This episode of "The Aquarist's Edge" explores the intriguing debate surrounding the hardiness of modern guppies compared to their historical counterparts. Guppies, known for their vibrant colors and easy breeding, have long been a staple for beginner aquarists. However, concerns have emerged regarding their resilience due to selective breeding and inbreeding practices.
The episode delves into the scientific aspects of guppy genetics, highlighting studies that reveal the impact of genetic diversity on their health and susceptibility to disease. There is also provides practical advice for home fish keepers on selecting robust guppies by prioritizing genetic diversity and understanding the implications of breeding practices.
Whether you're a novice or an experienced aquarist, this episode offers valuable information to help you make informed decisions and maintain a thriving aquarium.
This episode is brought to you by Art's Fish Room
00:00:00 --> 00:00:06 Welcome to this episode of the Aquarist's Edge, a podcast for home aquarists just like you.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:10 Learn more about how to keep a thriving aquarium and discover ideas and tips
00:00:10 --> 00:00:12 to give your aquarium the edge.
00:00:12 --> 00:00:15 And now, over to our host, Arthur Preston.
00:00:19 --> 00:00:23 Guppies have for many years been very popular among fish keepers.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:27 They have vibrant colors. They come with different fin shapes.
00:00:28 --> 00:00:32 They breed easily. They're often the fish that people start out with as they
00:00:32 --> 00:00:33 begin the fish-keeping hobby.
00:00:34 --> 00:00:38 Children are very drawn to them. It is just a fun fish.
00:00:38 --> 00:00:42 And yet there seems to be a contention among many people today that guppies
00:00:42 --> 00:00:45 are no longer regarded as beginner fish.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:50 They feel that the hardiness of these fish has diminished over time.
00:00:51 --> 00:00:56 So is that true? We need to ask the question, Are modern guppies less hardy
00:00:56 --> 00:00:58 than those from years in the past?
00:00:59 --> 00:01:03 Well, in this episode, we're going to dig a bit into the scientific aspects of guppy breeding.
00:01:04 --> 00:01:08 We'll take a short look at the genetics of guppies and environmental factors
00:01:08 --> 00:01:13 that influence their resilience, as well as give some practical advice for home
00:01:13 --> 00:01:17 fish keepers looking to ensure that they buy hardy guppies.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:21 So let's take a look at the historical context of guppies.
00:01:22 --> 00:01:25 Guppies have been kept in aquariums for well over a century,
00:01:26 --> 00:01:31 with wild populations being the norm until selective breeding began to take hold in the mid-1900s.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:37 This selective breeding has led to a wide variety of colour variations and fin
00:01:37 --> 00:01:40 shapes, but it's also introduced significant genetic concerns.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:46 There are studies that indicate that excessive inbreeding can adversely affect
00:01:46 --> 00:01:52 trays such as body size, fertility, and susceptibility to disease.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:57 Inbreeding reduces genetic diversity, which is crucial for the health of any species.
00:01:57 --> 00:02:02 And again, there's research that shows that guppies from heavily inbred lines
00:02:02 --> 00:02:05 exhibit lower fitness levels compared to their wild counterparts.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:11 A study published in the journal Aquaculture found that inbred lines of guppies
00:02:11 --> 00:02:16 had significantly higher mortality rates when exposed to pathogens compared
00:02:16 --> 00:02:17 to wild strains. Thank you.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:23 This loss of genetic variability can lead to increased vulnerability to disease
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 and environmental stresses.
00:02:25 --> 00:02:28 But what about where guppies come from?
00:02:28 --> 00:02:33 We're not likely to go out and get wild guppies. So how is it that in home aquariums,
00:02:33 --> 00:02:36 guppies seem to not be as hardy any longer?
00:02:37 --> 00:02:40 Well, the source of guppies significantly impacts their hardiness.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:45 Fish from local breeders often exhibit better health compared to those purchased
00:02:45 --> 00:02:46 from the large retail chains.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:52 Again, this is a generalisation, but I think anecdotally we would see that there
00:02:52 --> 00:02:53 may be some truth in this.
