Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
The Guppy is one of the most popular freshwater fish among aquarium enthusiasts due to its colorful appearance and lively nature. These fish have a wide range of vibrant colors and tail shapes, making them a visual delight in any aquarium. Guppies are known for their peaceful temperament and ease of care, making them ideal for both beginner and experienced fishkeepers.
Guppies exhibit vibrant coloration and distinctive patterns, with males showcasing brighter hues and larger fins than females.
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Quick Facts
Size
2.5 inches
Temperament
Peaceful
Difficulty
Beginner
Min Tank Size
10 gallons
Lifespan
2-3 years
Origin
South America
Diet
Omnivore - flakes, pellets, frozen foods
Care Notes
- Guppies thrive in a well-planted tank of at least 10 gallons with a gentle water flow and a heater to maintain a stable temperature between 74-82°F (23-28°C).
- Maintain clean water by performing regular water changes of 20-30% weekly and ensuring ammonia, nitrite levels are at 0 ppm, with nitrate levels ideally below 20 ppm.
- Feed guppies a varied diet of high-quality flake food supplemented with live or frozen foods such as brine shrimp and daphnia to ensure optimal health and vibrant coloration.
- Guppies are peaceful community fish and can coexist with other non-aggressive species like tetras, mollies, and platies but avoid housing them with fin-nippers like barbs.
- Known for being prolific breeders, guppies can give birth to live fry approximately every 30 days; providing ample hiding spaces and using a breeder box can help increase fry survival rates.
- Monitor guppies for common health issues such as fin rot and swim bladder problems, and maintain ideal water conditions and a balanced diet to prevent stress-related illnesses.
- Guppies prefer slightly hard water with a pH level between 6.8-7.8, so testing and adjusting your water parameters can help mimic their natural habitat conditions.
Compatibility
Good Tankmates
- Other peaceful community fish
- Small tetras and rasboras
- Corydoras catfish
- Cherry shrimp and other small, peaceful invertebrates
- Harlequin rasboras
Avoid
- Aggressive cichlids
- Large predatory fish like Oscars
- Fin-nipping species such as tiger barbs
- Betta fish, due to potential aggression
Habitat and Natural Environment
Guppies (Poecilia reticulata) are native to northeastern South America, including countries like Brazil, Venezuela, and Guyana. They are widely distributed in freshwater environments such as rivers, streams, and ponds. Guppies have also been introduced to many countries around the world due to their popularity in the aquarium trade and use for mosquito control.
Guppies are highly adaptable and can be found in various water conditions, although they prefer warmer, slightly alkaline waters.
Tank Setup Requirements
Setting up a guppy tank is relatively easy, making them perfect for beginners. A minimum tank size of 10 gallons is recommended for small groups, but more space is always beneficial.
- Temperature: 72-82°F (22-28°C)
- pH: 6.8-7.8
- Hardness: 8-12 dGH
- Filter and heater to maintain water quality and temperature
- Plants and decorations to mimic natural habitat and provide hiding spaces
Regular water changes and maintenance of water parameters are important to ensure a healthy environment for your guppies.
Feeding and Diet
Guppies are omnivorous and have a varied diet in the wild that includes algae, small insects, and plant material. In captivity, they thrive on a balanced diet of high-quality flake food, supplemented with live or frozen foods.
- High-quality flakes or pellets designed for tropical fish
- Live or frozen brine shrimp, daphnia, or bloodworms as treats
- Occasional vegetable matter like blanched spinach or spirulina flakes
Feeding small amounts multiple times a day is preferable over a single large feeding to maintain water quality and fish health.
Behavior and Temperament
Guppies are known for their lively and peaceful nature. They are active swimmers and tend to occupy all areas of the tank, making them an entertaining species to observe.
Guppies are social fish and should be kept in groups of at least five to ensure their well-being and reduce stress.
Breeding
Guppies are prolific breeders and one of the easiest fish species to breed in home aquariums. They are livebearers, meaning they give birth to free-swimming fry rather than laying eggs.
- Maintain a ratio of one male to two or three females to reduce stress in females.
- Provide plenty of hiding spaces for females to retreat during mating.
- Use breeding boxes or separate pregnant females to increase fry survival rates.
Guppy fry can be fed crushed flakes or specially formulated fry food to ensure proper growth.
Health and Common Issues
Guppies are generally hardy fish, but can still be susceptible to common aquarium diseases. Maintaining water quality and a balanced diet will greatly reduce the risk of illness.
- Common issues include ich, fin rot, and fungal infections.
- Regular observation of fish behavior and appearance is key for early detection of health problems.
- Quarantine new fish before adding them to the main tank to prevent disease introduction.
Overcrowding and poor water conditions can lead to stress, making guppies more susceptible to disease.
Similar Species
Other freshwater peaceful species you might be interested in.
Armoured stickleback
Indostomus paradoxus
This is that goofy little "freshwater seahorse"-looking fish that just kind of perches and scoots around like a tiny armored twig. Its whole vibe is slow, sneaky micropredator - once its settled in, you will catch it stalking microfoods and doing these subtle little posture displays. The big trick is feeding: they do best when you can provide lots of small live foods in a calm, planted tank.
Bishop toothcarp
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This is a tiny Panamanian livebearer that does best when you treat it more like a shy wild fish than a fancy guppy-lots of cover, calm vibes, and really clean water. The fun part is watching the males posture and spar while the females cruise around dropping fully-formed fry about once a month.
Black Neon Tetra
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Black Skirt Tetra (Black Widow Tetra)
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Black skirts are those little "suit-and-tie" tetras with the dark bands and flowing fins that look way fancier than they should for how tough they are. They're super active midwater fish, and when you keep a proper group they do that tight, zippy schooling thing that makes the whole tank feel alive. Just give them enough buddies and finny tankmates they won't be tempted to nip.
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Poecilocharax weitzmani is one of those tiny blackwater oddballs that acts more like a little darter than a typical tetra - it hangs low, darts between cover, and the males can get pretty showy with fin-flares. The really cool part is they are cave breeders with male brood care, which is not what most people expect from a small characin. Give them very soft, acidic, super-clean water and lots of leaf litter and hidey holes, and they settle in and start showing their best colors.
Blue discus
Symphysodon aequifasciatus
This is one of the classic wild discus from the Amazon-big, round, and super "cichlid-smart," but way more chill than most cichlids. The coolest part to me is the parenting: the fry actually feed off a mucus layer from the parents' skin for a while, which is just wild to see if you ever breed them.
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Pao suvattii is that sneaky Mekong puffer that likes to sit low and ambush food, and it has that super recognizable arrow/V pattern on its back. Gorgeous fish with tons of personality, but it is absolutely not a community guy - plan on a solo, species-only setup if you want everybody to stay in one piece.
Banded Leporinus
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Banded Leporinus are those torpedo-shaped, black-and-yellow striped fish that look like they're wearing a little prison outfit-and they stay on the move. They've got a ton of personality and they're awesome to watch cruising and picking at stuff, but they're also the kind of fish that will redecorate your tank and "taste test" anything soft-looking.
Betta
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Betta fish, also known as Siamese fighting fish, are popular for their striking colors and flowing fins. They are known for their territorial nature, especially males, which can display aggressive behavior towards each other.
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Boeseman's rainbowfish
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Boesemani rainbows are basically little swimming fireworks once they settle in-males get that wild split-color look (blue up front, orange in back) and they'll flash and posture at each other all day. They're super active and way happier in a real group with a long tank to cruise, not a cramped setup where they can't stretch out.
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