Guppies! The Ultimate Guide to Happy Guppy Pets

A few fish can be considered the cornerstone fishes of the aquarium hobby, and the guppy is one of them. Advances in transportation and packing have now given hobbyists from around the world access to some really exotic and fragile fish. However, this wasn’t always the case and during the early days of the hobby, transporting fish across large distances was near impossible. There were just a handful of fish such as the guppy, that could be shipped alive in those days. This ability would prove instrumental in the aquarium hobby going mainstream, which led to a massive spike in interest in fish keeping. This, in turn, helped shape the hobby into being much more accessible to the everyday person. Without the guppy, the aquarium hobby would have most probably stayed as a very niche pursuit.

All the things that made the guppy so great all those years ago are true today as well. It is one of the hardiest fish out there, which makes it great for beginners. This doesn’t mean that the guppy isn’t interesting enough for the more advanced hobbyists. Despite my years of experience keeping fish, some of my favourite aquariums are still the ones with guppies in them. They are very versatile, and I believe that anyone even remotely interested in the aquarium hobby should keep guppies at least once in their lives.

At a Glance

Natural Habitat

The guppy originally comes from the tropical freshwater bodies of South America, which includes the countries Surinam, Guyana, and Venezuela, as well as the Caribbean Islands of Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. The guppy is one of those species that have been impacted a lot by the aquarium industry, and its natural habitat is far more expansive these days. These fish can now be found in tropical lakes and rivers around the world on every continent except for Antarctica, where they have established stable populations.

The guppies found in the hobby are almost extensively captive-bred. There are two main reasons for this

• The ease with which they can be bred
• To bring out stunning colours and patterns that are a lot more subdued in the wild guppy

As for their natural habitat, there is no specific type of habitat that these fish tend to favour. They can be found in still waters, fast flowing streams, and everything in between. As long as the water is of decent quality and there is food, these fish will adapt.

Physical Description Of Guppy

The guppy shows a huge variance in the way it looks. This is because of how extensively and for how long this fish has been bred in captivity.  They are small fish that stay around the 2 inch or 5 cm mark. They have long and slender bodies. This is a species that shows sexual dimorphism – the males and females have distinct physical characteristics. Males tend to be smaller but more colourful, with spectacular tail fins, while females tend to be girthier and longer but with slightly muted colouration and a less exuberant tail fin.

The exact colouration tends to vary quite a bit as well. The common varieties usually have a silvery sheen to their body with subtle hues of yellow and orange, depending on the lighting. The tails are generally fan-like with splotches of various brilliant colours. The fancier varieties can come in all types of shapes and colours. Even jumbo varieties of guppies are available these days and these can grow to a maximum size of 3 inches or 7.6 cm.

Guppy Behaviour and Temperament

Guppies are among the most peaceful fish in the aquarium hobby. They are so docile that they won’t even try to defend themselves if they are attacked by other fish. This is another reason why they are so great for beginners. This also makes them a great option for community tanks. Some individuals might chase after one another, but this is usually harmless fun.

Guppy Tank Mates

Guppies are small and docile. They aren’t very fast when it comes to swimming either. This is particularly true for the fancier varieties. While making them adorable, all these qualities make them an easy target for aggressive fish. For this reason, tankmates should be chosen very carefully. You could always keep a guppy-only tank. However, if you are looking for variety, there are plenty of choices. Ideally, tankmates for the guppy are fish of a similar size that are non-aggressive. Some of the best options that I have had a lot of success with include

• Neon Tetras
• Cardinal Tetras
• Zebra Danios
• Rummy Nose Tetras
• Mollies
• Platies
• Endler’s Livebearers (yes, they are a different fish. More on them later)
• Harlequin Rasboras
• Cory Catfish
• Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish
• White Cloud Mountain Minnow
• Otocinclus Catfish
• Kuhli Loach
• Swordtails
• Sparkling Gourami
• Powder Blue Gourami
• Invertebrates like Nerrite Snails and Cherry Shrimps

Guppy Aquarium Setup

Guppies are very adaptable and low-maintenance. They aren’t picky at all when it comes to the tank setup. As long as a few basic requirements are met, these fish will do well in a wide range of tank setups. 

Let’s start with the tank size. These are small fish and do not require a massive tank. However, they should not be kept in bowls or small containers. They may survive in these confined spaces, but they will never be happy and healthy in such conditions. I would recommend at least a 15-gallon tank for a group of six which is the bare minimum for these social fish. A 30-gallon tank is even better as you can keep a larger group.

