PURPLE QUEEN GUPPY | POECILIA RETICULATUS

The Purple Queen Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) is a regal and mesmerizing guppy variety celebrated for its vibrant purple coloration, graceful fins, and shimmering iridescence. True to its name, the Purple Queen displays royal shades of violet, lavender, and sometimes magenta across the body and tail, creating a glowing, metallic effect under aquarium lighting. The combination of elegance, color depth, and hardiness makes this guppy a favorite for both collectors and casual aquarists.

Adult males typically grow to around 1.5 inches (3.5–4 cm) and exhibit the most brilliant purple and blue hues, while females reach up to 2.5 inches (6 cm) and are more subdued in color but equally hardy and active.

Ideal water parameters:
Temperature: 72–82°F (22–28°C)
pH: 7.0–8.0
Hardness: 8–20 dGH

Tank setup: Purple Queen Guppies thrive in clean, stable aquariums of 10 gallons or larger. A planted setup with moderate lighting and open swimming space allows them to display their best colors. Floating plants like Water Sprite, Frogbit, or Hornwort help create a calm environment and offer cover for fry. Because they are livebearers, females can produce fry every 4–6 weeks—dense vegetation or breeder boxes help protect the young.

Diet: They are omnivorous and do best on a varied diet. Feed high-quality flake or micro-pellet foods as a staple, along with supplemental live or frozen foods such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, and daphnia. Vegetable matter like spirulina flakes or blanched spinach supports health and enhances coloration.

Temperament and tankmates: Purple Queen Guppies are peaceful, social, and active fish that do best in small groups. They coexist perfectly with other gentle community species such as platies, mollies, endlers, tetras, rasboras, and corydoras. Avoid fin-nipping or aggressive species that may damage their delicate fins.

In summary, the Purple Queen Guppy is a dazzling and graceful livebearer that brings a royal touch to any freshwater aquarium. With its brilliant violet tones, peaceful demeanor, and easy care requirements, it’s both a showpiece and a resilient choice for aquarists seeking beauty and elegance in motion.