Below is a detailed breakdown of the main guppy varieties, categorized by key distinguishing factors such as body color, tail shape, and patterns:
1. Classification by Body Color and Genetic Traits
Solid Color Varieties
Full Red/Blood Red: Entire body is bright red, with two subtypes—black-eyed albinos (easy to care for) and red-eyed (more vivid color but harder to raise).
Moscow Blue: Features a deep blue metallic sheen; males have tail fins accounting for over two-thirds of their body length. Their color turns black as a warning when water quality is poor.
Ivory White/Charcoal Black: Pure white or jet-black body color. varieties require meticulous water quality management.
Special Color Varieties
Platinum Series: Covered in gold or silver metallic scales, with subspecies like Galaxy and Medusa. They reflect gemstone-like under sunlight.
Glass Belly: Semi-transparent bodies that reveal internal organs, creating a unique ghostly effect when swimming.
2. Classification by Tail and Fin Shape
Swordtail Types
Double Swordtail: Tail fins extend upward and downward like two swords, requiring symmetrical length.
Crown Tail: Fin rays radially; they have low fertility and are expensive.
Distinctive Tail Shapes
Large Dorsal Fan Tail: Broad, ruffled dorsal fins. Females gradually develop frilled edges with age, making this a hardy purebred variety.
Swallowtail/Half-Moon Tail: Tail fins spread to a 180-degree angle, creating an elegant, flowing movement. However, some individuals are infertile.
3. Classification by Patterns and Markings
Snake Skin Series
The entire body is covered in snake-like patches with a metallic sheen. The patterns are bold and evenly distributed; avoid specimens with defective black spots.
Grass Tail Series
Dorsal and tail fins are covered in fine, spray-like dots. The diamond-shaped markings must be clear and complete, with blue grass tail being a classic variety.
Mosaic Series
Tails feature a mosaic-like inlay of red, black, blue, and yellow, with subtypes including ring patterns and lightning-like streaks.
4. Reference for Care Difficulty
Recommended for Beginners: Mixed strains (strong disease resistance), black molly (wild color), fan tail, etc.
Advanced Challenges: sky blue, albino snake skin, crown tail, etc. (require temperature/water quality control).
Note: The same variety may have different phenotypes (e.g., fan tail guppies can range in price from tens to thousands of yuan). When purchasing, ensure the stability of their bloodline.