![Para Guppy
Genus: Micropoecilia
Species: M. parae
See below for care details
[[MORE]] Maximum Size: 1″ for males, 2” for females
Aggression: Low
Temperature: 78-82 F
pH: 7.5-8.5
Hardness: 15-30 dH
Brackish Tolerance: 1.000-1.005, perhaps higher....](https://64.media.tumblr.com/a7bfbc825f9174e48145de91751fbd8e/tumblr_nyjy4zedvA1th8jn4o1_640.jpg)
Para Guppy
Genus: Micropoecilia
Species: M. parae
See below for care details
Maximum Size: 1″ for males, 2” for females
Aggression: Low
Temperature: 78-82 F
pH: 7.5-8.5
Hardness: 15-30 dH
Brackish Tolerance: 1.000-1.005, perhaps higher. 1.002-1.005 best
Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
Feeding: Dry foods like flakes and pellets make good staple. Smaller
thawed frozen foods like brine shrimp occasionally. Will eat green algae
growing in the aquarium
Notes: One of several small livebearers in
the aquarium trade, the Para Molly resembles a more streamlined
version of the the Guppy or Endler’s Livebearer with a shorter tail.
Though they are found in (very, very hard) freshwater in the wild,
within the confines of the home aquarium they are best kept in low end
brackish conditions. Most of the information presented here is based on the related Swamp Guppy (M. picta) which is better studied than M. parae.
Though not social animals in the normal
sense, groups of females get along well, and males
should be kept in ratios of 1 male to 2 or more females to prevent
squabbling. For breeding purposes, females should highly outnumber the
males. Though they can be kept with smaller fishes without problem (such
as Bumblebee Gobies and the smaller blue-eyes), doing so will make it
hard for Para Mollies to reproduce successfully. Para Mollies do seem to do best when kept in planted
aquariums and will spend most of their time swimming in and around
heavily planted areas of the tank.
As livebearing fish, female Para Mollies produce broods of
5-16 live fry about every 4 weeks when housed with males. Even when
separated, they can store sperm for long periods of time and may still
become pregnant long after removal of the males. Para Mollies are thought to be easier to breed in brackish tanks compared to freshwater.
Though they are from a
different genus, Swamp Guppies can cross breed
with Guppies, and presumably with Endler’s Livebearers and Mollies as
well. This trait may be shared with Para Mollies as well. It is highly recommended not to combine Micropoecilia and/or Poecilia species within a single aquarium for this reason.
Sources
Guppies for Aquariums, Neale Monks
Brackish Water Fishes of South America, Tropical Fish Finder
Poecilia parae, Badman’s Tropical Fish
Livebearers—More than Just the “Big Four”, Mike Helweg, Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine, May 2014
The Swamp Guppy (Micropoecilia picta), Charles Clapsaddle, Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine, October 2013
