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Guppy Alternative - Frank Schwab - 111 Chace Street - Santa Cruz, CA 95060-6318 Phone: 831-426-3307
fsguppy@webtv.net
It first became possible for people to start keeping tropical fish as a hobby around l850 after a book was published on the chemistry of natural waters. (The Chemistry of Creation.)
By 1853, zoos in France, Germany, and elsewhere were featuring aquariums with fish. Several people were among the first to 'discover' the GUPPY between l853 and l859. In l9l3, the guppy was called Lebistes reticulatus by Regan. This name was used until recent times. In l859 L. Peters had named the fish Poecilia reticulata which is recognized today.
Guppies were imported to the United States and Europe in the 1920's, but didn't become really popular until the l950's, when selectively bred color variations were becoming developed.
Paul Hahnel has become known as the creator of the fancy guppy. He was the first to create what we call veiltails today.
The wild guppy comes from various locations in South America and the islands of Trinidad and Barbados. The wild guppy originally imported bears little resemble to the fish we see today, much as the case with Discus, Angels, and other fish that have been hybridized.
The GUPPY has been one of the most popular fish in the hobby, along with goldfish. This is probably because they are hardy and can survive conditions and temperatures that other fish can't. The GUPPIES currently being raised on the fish farms in Florida withstand the occasional frost outdoors with only a plastic 'greenhouse" covering for protection.
The GUPPY can attract a wide variety of people at many different levels. These range from the educational purposes for children with the experience of livebearers giving birth to the serious breeder out to create that beautiful new variety. In between these are the people who just like to relax and watch these beautiful fish.
I hope you get as much enjoyment from your guppies as I have, and thank-you for your interest in my fish.
Frank Schwab
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