Chat transcripts

[20:08 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> OK, thanks for coming to tonight's moderated chat.
[20:08 02/07/2004] <@Nigel> ok folks- many thanks for joining us- i belive meg is speaking tonight - meg's - all your's :-D
[20:08 02/07/2004] <@Nigel> lol
[20:09 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> Tonight Megan will be talking about Fancy Guppies. ;-)
[20:09 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> Take it whenever you're ready :-)
[20:09 02/07/2004] <+megan> Thanks Nigel and Jess :)
[20:09 02/07/2004] <+megan> Guppies are very popular fish in the hobby. They are livebearers, and most people who have ever kept males and females together know that they will breed whether you want them to or not.
[20:10 02/07/2004] <+megan> If the fishkeeper is not looking to breed the guppies, the fry can be left in the tank in which they were born, where they will be eaten by their parents and/or other fish in the tank. However, there is a growing interest in breeding show quality guppies and creating new strains. Before I get into the different fancy guppy strains, I will quickly summarize steps of breeding fancy guppies.
[20:11 02/07/2004] <+megan> First, to breed quality guppies, you need to get quality parents. There are lots of breeders from whom you can purchase many strains of guppies, either online or at guppy shows and other events sponsored by guppy clubs. (For a list of IFGA clubs, go to http://www.ifga.org/club_links/club_links.htm )
[20:12 02/07/2004] <+megan> To get the best quality fry, newborns must be fed a lot (4-8 times per day) and separated from their parents when they are first born. Baby brine shrimp is often recommended as a first food, as well as high-protein flakes (crushed up), microworms, and daphnia.
[20:14 02/07/2004] <+megan> Males and females should be separated when they are about 3 weeks old, or whenever you can tell the difference between them. Guppies will start producing their own fry when they are about one month old, and the best time to breed new guppies from the first fry is when they are about 4 months old.
[20:14 02/07/2004] <+megan> Also, you will need to go through the process of culling, which is selecting only the best guppies to breed, to produce the highest quality strain.
[20:15 02/07/2004] <+megan> Throughout the years, many serious breeders have produced different guppy strains. Many of these breeders are from Russia, Germany, Japan, and the US. Guppies are classified by tail and body patterns, colors, and shapes. Following is a list of common tail shapes with descriptions.
[20:17 02/07/2004] <+megan> -Delta tail: This is a very common tail shape in pet shops. They are large and triangular-shaped, and often decorated with beautiful colors and patterns. In fish shows, it is important that the end of the tail is very straight, and not ragged. Photos of delta tails can be found here: http://www.deltaguppies.com/gallery.htm
[20:18 02/07/2004] <+megan> -Swordtail: In this type of tail, one side of tail is very long and pointed, while the other is short and stubby. The pointed end can either be on the top or the bottom. Here is a photo of a swordtail: http://www.guppies.com/PAGES/guppixpages/gp5.html
[20:19 02/07/2004] <+megan> -Double swordtail: As the name suggests, this tail is long and pointed on the top and the bottom, with the middle very short. These are actually becoming more common than the single swordtails. Here is a picture: http://community-2.webtv.net/guphoto/JapaneseDoublesword/
[20:20 02/07/2004] <+megan> -Lyretail: These are a little bit like delta tails with a half-circle chunk cut out of them. Sometimes these tails are not very big. A picture can be found here: http://www.greenparktropical.com/Fish/images/Guppy/Lyretail%20Guppy.jpg
[20:22 02/07/2004] <+megan> There are countless other, less common tail shapes. Pictures of them can be found here:
[20:22 02/07/2004] <+megan> http://guppyplace.tripod.com/Tails.html
[20:22 02/07/2004] <+megan> There are countless other, less common tail shapes. Pictures of them can be found here:
[20:22 02/07/2004] <+megan> http://guppyplace.tripod.com/Tails.html
[20:22 02/07/2004] <+megan> There are countless other, less common tail shapes. Pictures of them can be found here:
[20:22 02/07/2004] <+megan> http://guppyplace.tripod.com/Tails.html
[20:22 02/07/2004] <+megan> There are countless other, less common tail shapes. Pictures of them can be found here:
[20:22 02/07/2004] <+megan> http://guppyplace.tripod.com/Tails.html
[20:22 02/07/2004] <+megan> There are countless other, less common tail shapes. Pictures of them can be found here:
[20:22 02/07/2004] <+megan> http://guppyplace.tripod.com/Tails.html
[20:22 02/07/2004] <+megan> There are countless other, less common tail shapes.
[20:22 02/07/2004] <+megan> wow. sorry
[20:22 02/07/2004] <+megan> Now, I will describe some colors and patterns of guppy strains.
