Scarlet livebearer

Micropoecilia picta

Also known as Swamp guppy, Painted guppy, Poecilia picta, Scarlet guppy

FreshwaterBrackishFish

Scarlet livebearer (Micropoecilia picta) — Andrew Bogott · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–82°F (22–28°C)
pH: 7.5–8.2
Adult size: 1.6 in (4 cm)
Minimum tank: 16 gal (60 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Top
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Native to coastal swamps and slow streams of the Guianas, Venezuela, Trinidad, and the lower Amazon, often in slightly brackish water.
Family: Poeciliidae

Overview

Keep a group in 60 liters or larger at 22 to 28 C, pH 7.5 to 8.2, in hard water, with slightly brackish conditions if possible. Feed small foods such as crushed flake, micro pellets, baby brine shrimp, and daphnia. Males constantly court females, so keep two or three females per male to spread the attention. Peaceful and best in a species tank or with other small, hard water fish.

In the wild

A tiny guppy relative whose males are splashed with scarlet, orange, and black over a stocky body. They come from coastal, often brackish swamps, so they want hard, alkaline water and do well with a little marine salt added. Keep them warm in a densely planted tank with fine substrate. Clean, stable water is the key to holding their color.

Good to know

Micropoecilia picta, long known as Poecilia picta, is a small livebearer closely related to the guppy. Males stay tiny at around 2.5 to 3 cm while females reach about 4 cm. Wild males vary widely in pattern, and selective breeding has produced bright red strains sold as scarlet or painted livebearers.