For the beginner fish keeper, the Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) has to be a ground zero fish species that everyone is keen to start with.
They are certainly one of the most popular and well-loved fish for aquariums the world over. Colorful, peaceful, and simple to care for, these fish are often the gateway fish for would-be enthusiasts that move on to more advanced and larger species.
Guppies are freshwater fish of a tropical nature that hails from South America, and they come in a huge, wildly varied number or variants that top around 300.
They can also be known as the Millions Fish or Rainbow Fish. The former is because they are prolific reproducers, and the latter because they come in a vast array of shades and patterns.
They also display a range of fin and tails shapes which are elaborate and vividly colored. It’s no surprise why they are so popular! They look like a fish made to party and dance the night away, shimmying their expansive tail fins like a full skirt at a Latin dance show. Yes, they really are that epic.
So eclectic are the looks of Guppies after decades of selective breeding; there is now pretty much every shade in the spectrum, with an accompanying variety of fin shapes to match. If you can imagine what you want, you can probably find it.
Guppy Behavior
Guppies are peaceful species of fish. You’re not likely to find Guppies lurking down a dark alley in your tank looking for trouble or trying to mug anyone else with fins.
That being said, they may occasionally nip the fins of fish with elaborately long ones, although that would be rare. But they won’t be wilfully aggressive or territorial in the tank.
They like to inhabit the middle and upper layers of tanks and will easily get along with just about anything you can throw at them. Ideally, they work best in a ratio of 2 females per male, so you need to think trio or triads when it comes to selecting how many you wish to accommodate.
Guppies will school for the most part, but they don’t do that exclusively, and you may see some lone rangers in the tank who just want to do a Garbo and be ‘left alone.’
They are sunny little fish who are pleasant to watch as they interact in the tank. They have an admirable flair with their caudal fin that makes them exceptionally beautiful for such an easy to care for fish.
It’s no wonder that beginners are always so enthused that Guppies are on the list for newbies. They look flashy, come in boundless color options and behave themselves 99% of the time. They are ticking all those boxes!
Guppy Lifespan
Guppies will generally live for around 2 years if kept in a healthy environment. Although they are quite hardy by nature, they will still need to have their needs met and be kept in a landscape that mimics their wild habitat.
We will discuss more on tank requirements a little later in this article.
Guppy Appearance
Where do we start with these little fellas? Guppies come in every color imaginable and have a real flair appeal to the observer.
Their caudal fins as full, fanned out, deeply pigmented, and resemble a full ballroom skirt on its side. If you picture a Guppy in an upright position (humor us here), it would half resemble a Latin dancer in a dress made for sweeping the dance floor. If it could, it would have maracas in its pectoral fins. It really is that fantastic.
They are tiny little things resembling minnows in their body shape. Reaching anywhere from 0.6 – 2.4 inches depending on your variety, the majority available in the trade are on the more diminutive side.
This is why in addition to their flashy good looks, Guppies make great starter fish. They look the part, add vibrancy and color, but they also don’t need a huge tank to call home.
Guppies are also sexually dimorphic, with females looking less colorful but being much larger in size. They are really easy to tell apart, which makes keeping them in the appropriate ratios simple to do.
When it comes to coloring, Guppies are usually quite bland on the first half of the body. Silvery grey or metallic is the most typical but be aware they can be in every color, including albino and black. But the top and upper portions of the body are usually paler or drabber. The real color action begins in the back half or rear of the body with spectacular color variations on the tail fin, dorsal fin, and anal fins.
They can be found in solid configurations, patterned, or a mixture of both. Some of the most typical patterns for Guppies include the following:
TUXEDO: This arrangement has the front and back half of the fish with two completely different colors.
SNAKESKIN: As you might infer, a snakeskin pattern with chain links like on a fence and smaller circular patterns.
COBRA: How is a cobra different from a snakeskin, you might ask? After all, a cobra is a snake! This type of pattern is more vertical striping with the smaller circular patterns visible on the snakeskin type.
Caudal fins can have multiple shapes too. Some of the most prevalent types include:
- Fan-shaped
- Triangulated
- Flag shaped (rectangular)
- Sword-shaped in three ways: single, double, top, or bottom swords
- Spade shaped
- Spear amped
- Lyretails
- Rounded, similar to a Mollie
Finally, caudal fins can also have a variety of patterns too! They range from:
- Solid
- Mosaic (irregularly shaped spots that connect)
- Leopard (just like the big cat)
- Lace (intricate lacy details not unlike a webbed pattern)
- Grass, another way to describe tiny dot points
Their dorsal fins can be equally elaborate with color and pattern, so they really do look like a showy fish for something so small.
Guppy Habitat And Tank Requirements
Being a freshwater fish that is quite hardy, Guppies are amongst one of the easiest fish species to keep. There is a wide range of conditions they will tolerate, but it’s still important that you do aim to meet their needs for whatever variety you have.
Running a complete nitrogen cycle is important before inviting any aquatic visitors into your tank to ensure the water conditions are going to adequately serve their needs.
