When one thinks of raising animals that offer benefits for your garden, chickens are probably the first to come to mind. But not everyone has the ability or the desire to have animals that require as much care as chickens do, or make as much noise as chickens do. Luckily, there are animals that offer several benefits for the garden that require barely any attention and make absolutely no noise: guppies! Yes, the little fish. Guppies are freshwater fish that don’t require pumps of filters in their aquariums or ponds. Females can reproduce at 2 months
Yes, the little fish. Guppies are freshwater fish that don’t require pumps of filters in their aquariums or ponds. Females can reproduce at 2 months
Guppies are freshwater fish that don’t require pumps of filters in their aquariums or ponds. Females can reproduce at 2 months old, and can give birth (yes they give live birth which is cool to see if you have them in an aquarium) to 60 fry (baby guppies) at a time. They can be put outside in most zones in the spring and netted back up in the fall to be brought inside for the winter, and if you have enough plants in their pond, they don’t require much care in between. But why should you raise guppies?
Pest Control
The most commonly sought advantage to raising guppies is their ravenous appetite for mosquito larva. Having a pond or outdoor aquarium will provide mosquitoes with a place they will feel save leaving their eggs. Having that pond stocked with guppies will ensure that none of those eggs ever amount to an adult mosquito that will buzzing in your ear while you are outside working or relaxing in your garden.
Fertilizer
Like every other animal, guppies produce waste that can be used in your garden as fertilizer. It smells less than chicken manure and it’s easier to collect than horse manure. Just move the water plants to one side, and stir the water until it goes from clear to green. Then dip in your watering can and fill it up, water hungry fruiting plants like tomatoes or melons with the contents.
Feed
If you do have chickens in your back yard, guppies can still be a nice addition. As little as 10 adult guppies placed outside in the spring can result in 1,000 adults by fall. It’s unlikely that you want to net in and maintain 1,000 guppies inside through the winter. Instead, you can regularly scoop some up and toss them to your chickens. Chickens love guppies. But if you don’t have chickens, you can (it might sound cruel) bury the guppies in your fall garden for rich soil in the spring (watch out for raccoons).
Guppies require less care than just about anything. They can be raised in virtually anything that holds water. They can reduce mosquitoes, give free fertilizer, and provide pretty cool entertainment if you watch them give birth. Give guppies a try for your garden this spring.
If you liked this, you might also enjoy…