{"product_id":"blue-metal-dragon-guppy-poecilia-reticulata","title":"Blue Metal Dragon Guppy - Poecilia reticulata","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBlue Metal Dragon Guppy (Poecilia reticulata)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Blue Metal Dragon Guppy is a striking captive-bred fancy guppy strain, prized for its metallic blue body sheen, decorative dragon-style patterning and colourful flowing fins. Males are usually smaller and more intensely coloured, while females are larger and fuller-bodied. Peaceful, active and full of movement, this variety is a great choice for a well-maintained freshwater community aquarium with stable, moderately hard to hard water.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlue Metal Dragon Guppy. Also commonly referred to as the Blue Dragon Guppy, Metal Blue Guppy, Metallic Dragon Guppy, Fancy Guppy or Millionfish.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific Name (Latin):\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePoecilia reticulata\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaximum Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMales usually reach around 3–4 cm, while females can reach around 5–6 cm in captivity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFreshwater\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin \/ Natural Habitat:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Blue Metal Dragon Guppy is a captive-bred aquarium strain. The wild form of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePoecilia reticulata\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is native to north-eastern South America and nearby Caribbean regions, including Venezuela, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and surrounding areas. Wild guppies are highly adaptable and are often found in quiet, shallow, vegetated waters, small streams, pools, ditches and marginal habitats.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater Parameters:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTemperature: 22–28°C\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003epH Range: 7.0–8.2\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHardness: moderately hard to hard water preferred\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperament:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeaceful and active. Guppies are suitable for community aquariums with other calm fish that enjoy similar harder, alkaline water conditions. Males may constantly display to and chase females, so mixed-sex groups are best kept with more females than males.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiet:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOmnivorous. It should be offered a varied diet including quality flake, micro pellets, colour-enhancing foods, spirulina, algae-based foods, frozen daphnia, baby brineshrimp, cyclops and occasional bloodworm. Small, regular feeds help maintain colour, energy and breeding condition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum Tank Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA practical recommendation is at least 40–60 litres for a small group, with larger aquariums preferred for mixed communities or breeding groups.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBehaviour \u0026amp; Activity:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is an active mid-to-upper level livebearer that spends much of the day swimming, displaying, grazing and exploring the aquarium. Females give birth to free-swimming fry, so numbers can increase quickly in a mixed-sex group. Plant cover, floating plants and fine-leaved plants can help provide shelter for fry and reduce stress among adults.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAquarium Category:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eCommunity Fish\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis species is peaceful and works well with other small freshwater community fish that enjoy similar water conditions. Suitable tank mates include platies, mollies, swordtails, peaceful small rainbowfish, Corydoras suited to harder water, bristlenose plecos and other gentle livebearers. Avoid fin nippers, aggressive fish, large predators and very soft-water species that prefer acidic conditions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecial Requirements or Care Notes:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBest kept in clean, stable water with good filtration, regular maintenance and enough minerals to support livebearer health. Guppies usually do best in harder, alkaline water and may struggle long-term in very soft acidic aquariums. Fancy strains can have more delicate fins than wild-type guppies, so avoid sharp décor and fin-nipping tank mates. If keeping males and females together, a ratio of one male to two or more females can help reduce constant attention on individual females.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSuitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBeginner fishkeepers\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCommon \/ occasional in trade, usually as captive-bred stock\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAll images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns and colours will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aqua Group","offers":[{"title":"Male \/ Small","offer_id":46076748038317,"sku":"AG-103346","price":2.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Male \/ Medium","offer_id":46076748071085,"sku":"AG-103347","price":3.45,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Male \/ Large","offer_id":46076748103853,"sku":"AG-103348","price":3.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Female \/ Small","offer_id":46076748136621,"sku":"AG-103343","price":2.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Female \/ Medium","offer_id":46076748169389,"sku":"AG-103344","price":3.45,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Female \/ Large","offer_id":46076748202157,"sku":"AG-103345","price":3.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0543\/0391\/6205\/files\/Neon_Dwarf_Rainbowfish_-_Melanotaenia_praecox_1.jpg?v=1780400105","url":"https:\/\/aquagroup.co.uk\/products\/blue-metal-dragon-guppy-poecilia-reticulata","provider":"Aqua Group","version":"1.0","type":"link"}