Visit Yoshiki Tsutsui's Web Site

Yoshiki Tsutsui is a creator of a guppy vogue and if we tell you he is a main author of Guppy Basebook vol.1 & 2, then you clearly understand what we are trying to do here. These books are the very popular modern guppy books that were published in 1997 & 2003.

We have got the success to have a telephone interview with this author for almost 2hrs in January 5th, 2005. When we called him up, he just got back from wholesaler to pick up new guppies from Sri Lanka. He opened his mind frankly to our questions against his reputation as a silent man. We introduce the highlight from this long dialogue. Here it goes!

Guppy Labs: Mr.Tsutsui, we are very honored to have this opportunity. At the first, we would like to know about your biography. Also, how many tanks do you use for guppy breeding? Also please tell us the average size of your tanks.

Tsutsui: I'm 45 years old and have been in guppy breeding for 35 years.When I was a student of Gakusyu-in University law school in Tokyo, I was starting to contribute for several Japanese tropical fish magazines and after graduate college, was starting to work in publisher. In early 90's, I have decided to open my own guppy shop. Currently I have 140 tanks in my shop and also have some private guppy tanks at home too. I use variety of tank size but the best for me to manage is 45cm x 30cm x 30cm. ( 17.3/4" x 12" x 12" ). I'm not so anxious about how many fish have to be in each tank. As long as these are not over crowded, I do not get troubles. The filters I'm using are very old in age. I'm using both undergravel filters and sponge filter - the very classic way.

Guppy Labs: You have created some famous modern strains like Galaxy, Metal Pingu, RREA Aquamarine Neon Tuxedo (aka Toparz) , Santamaria Double Sword etc , and released to the rest of world. Could you tell us more about it?

Tsutsui: Yes, I'm an original creator of Galaxy. In 90's, I found one unusual male guppy was swimming around with his hundreds of siblings. He was F1 of Lace Cobra x Platinum guppy. I gave it the name "Galaxy." His body color was Y-linked so I could manage to established as a strain very quickly. The parent Platinum guppy was originated from the Schimmelpfennning Lyretail that I brought back from Germany in 1990. You see this picture? The left person is Dr. Schmidt Focke.

After I established the first Galaxy strain, I went to cross it into Blue Grass for improving the caudal pattern & body color. Later on we named this line as "Blue Galaxy."

Regarding my other creation, the Metal Pingu, the features as compared to average fish of the same strain but from another breeders, I constantly cross with US HB Red and it's a secret to maintain nice caudal color. I see majority of Pingu caudal color is too light or bluish. In my personal opinion, it has to be reddish pink.

Guppy Labs: We are admired. Now, could you please give us some quick advise? What is the fastest way to create what we want?

Tsutsui: My answer may be abstract Japanese way... I first draw the exact image in my mind the guppy I want to create, then print it in my mind. Then keep thinking of the image everyday when I feed my fish. After a while, fish start to lead me on what to do and my eyes become more keen, so often find the guppies I need from my fishroom without adopting guppies from somewhere else. This is what I call "Guppy Alchemy."

Guppy Labs: We recently saw one very unique guppy on your website.You call it "Saddle Back." It seems the newest Japanese guppy, and some are sold with very expensive price on internet. Could you tell us the history of this guppy?

Tsutsui: Saddle Back strain is my newest experimentation. It's the result of Endlers x Platinum Half Tuxedo. Another word it's Y-linked Half Tuxedo. All the Platinum Half Tuxedo are X-linked, thus it has trouble to improve caudal because we can't use male for crosses. All the F1 male will be non Half Tuxedo. So I wanted to find any male with cross over, or either wanted to create myself Y-linked Half Tuxedo. It means if I cross Y-linked male Half Tuxedo into another strain's female with nice caudal, we can create nice Half Tuxedo Delta. By the way, I keep receiving the question about basic genetics of original Platinum Half Tuxedo. It contains Japan Blue, Platinum, Mosaic and some more. This picture is F1 of Saddle Back male x Shubel's Blue female. I respect Paul Huhnel & Stan Shubel. I have a collection of vintage guppy books that were written by them.

Guppy Labs: How about Flamenco Dancer ? Now Flamenco Dancer is a known strain in the world. We have heard that it was first produced by Siam Trade Co. in Thailand. You said this wholesaler imported original breeder pairs from Rumania. Is it true? Because we couldn't find evidence if there were any guppies that looks similar to Flamenco Dancer in Rumania...

Tsutsui: Yes, it is . I think Katsuma Kubota (President of Siam Trade Co.) first imported roundtail or shorttail pairs which might look like Orange Snakeskin Roundtail, then did cross for creating Flamenco Dancer. My guess is that at least three known strains were involved during the process - Pingu, Autosomal Solid (aka Micariff) and Tuxedo (Half Black). Anyway this guppy is unique. I like it.

Guppy Labs: Somebody informed us about your another secret strain. Could you please share with us more about it?

Tsutsui: How did you find it? I can't tell you everything for now. (laughing) It's a special Pintail. I plan to share in public soon.

Guppy Labs: You are also known as an expert of plant display, and we see beautiful ones with guppies in your website. Could you please tel us more?

Tsutsui: A plant display tank is spatial art of cube. When I design the heavy planted tank with guppies, I give priority to the plants. Guppies are the second priority. My favorite guppy for plant display tank is Vienna Emerald. This approach maybe an opposite of the display in guppy show. I am myself a judge at guppy shows...

Guppy Labs: I see. Please share with us your thought about hobby as an leader of Japanese guppy scene.

Tsutsui: I think we need to spend more time to raise next generation & young people for the future of this hobby. I really would like to see any young people who have a courage to speak to me face to face. I like new & young people. I'm glad and exciting to hear that Singapore Guppy Club & Brazilian Guppy Club also Uruguay guppy scene are active and hot !! I check their sites constantly.

Guppy Labs: Thank you. By the way, you look much younger than the actual age, don't you? ( ** Interviewer knows him well for many years.) When people hear the name of the University you graduated, we all imagine that you are the person with 3 inch-thick glasses and grey hair, and carrying with you 10 academic books everywhere. But you are NOT??

Tsutsui: Ha ha, I'm exceptional!! (laughing loud) I'm more like in between artist and writer. I prefer activities than sitting on the chair all day. I love hard rock'n roll music and reading novels. Love smoking. I'm single. My guppies, girlfriend and friends keep me stay young. Maybe forever until I will die !!

Guppy Labs: Yeah, for sure all of us will be in young spirit forever !!! Thank you so much for everything today!

Tsutsui: Sure ! My pleasure!