Description
Getting a clean ribbon tail and a proper dumbo ear on the same fish is not something that happens easily, which is part of why this particular combination tends to draw attention from people who already know guppies well. Instead of one solid webbed fan, the tail rays grow out separately with much less connecting membrane between them, so the fin trails off into individual strands rather than closing into a single sheet the way a normal tail does.
Body colour runs a bright platinum white through most of the fish, carrying a metallic blue steel sheen that concentrates across the back and shoulders and catches light in a way that makes the fish look like it is dusted in something shiny. The head stays a touch plainer, letting the eye travel back toward the body and tail where the real colour work is happening.
At the base of the tail sits a solid black band, a clean dark ring marking where the body ends and the ribbon rays begin. Past that band the colour opens into a warm red orange that runs the length of each individual ray, so when the fish flares its tail you get this fan of separate red orange strands rather than one uniform block of colour, each ray slightly visible on its own against the water behind it.
Dumbo pectoral fins sit just behind the gills, sized up considerably compared to a standard guppy and carrying that same blue toned colouring, adding a second point of visual interest beyond the ribbon tail itself. Between the platinum body, the blue dumbo fins and the black ringed red ribbon tail, there is a lot happening on one small fish, and it rewards a bit of patience to really appreciate once it settles into a tank and starts showing off.
One thing worth knowing before buying is that the ribbon trait only shows up on males. Females carry the same genes but their tails stay a standard shape, rounder bodied and far plainer overall the way guppy females typically are, so do not go in expecting to find a female with a ribbon tail of her own, that pairing simply does not occur in this strain.
Ribbon tails need a bit more thought when it comes to tank setup compared to a full tail guppy. Those separated rays are thinner and more prone to snagging or tearing on rough decor, so a bare bottom setup or one with fine sand substrate is a safer choice than coarse gravel or sharp ornaments. A sponge filter running gentle flow protects the fins further, since a strong power filter intake can catch those loose rays more easily than it would a solid tail. Tankmates should stay firmly on the peaceful side too, since any fin nipping is going to show up fast and obviously on a ribbon tail.
Guppies breed readily once settled, dropping live, free swimming fry roughly every four weeks rather than laying eggs, so a pair in good condition will keep a steady supply coming. Feed a mix of quality flake or micro pellets daily, and work in live or frozen baby brine shrimp on a regular basis, both for the extra protein and because it noticeably helps the platinum and red tones stay saturated as the fish grows out.
Sold as a breeding pair.
Water changes matter a little more with a fish like this than with a plain finned guppy, simply because clean stable water keeps the fins looking their best and stops the fine ribbon strands from clamping or fraying at the edges. A weekly partial change of around twenty five percent, done gently so the flow does not buffet a fish still carrying a lot of trailing fin, tends to keep both the platinum sheen and the ribbon tail in top condition. Good filtration paired with regular water testing for ammonia and nitrite goes a long way toward avoiding the kind of stress that dulls colour and slows fin growth in young guppies still developing their full ribbon length.