A soft dark substrate brings out their colouration the best. However, you can pretty much choose any substrate as long as it does not leech anything harmful. Live plants also make guppies more playful. If live plants aren’t your cup of tea, artificial plants will also do the trick.

As for other forms of decor, use hard decor elements sparingly.

For the filtration, you do not need anything fancy. A simple sponge filter or any other type of filter that has a rating of 1.5 times the gallons of water in the tank will be good enough.

Ideal Guppy Water Parameters

Guppies are very hardy and can tolerate a wide range of water parameters and fluctuations. However, if you want your guppies to live a long and happy life then keeping conditions as stable as possible within the ideal range, which is mentioned below, is the way to go

• Temperature: 72°F to 82° or 22°C to 28°C
• pH: 6.8 to 7.8
• Hardness: 8-12 dGH

Guppy Aquarium Cycling & Maintenance

Cycling a guppy tank is an important part of ensuring the well-being of these fish. It is the process of establishing colonies of beneficial bacteria that breakdown waste products into relatively harmless compounds that can be kept in check with a simple water change.

The quickest method of cycling any aquarium is by using some seeding material from an already cycled tank. This can be anything from used filter media to pieces of decor, or even bits of the substrate. Just make sure that the tank you are getting these seeding materials from does not have any sick specimens, as the disease can spread to your guppy tank.

If you do not have access to an already cycled tank, then the cycling process will take longer. The steps for cycling the tanks will stay the same for either option, and they are as follows

1. Start by setting up the tank on a sturdy and stable surface. Wipe the walls with a clean rag that has been moistened with water. Do not use any chemicals. 
2. Fill the tank with water. Add the decor, and once everything settles down, connect the filtration system.
3. Add the seeding material. Add some fish food. If you do not have any seeding material, add the fish food every 2-3 days until the tank is cycled.
4. Get a testing kit that measures for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates
5. Test the water every 2-3 days. Initially, there will be a lot of ammonia but no nitrites and nitrates. Then the ammonia levels will start dropping, and nitrites will rise. Eventually, there won’t be any ammonia, and the nitrites will reach its maximum level. Eventually, nitrites will also start to drop, and nitrates will start increasing.
6. Once no more ammonia and nitrites are detected, and only nitrates are present, do a partial water change of 25%. 
7. Keep testing. If there are no sudden spikes in ammonia or nitrites, it is now safe to add the fish
   

Maintenance of a guppy tank is pretty straightforward. Test the tank once every week. As soon as the nitrate levels start approaching 10 ppm, do a partial water change. If you cannot keep testing the water, then do a partial water change once every 2-3 weeks. Change half of the filter media every six months. 

Never replace all the filter media at once, as that will cause a majority of the beneficial bacteria colonies to get depleted. If there is any uneaten food after a minute of feeding or if one of the fish dies, then remove them as soon as possible.

Aquascaping A Guppy Fish Tank

Aquascaping for guppies is very simple, like everything else about this fish. Aquascaping is not compulsory either but since our topic of discussion is happy guppies, a properly aquascaped tank is something these fish thrive in.

I have found softscaping to give the best results. Softscaping involves decorating the tank with live plants. For the guppies, plants with small leaves that produce a lush appearance make for a great combo. I prefer hardy plants so that the entire aquarium setup stays low maintenance.

You can take the classic route of dividing the aquarium into foreground, midground, and background. The front one-third is the foreground and choose plants that stay short for this. 

In the midground, that is, the portion behind the foreground, try something that is different somehow to provide some contrast. This could be a plant with a slightly different colour or something with uniquely shaped leaves.

The background is the final one-third of the aquarium, right up to the back wall of the aquarium. Here you will need plants that grow tall, ideally as tall as the water level.

If you do not want to keep things this organised, then you can do the planting in a random fashion. The chaotic appearance that will eventually ensue works well with guppies. Just make sure to leave open spaces for these fish to swim. A final option is artificial plants.

Hardscaping a Guppy Tank

While a lush green aquarium with lively guppies swimming about is a sight to behold, hardscaping can be quite visually striking as well.

Recreating a river bottom with pebbles and a few pieces of wood is a great way to go but you don’t have to be limited by just this option. The adaptability of these fish means that your creativity is the limit. Even though people have had success keeping them in a bare tank with nothing else, I wouldn’t recommend this as the guppies can feel insecure and can get spooked easily. This isn’t too great for their long-term health.

A combination of hardscape and softscape is also a good idea. Combining pebbles and bogwood or driftwood with plants that do not need a substrate will get you that green look without all the hassles of a full-fledged planted aquarium.