00:02:53 --> 00:02:57 Retail guppies are frequently subjected to poor living conditions during shipping
00:02:57 --> 00:03:00 and storage, which can lead to stress and illness on arrival.
00:03:00 --> 00:03:04 And many Acuras report that locally bred guppies tend to be more resilient,
00:03:04 --> 00:03:08 as they are often raised in conditions that closely mimic their natural habitats.
00:03:09 --> 00:03:13 And again, a disclaimer, I'm not knocking any particular retailer here.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:19 I'm not knocking the big box stores, as they call them, simply saying that when
00:03:19 --> 00:03:26 you are importing guppies by the thousands, we don't know what conditions those fish are bred in.
00:03:26 --> 00:03:29 We don't always know what conditions they're shipped in.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:33 And although we do have local importers who we certainly can trust,
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 there is a higher risk involved.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:39 Many of these guppy imports are coming from very, very far away,
00:03:40 --> 00:03:43 sitting in storage containers, being put on airplanes, and being flown thousands
00:03:43 --> 00:03:46 of kilometers until they land in the country.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:50 But there are other influences that also impact guppy hardiness.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:55 For example, the environment. And yes, guppies are adaptable fish.
00:03:55 --> 00:03:58 However, their hardiness is influenced by environmental conditions,
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02 such as water quality, the temperature, and pH levels.
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 Studies have shown that guppies thrive in a
00:04:05 --> 00:04:10 range of conditions but are particularly sensitive to abrupt changes for instance
00:04:10 --> 00:04:16 wild guppies can tolerate a wider range of ph from as low as 5.5 up to 8 compared
00:04:16 --> 00:04:21 to those breeding captivity and this adaptability is crucial to survive in fluctuating
00:04:21 --> 00:04:22 environments in the wild,
00:04:24 --> 00:04:27 Stress is a significant factor that also affects the health of guppies.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:32 Factors such as overcrowding, aggressive tank mates, and sudden changes in water
00:04:32 --> 00:04:35 quality can compromise their immune system.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:38 Guppies that are exposed to high-stress environments are far more susceptible
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 to diseases like ick and fin rot.
00:04:41 --> 00:04:45 And these health issues are often exacerbated by the poor conditions found in
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 many commercial breeding operations.
00:04:48 --> 00:04:53 The susceptibility of modern guppies to diseases also raises concerns about
00:04:53 --> 00:04:54 their overall hardiness.
00:04:54 --> 00:05:00 And inbreeding has been linked to compromised immune responses in various species, including guppies.
00:05:01 --> 00:05:05 The studies show that fish with reduced genetic diversity may exhibit higher
00:05:05 --> 00:05:08 mortality rates when exposed to pathogens.
00:05:08 --> 00:05:12 And this trend suggests that while guppies may still be marketed as hardy beginner
00:05:12 --> 00:05:18 fish, many modern strains lack the resilience that is seen in wild populations.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:23 So what do you do as a home fish keeper? Someone who just wants to put some
00:05:23 --> 00:05:25 healthy hardy guppies in a tank for your enjoyment?
00:05:26 --> 00:05:29 Well there are a couple of things you can do and and things you need to look out for.
00:05:30 --> 00:05:33 So the first thing is to choose a reputable breeder.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:37 Go and find local breeders who prioritize health of
00:05:37 --> 00:05:41 their fish because these breeders are often maintaining better living conditions
00:05:41 --> 00:05:47 consider retailers that you have confidence in sometimes these are online sometimes
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 these are in person but go and check ask them about the fish where do they come
00:05:50 --> 00:05:55 from how long have they been have you had stock how long were they in storage where they come from.
00:05:56 --> 00:05:59 These things don't be afraid to ask the retailer at
00:05:59 --> 00:06:02 the end of the day you are purchasing a live animal that you need to
00:06:02 --> 00:06:06 take home put into a tank and careful you
00:06:06 --> 00:06:09 want to make sure that you're getting good stock you also want to look for genetic
00:06:09 --> 00:06:15 diversity go for mixed strains rather than highly specialized or selectively
00:06:15 --> 00:06:19 bred varieties because mixed strains tend to have greater genetic diversity
00:06:19 --> 00:06:23 of course if you're looking for a particular strain or wanting to do high-end
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 breeding, that's a different conversation.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:29 But for the average home guppy keeper, go for mixed strains.
