Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
Min Tank Size
40L
Adult Size
6 cm
Lifespan
2 years
About
Originally from Trinidad, Venezuela, and surrounding regions of South America and the Caribbean, guppies are probably the most widely kept freshwater fish on the planet and for good reason. Males are spectacular little animals covered in iridescent color, patterned scales, and flowing tails that come in dozens of shapes including fan, sword, delta, and veil. Females are larger and plainer, built more for survival than show. Both sexes stay under 6 cm, making them genuinely suitable for smaller tanks.
Water parameters are forgiving by most fish standards. 8 comfortably, prefer moderately hard water, and do well anywhere from 22 to 28 degrees. Soft, acidic water is actually harder on guppies than most people expect given their beginner reputation. They'll eat basically anything offered: flake, micro pellets, frozen daphnia, baby brine shrimp, or blanched vegetables. Feeding variety improves coloration noticeably.
Temperament is peaceful across the board toward other species, though males will posture and chase each other constantly. They're active swimmers, spending most of their time in the upper half of the water column and are endlessly curious about what's happening at the surface.
The breeding thing is real and relentless. A single female can store sperm for months and produce multiple batches of fry from one mating. If you're not prepared for that, have a plan.
Browse community tank builds featuring guppies to see how other hobbyists handle colonies, color varieties, and cohabitation setups.
Water Parameters
Temperature
°CpH
GH
dGHKH
dKHSwimming Level
Flow Preference
Keeping multiple Guppy together
Guppy is mildly territorial. Small groups can work in spacious tanks with broken sightlines, but expect occasional squabbles.
Compatibility
Guppies work well with most peaceful community fish of similar size. Tetras like ember or cardinal work fine, as do rasboras, corydoras, small plecos, and peaceful livebearers like mollies or platies. Avoid tiger barbs, serpae tetras, and any confirmed fin nipper because fancy-tailed males are irresistible targets. Bettas are a no in most cases, both for fin nipping risk and because bettas often view guppies as rivals. Large cichlids, angelfish, and anything predatory will pick off guppies opportunistically. In a well-planted 40 liter or larger tank, guppies coexist with cherry shrimp reasonably well, though adults may snack on very small shrimp and fry.
Commonly kept with
Species this one is most often paired withCommonly tried but avoid
Often paired, but shouldn't beCare Notes
The most common mistake is keeping too many males or an unbalanced sex ratio. Without at least two females per male, females get harassed constantly. The second mistake is underestimating reproduction. A single pregnant female can stock a tank within a few months without any intervention. Fancy strains bred heavily for color and finnage tend to be weaker than wild-type or feeder guppies, and they're more sensitive to water quality swings. Don't let soft or very acidic water fool you into thinking they're fine. They genuinely prefer hard, slightly alkaline conditions and declining hardness often shows up as clamped fins or increased disease susceptibility before anything else.
Behavior & Aggression
Guppies are genuinely peaceful toward other species but males chase and harass each other and females constantly. In a colony with too many males or not enough females, dominant males will stress females to the point of exhaustion and death. This isn't occasional bickering, it's relentless pursuit. Aggression between males usually stays at the posturing and nipping level rather than causing real injury, but an outnumbered female in a small tank has nowhere to hide and will deteriorate quickly. Keeping live plants and hardscape for cover reduces the impact significantly.
Things to Know
- Prolific livebearer, expect fry every 4 to 6 weeks without separation
- Keep 1 male per 2 to 3 females to prevent female harassment
- Males will stress females to death in small tanks with poor ratios
- Fancy tail varieties are targets for fin nippers, choose tankmates carefully
- Jumpers, a lid or cover is strongly recommended
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