Orange Guppy Fish – All You Need to Know

We all know most people choose guppies as their preferred tank fish thanks to their coloring and calm and friendly temperament. Fortunately, guppies come in a variety of colors and coloring patterns, often with unique traits.

Today, we will discuss orange guppies, where they come from, how to breed them, etc.

Where Do Orange Guppies Come From?

Believe it or not, orange guppies don’t exist in nature. They are the result of selective breeding performed by professional breeders over multiple generations. The process is similar to that of dog breeding, which has led, over time, to the creation of numerous different lineages that never existed in nature.

Guppy breeders have bred multiple lineages that contained the orange pigment and only kept those specimens that showed more orange coloring than others. Given enough time, they succeeded in obtaining whole-orange fry, starting a new guppy lineage as a result.

These guppies come with a bright-orange body and immense, fluffy tails, providing them with a unique look. They will definitely add color and style to your tank, enriching your guppy population.

What’s even more important is that orange guppies, despite their unique look, are rather common. You can buy one at $1 to $5, depending on the shop. They are so widespread that you will have no problem replacing them if they die for whatever reason.

But what if you like them so much that you decide to breed them?

How Can I Breed Orange Guppies?

There are 2 ways you can do this. The first would be creating your own orange guppies from scratch by breeding various lineages and following the orange pigment. Which will most likely take years with uncertain results and a lot of time and money lost.

The other one, and the one I recommend, would be to take the shortcut and breed orange guppies.

Here are the steps involved in the guppy breeding process:

• Choosing the pairs – You want the most handsome, healthier, and vibrant pair of guppies you can find. Seek the ones with the best genes, making sure they come from healthy parents with beautiful and stable traits. If you’re planning to keep several guppies in the same tank, go for the 1:3 golden ration. Aka, 1 male for every 3 females. This will diminish the males’ aggressive behavior and ensure the most balanced breeding behavior.
• Keep track of the breeding cycle – The gestation cycle of guppies revolves around 21-28 days. The female will generally produce 10 to 50 fry, but that can vary a lot. They can also give birth to more than 100 or even close to 200 fry. This means that you should prepare yourself and keep several tanks available for the upcoming fry.
• Have multiple breeding tanks – You need separate tanks for each generation and to divide the genders for controlled breeding. This approach will prevent random breeding that could destroy traits that you would’ve liked to remain untouched. You should also note your progress and mark each tank with details on the occupants. Discipline and a rigorous approach are key to successful selective breeding.
• Separate the pregnant females – One of the goals of selective breeding is ensuring the safety of the fry. Otherwise, adult guppies might attack and kill them, destroying perfectly good genes with unique traits. Control is key when it comes to selective breeding. I advise moving pregnant females into a separate tank and take them one as soon as the fry arrive.

Once the fry arrive, provide them with space to grow, impeccable water quality, and a diverse and protein and fat-rich diet. The better the diet, the faster and bigger the fry will grow.

What to Feed Orange Guppies?

Guppies are omnivores, regardless of their lineage, colors, or any other considerations. They require a mix of animal-based protein and fat and plant-derived vitamins and minerals.

To feed your guppies adequately, I recommend adopting a varied diet, incorporating live food, veggie pellets, and even homemade protein paste. I’ve written several articles on guppy feeding, providing feeding details and recipes you can use. Check them out to learn how to feed your guppies safely to boost their growth.

The most reliable way of feeding guppies during selective breeding is by resorting to live food cultures. Some of the most compelling examples include daphnia, brine shrimp, vinegar eel, blood worms, etc. You can have separate setups, each with different cultures.

It’s not difficult and it will provide immense benefits in the long run. Especially when dealing with selective breeding and need to provide your guppies with high-quality, fresh food daily.

How To Breed Orange Guppies Effectively?

We have already discussed the importance of diet when it comes to obtaining the best guppy specimens. Now we will discuss additional factors that will contribute to the success of the selective breeding process.

These include:

• Watch out for female stress – Female guppies can become stressed as the result of the male persistence. Even a 1 to 3 ratio isn’t 100% guaranteed to prevent this issue. Ideally, you should verify the tank dynamics regularly and remove the pushy males if females show signs of stress. Consistent stress will lower the females’ immune system, making them more prone to parasitic infections and illness.
• Ensure optimal water parameters – The ideal water parameters for adult guppies and fry include a temperature of 72 to 82 °F, a pH level of 6.8 to 7.8, and water hardness of 8 to 12. The level of ammonia and nitrites should be 0 if possible. I recommend verifying water parameters regularly to avoid unfit living conditions. The water quality tends to change faster the more fish you have.
• Consider the optimal tank size – Ideally, you should have around 7 to 10 guppies in a 10-gallon tank; no more than that. However, you’re engaging in selective breeding, which means that the tank can become overcrowded fast. I suggest keeping 5-6 guppies at most in a 10-gallon tank. Also, you might want to use larger tanks that will fit more guppies at once.

Fast Facts About Orange Guppies

Whether you’ve decided to grow guppies for profit or for your own use, here are some quick facts about this lineage:

• Guppy males can grow up to 1.4 inches, while females can reach almost double that
• Males are more colorful and will come with more exquisite patterns than females
• Guppies typically live around 2 years or more if kept in clean and fresh waters and eat diverse and healthy diets
• There are multiple types of orange guppies, each with their unique patterns and color dispersion
• Orange guppies are just as friendly, playful, and peaceful as any other lineage

Conclusion

I understand if you’ve decided to breed orange guppies. These are an exhilarating lineage with outstanding color patterns and unique traits.

I hope this article can help you breed your orange guppies safely and obtain the best specimens the gene pool can deliver.