Best Aquarium Plants for Guppy

As I mentioned earlier, I am not in favour of keeping demanding plants with guppies. The good news is that you will still be spoilt for choice. Here are some of the best plants for guppies, in my opinion. All these plants require only moderate lighting and they do not need a dedicated CO₂ unit.

• Hornwort
  This is one of the most popular and readily available plants for guppies. Its thin needle-shaped leaves pairs well with guppies. These are extremely hardy plants that can tolerate a wide range of water parameters, including the ideal range for guppies. Plant them in the background, and every time there is a new shoot, or it grows too tall, just cut the shoot or the top half and plant it to get a new plant. Once I have gotten a nice layer of these plants, I trim them every two weeks to keep things tidy. One final piece of advice would be to get this plant from a local store, as they do not do too well in shipping.
  
• Anacharis or Brazilian Waterweed
  This is another fast-growing and easy-to-care-for option. It offers that lush green look very quickly. In fact, this is one of those plants that require active pruning once every 10 days. Otherwise, it will just take over the entire aquarium to the point where the flow of water will be restricted. As long as you are up for the extra work, this is an excellent option for a background plant.
  
• Moss Balls
  This is a plant that does not require a substrate and can simply be plopped anywhere in the aquarium. It can also be used as a centrepiece plant. If going the hardscape route, then place multiple moss balls around the tank to create a rather sophisticated look. One thing to keep in mind with this plant is that it has been recently banned in some places. So, check your local laws before getting them.

• Java Moss
  Almost every hobbyist I have met seems to enjoy planted aquariums that have a nice carpet of plants. The Java Moss is the easiest way to get that look. Guppies look particularly stunning against these plants in the foreground. They are hardy, but their rate of growth is a little on the slower side. A little patience is needed to get that lush, carpeted look.

• Java Fern
  This is another plant that comes from the same region as the Java Moss and shares similar care requirements. A key difference is that it grows more in the vertical direction. It, too, has a slower rate of growth and makes for a great midground option.

• Vallisneria
  If you are one of those people who has previously tried and failed at creating that lush green look in an aquarium, or you just want to take the easiest route to get there, then the Vallisneria is the plant for you. You can keep just this plant, and it will fill the tank up in no time. Planting them along the background and regularly pruning them will give them a neater look.

• Amazon Sword
  This is a versatile and hardy option that can be used as both a background plant and a centrepiece plant. It can also be planted in a gravel substrate. Even though I prefer plants with small and slender leaves for the guppy, the Amazon Sword is an exception to that. It offers a nice hiding place for the guppies. I also use these plants to hide filter intakes to create a really clean look in the aquarium.

A few other good options to look at include Cryptocoryne lutea, Dwarf Sagittaria, Anubias, and Dwarf Aquarium Lily

Guppy Diet and Feeding

Guppies are not fussy about feeding and readily accept most fish food. However, if you want your guppies to be happy and live long, then you need to feed them properly. Your safest bet is to choose high-quality, commercially available fish food. Both flakes and pellets are readily accepted by guppies. As for the type of fish food, you have two choices

• A balanced option that has equal parts of protein and vegetable matter
• A combination of high-protein fish food and vegetable-rich fish food

If you want to take things a step further, then occasionally feed them natural food such as insect larvae and small worms. Just make sure to get them from a trusted source to avoid the introduction of any infection or parasites.

Guppies will also feed on algae that grow naturally in the aquarium.

Feeding Frequency

How often the guppies are fed is an equally important part of the equation. These fish are flexible, but it is advisable to feed them in small portions three to four times a day. Feed them just enough food that they can finish off in less than a minute.

Guppy Health Problems & Disease

Guppies are among the hardiest freshwater fishes out there, but they aren’t invincible. If good water quality is maintained and the guppies are properly fed, they will generally stay healthy. It is still worth knowing about some of the common diseases that affect these fish

Guppy Disease
Yes, there is a disease named after this fish. Even though it doesn’t only affect guppies, it is primarily associated with them. It is caused by a Protozoan and usually occurs in tanks where the temperature gets too low, or there are massive fluctuations in temperature

• Treatment: Add a heater to stabilise the temperature. Copper medication can help cure affected fish
• Prevention: Use a heater to ensure that the temperature is stable

Fin Rot

As the name suggests, the fins start to rot in affected guppies. There can be multiple causes for this. The first is ammonia burns. It can also be caused by a bacterial infection. Finally, it can be caused by a fungal infection that usually takes place after the fins of the guppy have been nipped by other fish.

• Treatment: Separate the sick fish into a hospital tank. Try antibiotics. If they do not work, try any anti-fungal medication available at fish stores. This should do the trick.
• Prevention: Keep ammonia levels at zero. Ensure that the water quality is high. If any of the tankmates show fin-nipping behaviour, remove them from the guppy tank.