Tank Conditions
When you think of the perfect setup for Guppies, you’ll want to consider using a substrate of super fine sand. It’s the easiest of all substrates to handle and offers the least amount of risk when it comes to the potential for injury to your fish.
Gravel, crushed coral, and other rocky substrates will work, too but be advised that your fish can get scratches or scrapes if they rub up against it the wrong way.
Ideally, you’ll want to use a power filter which will ensure that you have clean water, although Guppies are not the messiest fish and, in many cases, won’t warrant having one. The point is that if you are new to this hobby, you should have a filter because you’re less likely to know the signs of poor condition, and you shouldn’t really start off a hobby being on the back foot.
Lighting is an optional extra, as Guppies aren’t particularly fussy about their environment in this respect. They will be happy enough with a regular circadian rhythm if you have a window in the room you house your aquarium in. No extra effort is required. Did we say that Guppies were low maintenance?
When it comes to plant life, you can go as wild or as minimalist as you like. Guppies aren’t too particular on this front either. They enjoy hiding in dense vegetation because they are often preyed upon and need cover to conceal themselves.
Java Fern, Java Moss, Hornwort, and Watersprite all work incredibly well with these fish and, like the Guppies, are not difficult to cultivate and keep healthy. Win-win!
Your Guppies will thank you as well as feel more secure if they have plenty of hiding places to allow them to feel safe as a predated fish species: the denser, the better for a happy community of Guppies.
Rocks, driftwood, caves, and the other usual suspects for decor will nicely round out a landscape your Guppies will enjoy and thrive in.
Water changes will need to be weekly and at least 25% changed over.
Water conditions should be noted and maintained as follows:
- pH of 7.0 – 7.2
- Water hardness between 8 – 12 dGH
- Temperature between 72 – 84ºF (22 – 29ºC)
- Lighting should be bright but also dependent on the vegetation included
Tank Size
The minimum tank size for a Guppy is 1 gallon per fish, but as we mentioned earlier, they should be in trios of 2 females for every male you see fit to house.
Therefore, it is suggested to err on the side of extra space and say 4 gallons for every trio, and any additional add another gallon per fish.
But keep them in trios to keep the community happy and healthy with less friction and harassment for the females. This is always a good thing.
Choosing Tank Mates For Guppies
Guppies love being with their own kind. As mentioned earlier, they should be in groups of three, so you shouldn’t be having a Guppy on its own in the first place as a considerate caretaker.
They will also be a more exuberant bunch when kept in larger groups, so it’s worth your while to keep a good-sized group to bring out the best in their temperament.
When it comes to matching them up with other species, think of similarly sized and suitable peaceful species that will coexist harmoniously. Add in some bottom dwellers if you want a clean tank that won’t interfere with these mid-high level active swimmers too.
Some good suggestions of fish to keep alongside your Guppies include:
- Plates
- Mollies
- Swordtail Fish
- Neon Tetras
- Bristlenose Pleco
- Cory Catfish
- African Dwarf Frog
- Ghost Shrimp
- Gouramis
How To Feed Guppies
Guppies are notoriously easy to feed. These freshwater fish are omnivorous by nature and will enjoy eating just about anything you put in front of them.
It should be noted, however, that these fish are particularly useful at consuming large quantities of mosquito larvae! In fact, they have been utilized somewhat controversially in some countries as a means to reduce mosquitos and the diseases they carry. It hasn’t always been successful, but this should not put you off treating your Guppies to their favorite food source!
Flakes and pellets are fine, but you should add in high protein snacks like bloodworms, insect larvae, brine shrimp, and similar foods in either a frozen or live format.
How To Breed Guppies
Even if you never had the intention of breeding fish at home, if you’ve got Guppies, you can expect to become a fish breeder whether you like it or not!
Guppies are livebearers who will happily spawn within their trio without any effort on your part. These types of fish will birth fully formed, free-swimming fry, but they don’t have a lot of parenting skills.
The eggs develop in the womb after the male inseminates the female at the appropriate time. This can take around 21 – 40 days, depending on your Guppy variety. One remarkable fact about this fish is that the female can store sperm once fertilized for up to three months and hatch numerous broods from one insemination. That’s reproductive efficiency at work!
If you wish to keep the fry, you’re better off having them in a separate tank with hiding areas. Both parents and other community fish will snack on Guppy fry quite happily otherwise.
Are Guppies A Good Idea For Your Aquarium?
The bottom line on Guppies is that they are a no-brainer for the novice hobbyist. Their wildly colorful varieties mean you can really achieve a dazzling tank community that won’t break the bank in terms of care and tank requirements. And their personable nature, along with easy feeding choices, will also give you a relatively stress-free experience caring for fish if it’s your first time.
So go on and get some Guppies! Enjoy their flowing tail fins, vibrant hues, and positive presence. We’re sure you won’t just settle for a few and suspect you’ll end up with a growing collection of colors and types.
