Wild Guppies

[Ludwig Venter]

Some time ago, (1984/5) TFH published a letter of mine regarding a question about Koi fish being released in the wild and their answer was that within a number of years, the colours would revert back to the original Carp colour and a few other irrelevant (interresting) facts.

Now I have a collony of guppies in a pond outside left to continue naturally (all stemming from 2 males and 3 females).... litterally thousands of them after thousands of generations.. (started in the early 90's)

Every so often, I catch a few (about 200) males and bring them inside to condition (acclimatise) them to tank life to be ready for the market.....Of late, however, I find that very few fish of colour remains... They are all big tailed and mostly "half black" bodied with a purplish tint in their tails.....

Are they reverting back to their original "wild" colouring or is it just a dominating colour taking over??

Here is a topview of the guppies in the pond.

 

[KittyKat]

I think dominant colour taking over. Wild guppies have very little colour compared to their bred-for-colour counterparts. I have observed the same in my mixed guppy tanks over the years.

 

[helterskelter]

Half black is a very domanent colour form and it should like they are just getting genetically limited.

Personally i would look at introducing some gene's from a new source breed then for a few months and then introduce some males to see what happens.

If you was not so far i would send you some fish to try.

 

[Ludwig Venter]

Half black is a very domanent colour form and it should like they are just getting genetically limited.

Personally i would look at introducing some gene's from a new source breed then for a few months and then introduce some males to see what happens.

If you was not so far i would send you some fish to try.

I have another tank with some 500 Blondies in it and also about 50 Fluorescent Blues (dunno if you've ever seen them).... Maybe, If I put all of these in the pond and see what happens??

 

[helterskelter]

Fluorescent Blues are quite simular to halfblacks but could add an intresting blue gene to the mix.

Gust do a small set up and see what happens if the genes are tight your get a very simular resualt in the fry from the cross, if their very different then you never know what your getting.

So only cross one type at a time and see what u get.