Ich and Ick

This is one of the most common diseases that can affect guppies. Thankfully, it isn’t a serious condition and can be easily cured. Common symptoms include the fish rubbing their bodies against aquarium decor and losing appetite.

• Treatment: Increase the water temperature to about 80°F or 27°C. Add a teaspoon of aquarium salt for every gallon of water in the tank. Start reducing the temperature slowly after 5 days. Once the temperature is back to normal, do a 75% water change.
• Prevention: Quarantine any new addition to the tank before introducing them to the tank and maintain good water quality.
  

Columnaris

Even though this can be mistaken as a fungal infection, it is actually caused by a bacterium. It leads to white spots near the mouth and the belly of the fish. Eventually, the fish will start having trouble swimming.

• Treatment: Start with a good antibiotic. Supplement this with some aquarium salt. Do regular water changes as well.
• Prevention: Avoid over-stocking – putting too many fish in the aquarium. Also, make sure that there is proper water circulation throughout the aquarium and that there are no dead spots.
  

Some other less common diseases that can afflict these diseases are Dropsy, Pop Eye, Swim Bladder Disorder, Gill Worms, Hole in The Head disease, and Fish TB.

Breeding Guppies – Pro Or Con?

Guppies, unlike most fish, do not lay eggs but give birth directly to young ones. They do this very easily as well. They will breed as long as there are male and female guppies in a tank. I have had these fish breed in shipping bags before they were even delivered to my home.

The ease with which these fish breed can be both a blessing and a curse. If you want to breed fish with minimal effort, then few options are as good as guppies. However, it can be a problem as these fish can breed out of control leading to overpopulation. Constant interbreeding will also lead to offspring that will be born with birth defects. 

An easy solution is only to keep only males or only females in the tank. Also, avoid breeding fancy guppies, as these fish are a result of constant selective breeding and are already genetically weaker.

If there are other fish in the tank, they will usually feed on most of the fry and act as a natural population control agent. If you want the fry to survive, separate them from the adults and place them in a grow-out tank. Feed them freshly hatched brine shrimp, commercially available fry food, or crushed fish food.

Are Endler’s Livebearers And Guppies The Same?

The guppy often gets confused with Endler’s Livebearers. Even though both fishes share a lot of commonalities including the fact that both are livebearers, they are two completely different species. Endler’s are just as great as guppies but not as readily available. Here are some of the ways these two fishes can be distinguished

Endler’s Livebearers are fish that just as interesting and easy to care as the guppy and are a fascinating alternative.

To Sum Things Up!

Guppies pack a lot of punch in a small package. Their undemanding nature makes them a great way to enter the hobby. They also have enough personality to keep experienced hobbyists interested. Being livebearers, they exhibit some unique characteristics, and their brilliant coloration can help you create a stunning aquarium that is easy on the wallets and in terms of the effort required.

Guppy FAQs

What Is A Guppy?

The guppy is a small and colourful freshwater fish that is very popular in the aquarium hobby

How Many Guppies In A 10 Gallon Tank?

Up to five male guppies can be kept in a 10-gallon tank. As for females two-three of them can be kept in a 10-gallon tank.

How Many Babies Do Guppies Have?

A female guppy can give birth to about 30 young at a time. Under good conditions, they can do this on a monthly basis.

Where To Buy Guppies?

Guppies are one of the most easily available fish and can be found at almost every fish store. The fancier varieties may not be as readily available though.

How To Breed Guppies?

Guppies are livebearers and will breed quite readily on their own as long as both genders are present in the tank.

What Will Eat Guppy Fry?

Any fish that has mouth large enough to fit the fry will eat them. Some fry might escape predation if there are good hiding spots. If you want the fry to survive then move them to a grow-out tank away from any adult fish.

What Is The Rarest Guppy?

There is no definitive answer for this as new varieties are bred on a very regular basis.

What Fish Can Live With Guppies In A 10 Gallon Tank?

Ideally, you should go for a larger tank if you want to keep other fish as well. If you really must, you can keep a couple of Neon Tetras with a couple of guppies in a 10-gallon tank.

How Big Do Guppies Get?

Males grow to a maximum size of 1.8 inches or 4.5 cm. Females can grow up to 2 inches or 5 cm. Some jumbo varieties can reach 3 inches or 7.6 cm.

Do Guppies Eat Their Babies?

It may be sad, but guppies do eat their own babies

Do Guppies Need A Heater?

While guppies can survive without a heater, it is recommended to keep one so that the temperature stays stable and diseases such as guppy disease can be avoided.