You walk into your local fish shop. You see a tank of beautiful guppies, but the white marker on the glass says something like: “HB Pastel Blue Mosaic Delta.”
You look at the price—RM40 for a pair—and you wonder, “What am I actually paying for?” In the guppy world, names follow a specific “code” that describes the fish’s genetics. Once you understand the formula, you can read any label in any shop in Malaysia. Most labels follow this 4-part structure:
[Body Color/Base] + [Pattern] + [Special Feature] + [Tail Shape]
The Decoder Table: Body, Pattern, and Features
Use this table to understand the first half of the label.
|
Term |
What it actually means |
Why it matters |
|
HB (Half Black) |
The back half of the body is solid black or dark blue. |
A classic, stable look that highlights the tail color. |
|
Mosaic |
The tail has big, irregular splotches (like a painting). |
Creates a very “busy” and colorful look in the tank. |
|
Cobra / Snakeskin |
A fine, lace-like pattern on the body (looks like a snake). |
Hard to breed perfectly without the pattern “blurring.” |
|
Dumbo Ear |
The side (pectoral) fins are oversized and often dark. |
High “cute” factor; makes the fish look like it’s flying. |
|
Albino (RREA) |
Red eyes and no black pigment. Usually white/gold. |
Needs cleaner water and has poorer eyesight. |
|
Tuxedo |
The body looks like it’s wearing a dark suit. |
Very similar to HB; gives a formal, elegant look. |
|
Grass |
The tail has tiny, tiny dots (like grass seeds). |
Much finer and more detailed than a Mosaic pattern. |
|
Ribbon |
The fins (usually the bottom ones) are long and stringy. |
Very beautiful, but Ribbon males are usually sterile. |
The Tail Shape Cheat Sheet
The last word on the label usually describes the shape of the tail. This is important because the shape changes how the fish swims and how much maintenance it needs.
- Delta / Triangle: The most common “Fancy” tail. It’s a wide triangle with straight edges.
- Fantail: Similar to the Delta, but the edges are more rounded and fan-like.
- Veiltail: A long, flowing tail that looks like a piece of silk trailing behind the fish.
- Lyretail: The tail has two distinct points at the top and bottom, looking like a “U” or a lyre instrument.
- Double Sword: Two thin extensions (swords) coming out of the top and bottom of the tail.
- Spade Tail: The tail is short and comes to a sharp point, like the “Spade” on a playing card.
- Round Tail: A short, circular tail. These are very hardy and swim much faster than the big-tailed versions.
Common Shop Terms Explained
When you are talking to the shop owner, you might hear these terms used to describe the stock:
- “Assorted” (The Rojak Tank): These are mixed-breed guppies. They are cheap (RM1.50 – RM3) and hardy, but their babies will all look different.
- “Pair” vs. “Trio”: A Pair is one male and one female. A Trio is usually one male and two females. In our Malaysian heat, “Trios” are better because the male’s attention is split, giving the females more time to rest.
- “Pure Line”: This means the fish have been bred carefully so that 90% of the babies will look exactly like the parents. This is what you want if you plan to sell babies back to the shop later.
The “Shop Guy” Tip: Don’t Buy the Label, Buy the Fish
Sometimes, a fish shop will mislabel a tank. They might call a fish a “Blue Grass” when it is actually a “Blue Mosaic.”
As someone who works in a shop, I’ll tell you a secret: The name doesn’t matter as much as the health. A healthy “Assorted” guppy is a 100% better investment than a sick “24K Gold Dumbo Ear.”
Look for a straight spine, active swimming, and calm breathing. If the fish is healthy, it doesn’t matter what the white marker says.
