Easy

Guppy

By The Aquarium Calculators Editorial Team ·

Poecilia reticulata

Complete Guppy care guide covering omnivore diet requirements, peaceful temperament, minimum 10 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Easy.

Guppy

Quick Answer

Guppies (Poecilia reticulata), also known as the millionfish, are tiny, extremely hardy freshwater livebearers native to South America. It requires a minimum 10 Gallons aquarium with a pH of 7.0 - 8.0 and temperature range of 22-28°C. This omnivore occupies the top/middle zone and makes an excellent addition to community setups.

Intro

Guppies (Poecilia reticulata), also known as the millionfish, are tiny, extremely hardy freshwater livebearers native to South America. Renowned for their colorful active swimming, they are ideal starter fish for beginners and have a legendary ability to reproduce rapidly.

Setup

A group of guppies can thrive in a tank as small as 10 gallons. They prefer hard, slightly alkaline water with a pH between 7.0 and 8.0. Keep a good amount of floating plants (like Guppy Grass or Hornwort) to provide shelter for newborn fry.

Feeding

Guppies are highly active and require high-energy omnivore diets. Feed them flake foods, crushed pellets, and freeze-dried daphnia or bloodworms. Algae wafers are also appreciated as they like grazing on biofilms.

Compatibility

Guppies are exceptionally peaceful and get along with almost all other peaceful community fish. Avoid pairing them with aggressive fin-nippers, like Tiger Barbs, who might damage the males' long, flowing tail fins.

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Tank Position
Top/Middle
Water Temp
22-28°C
Adult Size
See profile
Water pH
7.0 - 8.0

Species Characteristics

Adult Size
Lifespan
Growth Rate
moderate
Tank Compatibility
Community compatible
Indoor Aquarium
Yes

Water Parameters

Water Temperature
Humidity
Water pH

Tank Lighting

Tank Lighting
Standard lighting
Light Hours
N/A
Intensity
moderate

Feeding & Diet

Diet Type
Diet: Omnivore
Feeding Schedule
N/A
Live Food Options
N/A

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Guppies should be kept together?
Maintain a group of 4 to 6 individuals in a tank of at least 10 gallons (38 liters) with a footprint of 20x10 inches (50x25 cm). Guppies (Poecilia reticulata) are social livebearers; groups under 4 cause stress and reduced breeding. Maintain a ratio of 2-3 females per male to prevent over-aggressive male courting. For a male-only display, keep 5-6 males. Provide dense planting (Java moss, Hornwort) for fry survival. Tank length should exceed 20 inches (50 cm) for their active swimming. Avoid large tank mates that will prey on fry.
What are the exact water parameters for Guppies?
Target pH 7.0 - 8.0, General Hardness 8 - 15 dGH, Carbonate Hardness 6 - 12 dKH, Total Dissolved Solids 150 - 400 ppm, Electrical Conductivity 300 - 800 μS/cm, and temperature 72°F - 82°F (22°C - 28°C). They prefer hard, alkaline water; soft water (dGH <4) causes clamped fins and reduced breeding. Maintain nitrates below 20 ppm with weekly 20% water changes. Use a sponge or HOB filter with gentle flow. Add crushed coral to increase hardness if needed. Avoid pH crashes below 6.5.
What is the dietary and medication protocol for Guppies?
They are omnivores requiring 40% protein, 10% fat, 50% plant matter. Feed high-quality flakes, micro-pellets, frozen brine shrimp, daphnia, and spirulina powder twice daily. Supplement with blanched spinach. Medication alert: Tolerate copper (0.2 mg/L) and formalin. Praziquantel is safe. Salt baths up to 5 ppt treat external parasites. Quarantine with methylene blue for 7 days. They are susceptible to camallanus worms; treat with levamisole (2 mg/L).
How to breed Guppies with step-by-step triggers?
No special triggers needed; they breed prolifically. Maintain temperature at 78°F (25.5°C), pH 7.5, and provide dense java moss. Females give birth to 20-60 live fry every 28-30 days after 4-week gestation. Fry are 0.2 inches (5 mm) and accept crushed flakes and baby brine shrimp immediately. Remove adults to prevent cannibalism, or provide dense moss. Separate males and females to control population. Cull deformed fry (bent spines, stunted growth) to maintain genetic health.