Question for guppy breeders

[Ogertron3000]

Today I picked up some common guppies for my new set up, 2 males and 8 females so I imagine I should have a few more in a couple of months.
I was looking at some of the line bred fancy strains and was very impressed by some of them (also shocked by the price)
The thing I noticed was plenty of tanks of amazing looking males all seperate in their own strain tanks and then a big tank full of “assorted females” which is where mine came from. There are no pure females for sale for each strain.
My question is if I can wanted to breed a particular strain and buy the male what do I do about the females? I imagine if I just got them from the standard tank then I would end up with hybrids. Do the breeders keep the females for themselves to make sure they can monopolise the market?

 

[tlindsey]

what do I do about the females?

You would have to find a reputable guppy breeder who breeds the same strain as the male.

would end up with hybrids. Do

Yes

Do the breeders keep the females for themselves to make sure they can monopolise the market?

That's possible. I've thought the same year's ago.
If you would have mentioned buying guppies especially to breed I would have recommended finding a reputable breeder. Some members of fish clubs breed specific guppies for sale. I've personally purchased guppies at a cichlid convention given by my local fish club.

 

[jjohnwm]

The term "hybrid" refers to a cross between two closely related but separate species; two different cichlids, two different livebearers, etc. In this case, all those fancy guppy varieties are still the same species; they're all pure Guppies, so you won't produce hybrids by crossing those "pure strain" males with "mixed assorted" females, you'll simply be producing more "mixed" Guppies that are not a pure strain.

It's like having a purebred dog of a specific breed...as opposed to a dog that is a "cross" between two different breeds...as opposed to a "mutt" or mixed breed which has multiple different breeds in its lineage. They all look different...but they are all still pure dogs. In order for a dog to be a "hybrid", it would have to be the result of a cross between two actual different species, i.e. dogXwolf, dogXcoyote, etc.

 

[deeda]

While I don't 'do' guppies, I agree with most of what tlindsey posted. I think he meant to say line bred or strain of guppy. You can check out International Fancy Guppy Association for more details on the starting out.

 

[Ogertron3000]

You would have to find a reputable guppy breeder who breeds the same strain as the male.

Yes

That's possible. I've thought the same year's ago.
If you would have mentioned buying guppies especially to breed I would have recommended finding a reputable breeder. Some members of fish clubs breed specific guppies for sale. I've personally purchased guppies at a cichlid convention given by my local fish club.

I was more curious about how it worked, i did a bit of googling and found a breeder interstate that sells matched pairs.
It could be an expensive addiction getting into guppy strains but i guess you could sell them to offset the cost.

The term "hybrid" refers to a cross between two closely related but separate species; two different cichlids, two different livebearers, etc. In this case, all those fancy guppy varieties are still the same species; they're all pure Guppies, so you won't produce hybrids by crossing those "pure strain" males with "mixed assorted" females, you'll simply be producing more "mixed" Guppies that are not a pure strain.

It's like having a purebred dog of a specific breed...as opposed to a dog that is a "cross" between two different breeds...as opposed to a "mutt" or mixed breed which has multiple different breeds in its lineage. They all look different...but they are all still pure dogs. In order for a dog to be a "hybrid", it would have to be the result of a cross between two actual different species, i.e. dogXwolf, dogXcoyote, etc.

Thats true, i was more referring to hybrid in relation to the strain. I wouldnt want to buy a $45.00 male pure strain guppy and see all the babies come out looking different to the male.

While I don't 'do' guppies, I agree with most of what tlindsey posted. I think he meant to say line bred or strain of guppy. You can check out International Fancy Guppy Association for more details on the starting out.

Im not that into them really but i have set up a new community tank. Guppies are a good start, they can breed and establish themselves as i figure out the rest of the fish. I have an 8 year old kid who has taken an interest in them so it will be good for her to see the breeding and im always shocked how a silver male with a green tail can breed with a grey female with a blue tail and somehow produce a yellow baby with a red tail, its always amusing to me.
If i see any cool looking males in the "assorted guppy" tank i might grab a few more and a few more females and let them populate the tank.