[20:24 02/07/2004] <+megan> Another strain is the Tuxedo strain. The upper half of the body is usually a plain, light color, while the lower half is darker and more colorful. These guppies are bred with many different tail shapes and designs. Some pictures of Tuxedos can be found here: http://members.rediff.com/show/tuxedo.htm
[20:25 02/07/2004] <+megan> Mosaic guppies usually have somewhat plain bodies with a metallic sheen, and fins that are beautifully decorated with delicate, mosaic-like designs. The tails come in many different colors. Here are a few pictures: http://www.tufantuna.4t.com/mosaic.html
[20:26 02/07/2004] <+megan> Lastly, wild guppies are quite pretty in their own right. They usually have smaller tails, with blocks of bright, neon colors all over their bodies. Though not usually found in shops, they can be imported from their native homes in Central and South America. Here is a wild guppy photo: http://www.guppyguppy.de/guppy/wild.jpg
[20:27 02/07/2004] <+megan> Please note that I have been describing male guppies of each strain. Females often display similar patterns on their tails, though the bodies are not as colorful and the tails are not as big and showy. Also, there are many more strains than this, and I tried to pick some of the more distinct and common ones to describe.
[20:28 02/07/2004] <+megan> Much of this information is from Guppies: Fancy Strains and How to Produce Them by Noboru Iwasaki and Guppies Today by Spencer Glass. A lot of the information also came from various websites of guppy breeders and hobbyists. If you would like more information about fancy guppy strains, I suggest that you try a Google search on the topic.
[20:28 02/07/2004] <+megan> Thank you very much for your time. :)
[20:29 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> Thank You Megan :-D
[20:29 02/07/2004] <+megan> you're welcome :D
[20:29 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> If you have a question for megan, please type /query jessica I have a question
[20:30 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> No questions?
[20:30 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> Megs, what kind of fancies do you keep?
[20:31 02/07/2004] <+megan> just a few cobras. they're from petco though, so they're not show quality or anything.
[20:32 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> nice. :-) What's your favorite thing about them?
[20:32 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> (and then if noone has questions, i'll open it up)
[20:33 02/07/2004] <+megan> they're just really pretty. i was practically drooling over a lot of the pictures i found while doing research. also, the fry are very cute :D
[20:33 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> lol. true, they are cute ;-)
[20:33 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> Thank you megan for your time and a well-researched presentation :-D
[20:33 02/07/2004] <@Nigel> ok - open season on megs? :-D
[20:33 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> lol
[20:33 02/07/2004] <+megan> lol
[20:34 02/07/2004] <@Nigel> wtg megs - cool talk :-D
[20:34 02/07/2004] <JP> Let's get her!
[20:34 02/07/2004] <+megan> thanks nigel :D
[20:34 02/07/2004] <Christine> I keep reading and hearing about guppies being disease prone because of inbreeding. This has actually deterred me from getting guppies, should I not be so worried about that?
[20:34 02/07/2004] <russ> Megs, have you heard of the 'Berlin' strain of guppies?
[20:34 02/07/2004] <JP> It was great Megs. :)
[20:34 02/07/2004] <JP> I told you so.
[20:34 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> has noone heard of query? lol
[20:35 02/07/2004] <Christine> I tried it Jess, but didn't kknow what to do from there
[20:35 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> hehe :-D
[20:35 02/07/2004] <JP> You should have announced that boss. ;)
[20:35 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> JP, read up,
[20:35 02/07/2004] <G> Very nice chat Megan...
[20:35 02/07/2004] <JP> It wasn't in bold....
[20:35 02/07/2004] <+megan> christine, yes, guppies can often be quite inbred. however, if you get them from a breeder or someone other than an lfs, you shouldn't have problems with that. also, its not guaranteed that you'll always have problems with lfs guppies. :)
[20:35 02/07/2004] <russ> Ok, has anyone heard of the 'Berlin' strain of guppies?
[20:36 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> no, russ, sorry
[20:36 02/07/2004] <G> the ones with the little mustache and funny looking pants?
[20:36 02/07/2004] <Hoots> not me either, nicely done Megs :)
[20:36 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> for future reference, you can doubleclick on the name of the person in charge (i.e. craig on a normal day) and type in "i have one" or something
[20:36 02/07/2004] <G> no, can't say I have
[20:36 02/07/2004] <Christine> and then what?
[20:36 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> hit enter
[20:36 02/07/2004] <russ> G, actually, thats very close to their appearance...lol
[20:36 02/07/2004] <@Nigel> fish inledderhosen - worrying... :-D
[20:36 02/07/2004] <G> funny....
[20:36 02/07/2004] <Christine> hehhe
[20:37 02/07/2004] <G> guess she had enough of her own talk....
