Wild Type

Wild type fancy guppy refers to guppies that retain the natural Poecilia reticulata look rather than modern show colors and enlarged fins. Wild and wild-type guppies come from, or are modeled on, populations native to northeastern South America and nearby Caribbean islands such as Trinidad and Tobago. Females are usually gray to olive and larger than males; males are small, quick, and patterned with modest spots, bars, and iridescent patches that vary by locality. Short fins and a lean body separate them from most delta-tailed fancy strains.

These guppies interest aquarists, teachers, and researchers because they show natural courtship, social behavior, and color variation without the extreme finnage of show strains. Locality lines should be kept separate if their origin is known, since crossing them with fancy guppies or Endler-type livebearers can erase useful information in one generation. Care is straightforward: stable warm water, cover from plants or spawning mops, and a diet of small prepared and live or frozen foods. As with any guppy, unwanted fish should be rehomed rather than released.

Colors: Albino, Bicolor, Blue, Cobra, Dragon, Dumbo Ear, Endler, Grass, Green, Half-Black, Japan Blue, Koi, Leopard, Metal, Mosaic, Moscow, Multicolor, Neon Blue, Platinum, Red, Snakeskin, Solid, Tuxedo, Wild Type, Yellow