings
• Abnormally large pectoral fins, hence the name Dumbo
• Resilient and adaptable species with few weaknesses

Other than these, the Dumbo guppy isn’t that different from other guppies species. They also prefer an omnivorous diet and show schooling behavior, especially in stressful and threatening situations.

The Origin of the Dumbo Guppy

The Dumbo guppy comes from the northern area of South America. It’s not as widespread as other guppy species, making the Dumbo guppy rather rare in the wild.

This hasn’t stopped professional breeders from breeding it selectively, causing the Dumbo guppy to explode in the market. This is generally thanks to the Dumbo guppy’s unique look and its hardiness and adaptability.

How Much do Dumbo Guppies Cost?

The Dumbo guppy isn’t expensive, but the price will vary by specimen. Expect to pay between $7 and $8 to $15 or even $20 per piece. Several aspects will influence the price, including the guppy’s size, genetic background, visible features, maturity, health, etc.

If you’re not that picky about your guppy, you can purchase it from online shops that specialize in the market. Just be wary that buying your guppies from online shops isn’t always the safest move. Your guppies may arrive sick, with parasites, or straight-up dead due to being kept in inadequate aquarium conditions.

If you want extra warranties or need a high-end guppy with the best genetic background, you must purchase the specimens from experienced breeders. Assess the market a bit, find the most reliable guppy breeders with real positive reviews, and get your desired specimen.

Ensure that the seller has a trustworthy refund policy if the guppy arrives dead, which can happen if the delivery lasts more than 48 hours.

How to Breed Dumbo Guppies?

The answer depends on the reason for breeding the guppies. If you only want to produce offspring for home use, much preparation isn’t required. The process is pretty straightforward, only requiring several key steps, such as:

• Move the female into a separate tank when the labor approaches – The guppy’s gestation period revolves around 20-30 days, depending on the environmental conditions. Moving the female into a breeding tank when the labor sets in is essential to protect the fry upon birth and prevent the adults from eating them.
• Move the female into the main tank – After the fry are out, move the female into the general population. Guppy females play no role in raising the fry, and she might even eat them.
• Provide the fry with a personalized diet – The fry will require meals rich in protein and animal fat because their higher metabolism craves additional nutrients. When they are ready to move into the main tank, you should bring their diet to normal at 2 months of age.

If, however, you plan on breeding the Dumbo guppy for profit, the breeding process will be more complex. I’ve written a detailed article on selective breeding for guppies that you might want to check. It details how to structure your tanks to separate guppies based on strains and generations, keep track of your progress, and how to provide guppies with the best breeding environment.

Just be wary that selective breeding requires a larger financial investment and will take more time to achieve the desired results. It’s is a process based on trial-and-error that will require commitment and patience on your part.

Feeding Dumbo Guppies

Dumbo guppies are no different than any other guppy strains. They have an omnivorous diet and will happily consume a mix of live food and plants and veggies. Think of their natural feeding habits to know which diet fits your guppies the best.

Guppies live in lush aquatic environments that provide them access to a variety of food sources. These include algae, spirulina, various aquatic plants, insects, worms, shrimp, mosquito eggs, etc. The ideal approach is to mimic their natural diet, providing them with different foods to ensure optimal nutrient intake.

You can combine fish food flakes with live food options like bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, vinegar eels, and even various veggies. Fresh foods are the best for guppies, which is why I recommend having cultures of live food at home, especially if you’re breeding Dumbo guppies for profit.

Dumbo Guppy Water Requirements

The water requirements for Dumbo guppies remain the same as with other guppy strains. They are all tropical fish, enjoying temperatures varying between 70 to 82 °F. These values can vary depending on the guppies’ needs and, more importantly, your goals. Higher temperatures, for instance, will put guppies in the mood for mating and will decrease the duration of the gestation period.

Guppy fry also need higher temperatures to grow faster and develop properly. Just make sure you provide your Dumbo guppies with stable temperatures as much as possible. They can withstand some temperature fluctuations, but not for too long. In case of emergency, Dumbo guppies can withstand temperatures as low as 60 for short periods of time.

Tank Size for Dumbo Guppies

Some people recommend 1 gallon of water per guppy. I recommend 2. That’s because the tank will contain many other things besides fish. We include the tank equipment and accessories, like a heater, filter, air pump, live or artificial plants, caves, driftwood, decorations, etc.

A guppy needs space to feel comfortable and safe, which is why I consider the golden ratio to consist of 1 guppy for every 2 gallons of water. In other words, a 10-gallon tank should hold 5 guppies at most.

How Long do Dumbo Guppies Live?

Dumbo guppies will live around 1-2 years in perfect conditions. That includes optimal environmental conditions, a balanced and nutritious diet, and clean water with perfect parameters.

If you want your guppies to live long and happy lives, provide them with the best conditions to do so. This includes changing their water regularly, cleaning the tank, and monitoring the water parameters 24/7.

Conclusion

Dumbo guppies are unique and beautiful fish that will reward you with amazing aesthetics and unmatched features. They aren’t that much more demanding than any other guppy strain since they basically share the same environmental requirements.

If you wish to learn about breeding them selectively, creating the perfect aquatic habitat, and finding compatible tank mates, read my other articles on the subject or ask the comment section.