Freshwater
Livebearer
More details
Black Moscow Guppy (Poecilia reticulata var. “Black Moscow")
Pro
Pro
Description
The Black Moscow Guppy is a sleek, deep-colored variant of Poecilia reticulata known for its jet-black body and flowing fins. Revered by aquarists for its elegance and contrast, it's a hardy, prolific livebearer perfect for planted or community tanks.
Difficulty Level
Beginner Friendly
Region
Black Moscow Guppy (Poecilia reticulata var. “Black Moscow")
Core Details
Highlights
Care Level
/ 10
Easy to maintain with stable water and peaceful companions. Great for beginners.
Environment Impact
/ 10
100% captive-bred. No wild collection required, making it an ethical and sustainable choice.
Origin
Bred from domestic guppy strains, with wild ancestors native to northeastern South America. This color morph was refined in Eastern Europe and Russia through selective breeding.
Visual & Behavioral Appeal
Showcases a velvety black body and fins with a slight metallic sheen. Males are smaller with exaggerated tails and dorsal fins. Their dark appearance adds dramatic contrast to lush green tanks and lighter fish.
Purpose
Primarily ornamental. Acts as a gentle dither fish that promotes confidence in shy tankmates while offering vibrant display value in nano or community setups.
Importance
Highly sought-after for visual impact and genetic purity. Easy to breed and care for, making them a popular choice for hobbyists who want to explore color genetics or add flair to their scape.
Included Resources
Needs sponge or low-flow filtration, stable parameters, and some plant cover or driftwood. Benefits from quality food and gentle lighting to maintain dark coloration.
Best Use Cases
Perfect for nano planted tanks, softwater communities, breeding colonies, or selective guppy lines. Great in contrast-focused aquascapes.
Conservation Context
Fully domesticated. No wild-caught specimens involved. A model example of sustainable ornamental fishkeeping.
Ideal Aquatic Species
• Small corydoras
• Otocinclus
• Peaceful tetras (ember, neon)
• Shrimp and snails
• Other guppy varieties (with care to avoid hybridization)
Region (A)
• Latitude: 8.3034° N
• Longitude: -62.7170° W
(Guayana Highlands, Venezuela — native range of wild P. reticulata)
Region (B)
• Latitude: 55.7558° N
• Longitude: 37.6173° E
(Moscow, Russia — origin of selective breeding for Black Moscow line)
How Many Can I Keep?
Get smart stocking suggestions based on your tank size.
e.g. 75 gallons (280 L)
Black Moscow Guppy (Poecilia reticulata var. “Black Moscow")
Core Details
Highlights
Care Level
/ 10
Easy to maintain with stable water and peaceful companions. Great for beginners.
Environment Impact
/ 10
100% captive-bred. No wild collection required, making it an ethical and sustainable choice.
Origin
Bred from domestic guppy strains, with wild ancestors native to northeastern South America. This color morph was refined in Eastern Europe and Russia through selective breeding.
Visual & Behavioral Appeal
Showcases a velvety black body and fins with a slight metallic sheen. Males are smaller with exaggerated tails and dorsal fins. Their dark appearance adds dramatic contrast to lush green tanks and lighter fish.
Purpose
Primarily ornamental. Acts as a gentle dither fish that promotes confidence in shy tankmates while offering vibrant display value in nano or community setups.
Importance
Highly sought-after for visual impact and genetic purity. Easy to breed and care for, making them a popular choice for hobbyists who want to explore color genetics or add flair to their scape.
Included Resources
Needs sponge or low-flow filtration, stable parameters, and some plant cover or driftwood. Benefits from quality food and gentle lighting to maintain dark coloration.
Best Use Cases
Perfect for nano planted tanks, softwater communities, breeding colonies, or selective guppy lines. Great in contrast-focused aquascapes.
Conservation Context
Fully domesticated. No wild-caught specimens involved. A model example of sustainable ornamental fishkeeping.
Ideal Aquatic Species
• Small corydoras
• Otocinclus
• Peaceful tetras (ember, neon)
• Shrimp and snails
• Other guppy varieties (with care to avoid hybridization)
Region (A)
• Latitude: 8.3034° N
• Longitude: -62.7170° W
(Guayana Highlands, Venezuela — native range of wild P. reticulata)
Region (B)
• Latitude: 55.7558° N
• Longitude: 37.6173° E
(Moscow, Russia — origin of selective breeding for Black Moscow line)
How Many Can I Keep?
Get smart stocking suggestions based on your tank size.
e.g. 75 gallons (280 L)
Black Moscow Guppy (Poecilia reticulata var. “Black Moscow")
Core Details
Highlights
Care Level
/ 10
Easy to maintain with stable water and peaceful companions. Great for beginners.
Environment Impact
/ 10
100% captive-bred. No wild collection required, making it an ethical and sustainable choice.
Origin
Bred from domestic guppy strains, with wild ancestors native to northeastern South America. This color morph was refined in Eastern Europe and Russia through selective breeding.
Visual & Behavioral Appeal
Showcases a velvety black body and fins with a slight metallic sheen. Males are smaller with exaggerated tails and dorsal fins. Their dark appearance adds dramatic contrast to lush green tanks and lighter fish.
Purpose
Primarily ornamental. Acts as a gentle dither fish that promotes confidence in shy tankmates while offering vibrant display value in nano or community setups.
Importance
Highly sought-after for visual impact and genetic purity. Easy to breed and care for, making them a popular choice for hobbyists who want to explore color genetics or add flair to their scape.
Included Resources
Needs sponge or low-flow filtration, stable parameters, and some plant cover or driftwood. Benefits from quality food and gentle lighting to maintain dark coloration.
Best Use Cases
Perfect for nano planted tanks, softwater communities, breeding colonies, or selective guppy lines. Great in contrast-focused aquascapes.
Conservation Context
Fully domesticated. No wild-caught specimens involved. A model example of sustainable ornamental fishkeeping.
Ideal Aquatic Species
• Small corydoras
• Otocinclus
• Peaceful tetras (ember, neon)
• Shrimp and snails
• Other guppy varieties (with care to avoid hybridization)
Region (A)
• Latitude: 8.3034° N
• Longitude: -62.7170° W
(Guayana Highlands, Venezuela — native range of wild P. reticulata)
Region (B)
• Latitude: 55.7558° N
• Longitude: 37.6173° E
(Moscow, Russia — origin of selective breeding for Black Moscow line)
How Many Can I Keep?
Get smart stocking suggestions based on your tank size.
e.g. 75 gallons (280 L)
Black Moscow Guppy (Poecilia reticulata var. “Black Moscow")
Region
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