Dumbo Ear Mix Male Guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

Dumbo Ear Mix Male Guppy: randomly selected colour

This listing is for one male Dumbo Ear Mix Guppy, a domestic form of Poecilia reticulata selected for enlarged pectoral fins and colourful finnage. “Dumbo Ear” describes the broad paired fins beside the gills. “Mix” means colour and pattern are assorted rather than a named, guaranteed strain.

Each quantity adds one male fish. The individual is selected from the available mix, so blue, red, yellow, black, mosaic, tuxedo and other colours may appear. We cannot promise a particular colour, pattern, tail shape, pedigree or an exact match to the gallery. These are active social fish and should be planned as a compatible group rather than kept alone.

What the photographs show

The four gallery images are stylised representative illustrations showing one blue-and-red example. They do not show the exact fish that will be dispatched and do not represent the full colour range that may be supplied. The two-fish scene illustrates social presentation; one quantity still means one fish.

Because this is a mixed line, natural differences are part of the product. Young males can also change in colour intensity and fin development as they settle and mature.

Care at a glance

Aquarium and social setup

Use a mature, filtered aquarium with at least 60 cm of swimming length. Around 60 litres is a practical starting point for a small group, but volume alone cannot set a safe stocking number. Existing livestock, usable swimming space, filtration, water tests and the behaviour of the actual fish all matter.

Guppies are social. Tropical Fish Co uses a conservative group policy of five or more where space and the sex plan allow; OATA gives a floor of three fish. A male-only group avoids new mixed-sex mating, but males can still display and chase. Plants and other sight breaks help fish move away from attention, and persistent cornering, missed feeding or fin damage means the group or layout needs intervention.

If males and females are mixed, OATA suggests two females per male to reduce pressure on females. This does not prevent reproduction. Guppies are livebearers, and females can produce fry after earlier mating, so have a population and rehoming plan before adding females.

Water and routine maintenance

Aim for 22–28°C, pH 7.0–8.0 and medium-to-hard water around 8–18 dGH. Test the source water rather than assuming all UK tap water is the same. Stability is more useful than repeated chemical adjustment, and routine salt is unnecessary unless there is a measured, species-compatible reason to use it.

Ammonia and nitrite should remain at zero. Keep nitrate controlled with measured feeding, regular testing and partial water changes. Dechlorinate replacement water and match temperature carefully. Long-finned guppies need good oxygenation without a current that forces them to struggle continuously.

Provide open swimming room with live plants or smooth artificial cover around the edges. Avoid sharp ornaments that can catch the tail or enlarged pectoral fins. A secure lid is sensible because active guppies can jump.

Feeding

Use an appropriately sized, nutritionally complete guppy or tropical omnivore flake or granule as the staple. Add safe variety such as small daphnia, cyclops, brine shrimp or a suitable algae-based food. The particles must be small enough for the fish to take easily.

Offer only what the group can eat within a few minutes and check that every fish gets access. A single measured daily feed is a suitable starting routine for adults; the same total portion can be divided if that works better for the aquarium. Remove leftovers before they break down and reduce the amount if food is reaching the substrate uneaten.

Tank mates

Choose peaceful animals that overlap with the guppy’s warm, neutral-to-alkaline, mineral-bearing water. Some platies, mollies or compatible cory species may work in a sufficiently large aquarium, but each exact species needs its own adult-size, social and water check. Very small shrimp or young may be eaten.

Avoid fin-nipping barbs, large predators and aggressive or highly territorial fish. Bettas are not a dependable default partner because long fins and display behaviour can provoke chasing in either direction. Calm appearance at first introduction is not a guarantee, so keep a cycled separation option available.

Explore the current guppy collection, read the detailed guppy care guide, and check the live-fish delivery information before ordering.

Arrival and first days

Prepare and test the aquarium before delivery. Keep the lights low during acclimation, follow the current instructions supplied with the order and watch the new fish for steady swimming, regular breathing, open fins and a normal feeding response. Quarantine in a separate, cycled system is the safest approach when adding livestock to an established aquarium.

Contact the store promptly if the fish arrives with a problem. Current delivery coverage and guarantee terms are kept on the delivery page so this listing does not become inaccurate when those terms change.

Care references

Care values and species information were checked against the FishBase profile for Poecilia reticulata, the Seriously Fish guppy profile and the OATA guppy and molly care sheet.