 
It's time once again for our monthly newsletter and we are proud to announce that we are making great strides to get back up and running after the January ice storms. (See February Newsletter) We have already added a line of reds to our stock and we've also begun to restock our Albino Bristle Nose Pleco's. Plans are in the works as we speak to obtain a line of Greens and Half Black Pastels as well, thanks to some wonderful people with the New England Guppy Club and Massguppies.com We would also like to remind everyone that if you are in need of some quality fish flake, please contact us and let us know. We offer a high quality fish flake for a very reasonable price. As little as 2oz or as much as 8oz., and you would also be helping to get our fish hatchery back up and running. This month we would like to welcome our newest members to the I Luv Guppies Community. Michel Paquin, Greg Laduca and Donna Binven. We hope you all enjoy our site and find it useful and entertaining. As always, if anyone ever has any suggestions or issues that they would like to see addressed in our Monthly Newsletter, please feel free to contact us. For this months article we have chosen the theme of "Choosing An Aquarium" We hope you enjoy. Freshwater Aquarium Setup 1. Choosing the Right Aquarium: Although it is important to choose an aquarium that you think will look good in your living room, there are other equally important considerations that affect the ongoing expense as well as the health of the inhabitants! In general we have found that stability of the environment is the most important secret to successful fish keeping. A lot of material has been written about the ideal environment for various species of fish, whether they like warm water or cold water, high Ph or low Ph, hard water or soft water, but this is generally useful only if you are attempting to breed the fish or are planning on keeping a very sensitive fish that is known to be challenging. In choosing all of the items and the fish themselves, always keep in mind the stability of the environment. One of the first choices you will face is whether to purchase a glass or acrylic aquarium. The differences are listed in the box below.2. Size of the Aquarium Always choose the largest size that fits your living room and your budget! Don't be fooled into thinking that the smaller the aquarium the easier it will be. Actually, the larger the aquarium is the more stable it will be and the easier it will be to maintain healthy fish. The amount of oxygen available (which is critical to fish survival) is determined mainly by the amount of surface area of the aquarium (not just the size) since oxygen enters the water primarily at the surface. Although aeration, with an air stone or a power head, seems like it is directly adding oxygen to the water, most of the benefit comes from moving water from the bottom of the aquarium to the surface where oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide. Water movement at the surface also increases oxygenation and will generally increase the stocking capacity as well as the health of the fish. Keep in mind that air stones and power heads can (and generally will) fail at some time or another so don't overstock an aquarium to the point that your fish will die if the power goes out for a couple of hours! It is almost always more desirable to have a few less fish that are colorful and healthy than to push the limits of the tank and risk loosing some of your fish. Not only are fish happier, but the maintenance is easier! The larger the aquarium, or the fewer the fish, the greater is your chance of having a successful experience!  
Featured
Plant of the Month
BACOPA CAROLINIANA
 Hardiness: Easy
Light Needs: Medium
Plant Structure: Stem
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Genus: Bacopa
Region: North America
Location: U.S.A.
Size: Stem width: 3-6cm (1-2in)
Growth Rate: Fast
Can Be Grown Emersed: Yes Description: Bacopa caroliniana has been a ubiquitous species within the aquatic plant hobby for many years and is commonly available as a regular offering of both brick-and-mortar and internet retailers. Several forms of this species are currently in culture, including a small-leaved form and a variegated form (the latter of which seems to be of only limited contrast to the standard form, however). One of the most characteristic traits of this plant is the lemony smell exuded by its leaves when they are crushed. B. caroliniana is native to the southern U.S., where it can be found growing in marshy areas in both emersed and submersed states.
This relatively slow-growing stem plant�s primary requirement in the aquarium is sufficient light, which at the lowest should be maintained at 2 watts per gallon. Fertilization with both macro- and micronutrients is unnecessary but productive, as is supplemental carbon dioxide injection. If lighting is intense and nitrates are low, this plant will turn a dull copper or brownish color. When phosphates are limited, it will attain a pink blush. Emersed culture outdoors on the edge of a pond or in a well-lit tub will produce good growth and the characteristic purplish flowers of this species. B. caroliniana is an excellent candidate for non-CO2 aquaria.
Propagating B. caroliniana is easy, since the bottom portions of any severed or 'topped' shoots easily develop new growth tips. It also regularly produces runners at the base of the stem, which can be carefully trimmed and replanted.
The stems of B. caroliniana are most effectively employed in the aquascape if they are placed in a terraced or tiered grouping in the middle or front area of the aquarium, where their unique geometry constitutes a stable point upon which other plant groupings can be based.  
Breeding Your New Guppies Choosing Breeders.Choosing the females may be difficult since they show little of the genetic make-up that they carry. Females should have a nicely-shaped body that is also large and stout with thick caudal peduncles. Their caudal fin should have even coloration and shape. Color is not really important. Overly colored females do not generally throw very good males in their drops. Females should be used at about 3 to 4 months of age. Males should, of course, show all the favorable characteristics you are trying to obtain. This is will likely include a nicely shaped caudal with good coloration and a dorsal fin that matches closely. They should have a good body shape and look strong and energetic. Breeding Techniques.Inbreeding: This is basically keeping a strain pure. The fish are kept closely related and brother and sister, father and daughter are routinely bred. A breeder will do this sometimes to fix a trait, such as a particular color or shape. Mostly, you take the best male and female from the drop and breed them. Doing this can provide beautiful fish for years, provided the fish that you start out with are quality and you are lucky enough to choose not only the most attractive fish, but to pick fish as breeders that do not have an invisible weakness-for these will show up in the form of genetic defects, often looked upon as simply the result of "too much inbreeding". Take great care in choosing breeders; many times a strong body is the most desirable trait to keep an inbred line strong. Line Breeding/Line Crossing: This method is also a form of inbreeding, however here you start by keeping the fry from two females (either from your new trio or chosen fry from a drop) separate, so that they form two distinct lines. Since you cannot mix batches, this takes more tanks. It is best to choose breeders differently for each line; for instance, in one line, you may pursue a large body mass, and with the other, you may concentrate on finagle. The purpose is to help maintain your established strain, since each line becomes distinct and more distantly related; also, you can have your own two lines to cross occasionally. When you want to increase the size in your fish, for instance, or make an outcross to avoid too much inbreeding, taking someone else's line to do this with is risky and you may loose the traits in your line that you have worked hard to achieve, as well as loosing the homozygous quality of your guppies. Out Crossing: This is the opposite of inbreeding - the mating of fish that are unrelated to other. This creates what is called a "hybrid" guppy. "Hybrid" vigor may be seen in such fish-outstanding size, color, and health. The genetic patterns of the parents are scrambled/mixed up, and such fish may be good for show but not for breeding. An outcross with a fish that itself is only a few generations ahead of an outcross may produce beautiful fish for a few generations, but the loose gene patterns will turn them eventually into a fish resembling the small, original wild guppy usually sold as feeders in pet stores. Although this is, of course, how new strains are produced, it takes much time and knowledge of genetics to create a pure strain. Thus, it is not advisable for the novice to attempt an out cross in order to fix a strain. Most breeders stick with line breeding and do their best to choose fish to breed with that have the characteristics which they think will improve their lines, while keeping their guppies breeding pure.
It's important to remember that guppies react differently with various methods of care, water conditions, and breeding methods. What works for one person may not work for you when trying to breed the exact same line of fish. Every strain varies in it's own needs and rate of development, as well. It takes years of attentive care and analyzing breeding techniques to find out just what works for you and your guppies. This is what makes guppy breeding the fascinating hobby it is!  
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