Care
Minimum aquarium volume50–80 L (allowed 20–150 L)
Suitable aquarium proportionsLong
Water temperature22–28 °C (allowed 17–28 °C)
pH7–8 (allowed 6.5–8.5)
General hardness8–18 °dGH (allowed 5–30 °dGH)
Oxygen demandOrdinary
FeedingGuppies are omnivorous fish with an upper jaw, preferring to feed at the surface. In nature, their diet mainly consists of insects and their larvae, zooplankton, and detritus. In the aquarium, they readily accept quality dry foods (flakes, small granules), frozen and live foods (maggots, daphnia, Artemia, cyclops). The diet should be about half animal-based and half plant-based components. Feed 2–3 times a day with small portions that fish can consume within 1–3 minutes. A weekly fasting day is recommended. Fry are fed 4–6 times a day with micro-foods.
Compatibility
CompatibilityGuppies are peaceful, non-aggressive fish that coexist well with other peaceful species of similar size: other livebearers (swordtails, platies, mollies), small characins (neons, rasboras), corydoras, small loricariids, and shrimps. It is not recommended to keep with fin-nipping species (barbs, tetras, bettas), large predators (cichlids, large goldfish, large gouramis), or overly active fish that may stress guppies. Male guppies may occasionally nip the fins of other males and long-finned fish. A ratio of 1 male to 2–3 females is advised to reduce female harassment.
Plant safetySafe
Plant-eating behaviourGuppies are omnivorous fish with predominantly animal-based diet in the wild (zooplankton, small insects, detritus). They rarely damage healthy aquarium plants: healthy leaves are not eaten, but they readily scrape algae and biofilm from leaves, stones, and decorations, and may nibble on decaying plant parts. It is beneficial to include plant-based components in their diet (scalded lettuce leaves, spinach, zucchini, spirulina).
Incompatible groupsNot suitable: fish prone to fin-nipping (barbs, platies in cramped aquariums, minor tetras, bettas); large predatory cichlids (Arowanas, Acanthurus, African cichlids) that see guppies as food; goldfish (different temperature and parameter requirements, large size); any species incompatible with live plants, as guppies need dense vegetation for cover.
Reference illustration · may contain inaccuracies