00:06:29 --> 00:06:32 You could also consider purchasing Endless.
00:06:32 --> 00:06:37 Endless live bearers or Pachillia wingii, and again I think that's the correct
00:06:37 --> 00:06:42 pronunciation, are generally hardier than any fancy guppy strains and they can crossbreed.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:47 And often there are fantastic colors that come from crossing guppies and Endless.
00:06:47 --> 00:06:51 There'll be those who disagree with me who say that you are compromising
00:06:51 --> 00:06:55 both ender strains and guppy strains by doing so but
00:06:55 --> 00:06:58 there are so many mixed fish on the market today i really
00:06:58 --> 00:07:01 don't think it makes that much difference if i'm quite honest i really
00:07:01 --> 00:07:04 think there are people who want to keep pure endlers they
00:07:04 --> 00:07:07 will breed pure endlers and they will take the various color
00:07:07 --> 00:07:10 strains and varieties of endlers and they will breed
00:07:10 --> 00:07:14 those as they need to in the same way that certain guppy breeders will look
00:07:14 --> 00:07:18 for particular guppy colors guppy strains and they will breed those but for
00:07:18 --> 00:07:23 the average home fish keeper if you're wanting to strengthen the genetic diversity
00:07:23 --> 00:07:27 of your fish and make sure they are hardy there's nothing wrong with putting
00:07:27 --> 00:07:28 endless with your guppies.
00:07:30 --> 00:07:34 Also look for physical appearance and for behavior. Unhealthy fish will appear
00:07:34 --> 00:07:38 lethargic or show signs of fin damage or discoloration.
00:07:38 --> 00:07:41 As alluded to earlier, don't be afraid to ask questions.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:45 Ask breeders about their breeding practices and how they manage genetic diversity.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:49 Ask about the health history of the stock. And then consider the age of the fish.
00:07:50 --> 00:07:54 Younger fish that are about six months old may be more susceptible to health
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 issues due to a lack of maturity.
00:07:56 --> 00:07:59 So look for fish that are a little bit older than that if you want to be sure
00:07:59 --> 00:08:02 of their hardiness. So what do we do with all this information?
00:08:02 --> 00:08:08 Well, I think it's true to say that there are some fishkeeping enthusiasts,
00:08:08 --> 00:08:12 even some people that we would look up to as gurus in fishkeeping,
00:08:12 --> 00:08:17 who would argue that contemporary strains are absolutely less hardy due to genetic
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 issues stemming from selective breeding.
00:08:20 --> 00:08:24 But there are also others who, with the same passion, will tell you that with
00:08:24 --> 00:08:29 proper care, such as maintaining optimal water conditions, guppies can thrive
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 regardless of their breeding background.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:37 So the debate over whether modern guppies are less hardy than their predecessors
00:08:37 --> 00:08:40 is absolutely complex and multifaceted.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:45 And while evidence suggests that selective breeding has led to decreased hardiness
00:08:45 --> 00:08:49 due to genetic bottlenecks and increased susceptibility to disease,
00:08:49 --> 00:08:52 many factors contribute to the overall health of these fish.
00:08:53 --> 00:08:58 So it's really important for new fish keepers, and indeed those a little more
00:08:58 --> 00:09:02 experienced to consider these insights when selecting and caring for guppies.
00:09:02 --> 00:09:06 By making informed choices about sourcing and understanding the genetic implications
00:09:06 --> 00:09:11 of breeding practices, we can all work towards having healthy,
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 hardy guppies for many years to come.
00:09:16 --> 00:09:20 That's it for this episode of the Aquarius Sedge. Please consider subscribing
00:09:20 --> 00:09:24 to this podcast so that you don't miss further episodes. We would love it if
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 you would also rate and review the podcast.
00:09:26 --> 00:09:30 As this helps make it visible to others. Until next time, keep learning and
00:09:30 --> 00:09:36 discovering and keep finding your Aquarius edge in this captivating and fascinating hobby.
00:09:36 --> 00:09:45 Music.
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