Black Moscow Guppy Pair (Poecilia reticulata)

Black Moscow Guppy Pair: a matched male and female

The Black Moscow is a solid-colour Moscow strain. Males are jet black from head to tail, including a large flowing tail and dorsal fin, often with a small pale patch at the throat. Females are dark grey-olive with a black tail.

The guppy (Poecilia reticulata) is a peaceful livebearer originally from northern South America and the southern Caribbean, including Venezuela, Trinidad, Barbados and the Guianas. Fancy strains like this one are aquarium-bred for colour and fin shape. FishBase gives about 3.5 cm for males and up to 5 cm for females.

What you receive

One quantity is one pair — one male and one female — of about 3.5 cm. Order two for two pairs. The male shows the full strain colour and long tail; the female is plainer, with the colour mainly in her tail. A strain that is out of stock this week cannot be added to the basket.

The photos show this strain; like all fancy guppies, individual fish vary a little in colour intensity and tail shape.

Aquarium and water

A mature, cycled aquarium of 60 litres or more suits a small group, with gentle flow, open swimming space and fine-leaved or floating plants. Guppies prefer harder, slightly alkaline water: a routine 22–28°C, pH 7.0–8.0 and 9–18 dGH, inside the FishBase, Seriously Fish and OATA ranges. Keep nitrate low with regular partial water changes. If you add more guppies later, two or three females per male reduces chasing.

Feeding

Feed a quality small flake or micro-pellet once or twice a day, with small frozen or live foods such as Daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm a few times a week. Offer only what the fish clear in a couple of minutes.

Tank mates and behaviour

Peaceful and ideal for community aquariums with other small, calm fish that like similar water: platies, mollies, Corydoras, small rasboras and peaceful tetras. Avoid fin-nippers such as Tiger Barbs and larger fish that could eat them; long-finned males are slow swimmers. Most tank mates will eat guppy fry.

Follow the arrival sequence before releasing the fish

Tropical Fish Co’s delivery and Live Arrival Guarantee policy explains the packing and arrival procedure. Livestock is hand-bagged in pure oxygen and placed in an insulated poly box, with a heat pack when the weather calls for it. Someone must be at the address to receive the parcel because live animals cannot be left unattended.

1. Receive the parcel in person and start filming before opening it. Show the parcel still sealed with the outer box visible.
2. Open the parcel in one continuous take. Keep filming until the fish can be seen inside the sealed bag before anything is disturbed.
3. Float the bag for 20–30 minutes so the temperature equalises slowly.
4. Do not pour the bag water into the aquarium. Release the fish without adding transport water to the established system.

If a Live Arrival Guarantee claim is required, contact us on the same day with the order number and the continuous unboxing video. Before the parcel arrives, confirm that ammonia and nitrite read zero and that the aquarium matches the water values on this page.

Frequently asked questions

What do I get with one quantity?

One quantity is one pair: a male and a female Black Moscow Guppy. Order two for two pairs.

Do the male and female look the same?

No. As in all fancy guppies, the male carries the full strain colour and the long, showy tail; the female is larger, plainer-bodied and shows the strain colour mainly in her tail and fins.

What water do guppies need?

A routine 22–28°C with pH 7.0–8.0 and 9–18 dGH, in a mature, cycled aquarium.

Will they breed?

Almost certainly. Guppies are livebearers and a pair will usually produce fry every few weeks; dense plants give the young somewhere to hide.

Public references

• FishBase: Poecilia reticulata — identity, native range, environment and size.
• Seriously Fish: Poecilia reticulata — water conditions, behaviour and breeding.
• OATA: How to look after guppies and mollies — water quality, feeding and livebearer guidance.
• RSPCA aquarium environment guidance — biological filtration and the aquarium nitrogen cycle.