Guppy scientists?

Question

hello,

I have recently posted a question about guppies changeing sex. Would any one happen to know any scientiststhat may specialize in guppies?? and if notm in guppies, in tropical fish??

thank you!

Answer 1

What you may be looking for is a Limnologist. That's the freshwater version of a marine biologist. There are a few people that specialize in the study of genetics that use guppies for their studies, but they aren't exactly guppy experts, they are genetics experts. You also have hobbists that specialize in guppies that probably know at least as much if not more about the fish than most limnologists. I am a Limnologist, but don't specifically study guppies for example. The only tropical fish I work with on a regular basis is bettas and tilapia.

I can't find any scientific investigation that proves guppies change sex, but several that indicate they don't.. I know I have never had it happen and I don;t know of a hobbiest that has either, but that doesn't mean it has never happened.

I found an interesting article about them adjusting sex ratios by having more males when there aren't many adult males or visa versa and it appears that may be the case. The temperature of the environment also seems to play a role in the ratio of males to females.

Here's a link to a page where you can purchase the article. It may be that your school or a local college can download the article free if they are members of an affiliated organization. Check the access options link, loads of schools are listed by state. Searching the site may find what you need.

http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0003-0147(198211)120%3A5%3C694%3ACGATSR%3E2.0.CO%3B2-D

Hope this helps

MM

Answer 2

Try Ted Coletti PhD - he's on the board for the American Livebearer Association, and he's written a good bit about guppies and Endler's livebearers. If he can't answer your question, he should be able to direct you to someone who can.

[e-mail]

EDIT: If you want to try and contact the biologists at the website "Bird" suggested, don't try over this weekend - there's a MAJOR sale - call today or wait till Monday. (been there on a sale weekend, took almost 2 hrs to go through the checkout line, with 8-10 lines open, they were so crowded!)

Answer 3

Actually, believe it or not, your best bet is to find a marine biologist. I'm lucky enough to have several working at a pet store that's fairly close to me, so if I would ever have any questions, I could always call them. You can contact them here: http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/account/contactUs.web

Also, you have the internet at your fingertips - use many of the articles found on guppy reproduction for your advantage.