[20:37 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> uhoh.. dreaded peer attacketh
[20:37 02/07/2004] <@Nigel> nooo - come back megs - all is fogiven!
[20:37 02/07/2004] <Christine> when I typed that /query thing I got a new box with your name on it, was I supposed to type my question in there?
[20:37 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> just somethingso that we know you haveone
[20:37 02/07/2004] <Christine> ohhhh, lol k
[20:37 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> "i have a Q" works
[20:37 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> :-D
[20:38 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> russ
[20:38 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> tell s about those guppies
[20:39 02/07/2004] <JP> Megs, once again, nice chat. But I have to go for a few hours...take care everyone.
[20:39 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> jp
[20:39 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> no megs
[20:39 02/07/2004] <@Nigel> megs will be back in a fes - takes amo to reboot a dial up
[20:39 02/07/2004] <JP> what
[20:39 02/07/2004] <russ> its a strain that was developed about 20 years ago or so. Both males and females have extremely elonged pec, dorsal, and anal fins
[20:39 02/07/2004] <@Nigel> fes=few
[20:39 02/07/2004] <JP> oh she's not here
[20:40 02/07/2004] <russ> the males are serile, but not the females. So, the females have to be bred back with regular males
[20:41 02/07/2004] <russ> 'elongated'
[20:42 02/07/2004] <@Nigel> what does that do to the fish?
[20:42 02/07/2004] <@Nigel> do they regress?
[20:42 02/07/2004] <@Nigel> or are they sekectively bred?
[20:42 02/07/2004] <@Nigel> select...
[20:45 02/07/2004] <Hoots> is there a photo of some berlins around?
[20:45 02/07/2004] <russ> they are selectively bred to keep and maintain the integrity of the strain. But, as far as I know today, the males of this strain cannot still produce. They are a sight to see. Sometime the fins get too long and mak e the fish swim like a drunken fancy goldfish...lol
[20:45 02/07/2004] <Christine> That's interesting... I've read the same thing about my lyretail swordtails
[20:45 02/07/2004] <Hoots> here she comes! :)
[20:46 02/07/2004] <russ> I'll try to dig some photos up if I can find some of my old ones
[20:46 02/07/2004] <russ> wb:-D
[20:46 02/07/2004] <@Nigel> w-b :-D
[20:46 02/07/2004] <megan> thanks :D sorry everyone, technical difficulties
[20:46 02/07/2004] <@Nigel> lol - we all get those :-D
[20:47 02/07/2004] <Hoots> megs, do you have some delta tailed gups?
[20:47 02/07/2004] <russ> don't worry JP, I won't say a word...lol
[20:47 02/07/2004] <megan> yeah, mine are delta tails
[20:47 02/07/2004] <Hoots> do any of them have tails so large that they have trouble swimming?
[20:48 02/07/2004] <megan> no... though in a few of the pictures i saw, it seemed like that could be a problem
[20:48 02/07/2004] <Hoots> what do you do with your fry?
[20:49 02/07/2004] <megan> i've had my males and females seperated for about a year now. when i did have fry, i just left them in the community tank. i didn't think i would have space to raise them
[20:51 02/07/2004] <megan> russ, to answer your earlier question, i have not heard of Berlin guppies
[20:51 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> how old are your guppies?
[20:51 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> (megs)
[20:52 02/07/2004] <megan> about 1 1/2 years. they're getting kinda old
[20:52 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> impressive :-D
[20:53 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> christine.. I think that answers your question on store guppies
[20:53 02/07/2004] <megan> lol yep- they're not all bad :)
[20:53 02/07/2004] <Hoots> had mine about a year, use the fry as feeders for other tanks
[20:53 02/07/2004] <Christine> you almost have me convinced... sigh... need another tank
[20:54 02/07/2004] <megan> hehe
[20:55 02/07/2004] <Christine> Jess, (a little off topic here) can you post that pic of your tank with the dwarf sag and other mystery grass so I can show hubbie whats coming to me?
[20:55 02/07/2004] <@Nigel> ok folks - i gotta bail - it's way passed midnight and i'm pumpkin fodder :-D
[20:55 02/07/2004] <Christine> lol
[20:56 02/07/2004] <Christine> take care Nigel
[20:56 02/07/2004] <megan> goodnight nigel :)
[20:56 02/07/2004] <@Nigel> cya's all soon - g'night world :-D
[20:57 02/07/2004] <NetMax> nite all, thanks Megan!
[20:57 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> goodnight netmax :-D
[20:57 02/07/2004] <megan> you're welcome :) bye netmax
[20:58 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> oh, sure christine
[21:00 02/07/2004] <@Jessica> well then.. take it to #badmanschat folkds