Metal Blue Lace Guppy (Male)

🐟 Metal Blue Lace Guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

Common Name: Metal Blue Lace Guppy
Adult Size: 1.5–2.5 inches (males smaller, females larger)
Lifespan: 2–3 years

🔹 Temperament & Behavior

• Peaceful, active, and hardy.
• Schooling/social fish, best in groups with more females than males (1 male : 2+ females).
• Males display striking metallic blue bodies with lace-patterned tails.

🔹 Tank Requirements

• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons (20+ gallons for breeding colonies).
• Water Parameters:
• Temp: 72–82 °F (22–28 °C)
• pH: 6.8–7.8
• Hardness: 8–12 dGH
• Setup: Planted tanks are ideal, with open swimming space. Floating plants give cover for fry.

🔹 Tankmates

• Great for peaceful communities: mollies, platies, rasboras, corydoras, neon tetras.
• Avoid aggressive fish or fin-nippers.

🔹 Diet

• Omnivore: high-quality flakes, micro-pellets, spirulina, live/frozen foods (brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms).
• Varied diet keeps colors bright and patterns sharp.

🔹 Breeding

• Livebearer: females produce fry monthly.
• Provide hiding spots (plants, moss, breeding mats) to protect fry.
• Selective breeding maintains the metallic lace pattern.

✨ Fun fact: The Metal Blue Lace Guppy is one of the flashiest guppy strains, with shimmering silver-blue scales and intricate lace-like tail patterns that glow under aquarium lighting.