Guppy

Care at a glance

Overview

Guppies are peaceful and social and look best in a group. They favor the middle and upper water and are happy in a calm community. Keep the pH from about 6.8 to 7.8 across that broad temperature range. They eat almost anything, including quality flake, micro pellets, and frozen daphnia or brine shrimp. They breed so easily that a mixed-sex group will produce fry constantly, so plan for the numbers or keep males only. More females than males reduces pestering.

In the wild

Guppies are native to warm fresh waters in Venezuela and the Guianas, in rivers, streams, and ponds with lots of plants. The water is warm and tends toward neutral or slightly alkaline. They are very adaptable, so a planted tank with neutral to slightly hard water and a temperature anywhere from the upper teens to upper 20s C keeps them happy.

Good to know

Poecilia reticulata is a livebearer in the family Poeciliidae. Adults stay small, with females reaching about 6 cm and males smaller but more colorful. They give birth to live, free-swimming young, and females can store sperm to deliver several broods from one mating. They are hardy and short-lived, often around two years.

Did you know

Wild guppy looks track their predators. In streams full of predators the fish stay smaller and drabber to avoid being seen, while in safer streams they grow brighter with bigger fins to win mates. This has made them one of the most studied fish in evolution research.

Related species

• 

  Cauca molly

  Poecilia caucana

  2.4 in (6 cm)16 gal (60 L)77–86°F (25–30°C)

• 

  Melanzona Guppy

  Poecilia parae

  2 in (5 cm)15 gal (55 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Endler's livebearer

  Poecilia wingei

  1.6 in (4 cm)5 gal (20 L)72–86°F (22–30°C)
• Amazon molly

  Poecilia formosa

  3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)

• 

  Gill's molly

  Poecilia gillii

  3.9 in (10 cm)26 gal (100 L)72–86°F (22–30°C)

• 

  Shortfin molly

  Poecilia mexicana

  4.3 in (11 cm)32 gal (120 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)