🐠 General Overview

• Common Name: Dumbo Ear Guppy (also called Elephant Ear Guppy)

• Scientific Name: Poecilia reticulata

• Family: Poeciliidae

• Origin: Originally from South America (Venezuela, Barbados, Trinidad, Guyana) — now bred worldwide

• Lifespan: 2–3 years on average

• Temperament: Peaceful and social

• Difficulty Level: Easy (excellent for beginners)

🎨 Appearance

• Distinct Feature: Enlarged, fan-like pectoral fins resembling elephant ears — the signature trait.

• Body Color: Comes in many color variations including blue, red, white, purple, yellow, and multi-colored metallic shades.

• Tail Types: Can have different tail shapes such as delta, fan, veil, or round tail.

• Size:

  • Males: Around 1.5–2 inches (3.8–5 cm)

  • Females: Around 2–2.5 inches (5–6.5 cm)

• Overall Look: Elegant and eye-catching due to large fins and bright coloration.

🏡 Tank Requirements

• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons for a small group (larger preferred)

• Tank Setup:

  • Live or artificial plants for cover

  • Gentle water flow (strong currents may damage fins)

  • Fine gravel or sand substrate

  • Open swimming space

• Water Conditions:

  • Temperature: 22–28°C (72–82°F)

  • pH: 6.8–7.8

  • Hardness: 8–12 dGH

• Lighting: Moderate to highlight their colors

🍽️ Diet

• Type: Omnivorous

• Foods:

  • High-quality flake or pellet food

  • Frozen or live foods like brine shrimp, daphnia, and bloodworms

  • Blanched vegetables (spinach, zucchini, peas) occasionally

• Feeding Frequency: 1–2 times per day, small amounts they can finish in a few minutes.

🧬 Behavior & Temperament

• Nature: Very peaceful; does well in community aquariums.

• Tankmates: Other guppies, mollies, platies, tetras, rasboras, and Corydoras catfish.

• Avoid: Fin-nippers (like barbs) or aggressive fish.

• Social Structure: Thrive in groups; best ratio is 1 male to 2–3 females to reduce mating stress.

🐣 Breeding

• Breeding Difficulty: Very easy — one of the most prolific livebearers.

• Reproduction Type: Livebearer (females give birth to free-swimming fry).

• Breeding Conditions:

  • Maintain warm water (26–28°C)

  • Provide dense plants or breeding boxes for fry protection

  • Separate pregnant females before birth if possible

• Gestation Period: Around 3–4 weeks

• Fry Care: Feed baby guppies crushed flakes, infusoria, or baby brine shrimp.

⚕️ Health & Care Tips

• Perform regular partial water changes (25% weekly).

• Avoid sharp decorations — their fins can tear easily.

• Watch for fin rot, ich, and fungal infections.

• Maintain good water quality and avoid overcrowding.

• Add aquarium salt occasionally (optional) for disease prevention.

🌟 Fun Facts

• Dumbo Ear Guppies are entirely man-made through selective breeding.

• The “ears” (pectoral fins) can move elegantly, giving them a dancing appearance.

• Males are more colorful and have larger fins than females.

• They can adapt to a wide range of water conditions, making them hardy yet beautiful pets.

IMAGES ARE FOR REPRESENTATIVE PURPOSES ONLY.