Guppies belong to the Poeciliidae family and are a beautiful and popular freshwater fish.
As well as their aesthetical appearance, what also makes them so popular is that they are peaceful fish, and very easy to care for.
This guide will teach you everything you need to know about Guppies, including behavior, tank and water conditions, diet, breeding plus much more.
Guppies Overview
Guppies Breed
Origin and Habitat
Although Guppies are native to South America, due to distribution they can now be found in many locations worldwide.
Guppies generally live in large schools in the wild to help protect themselves from predators.
Lifespan
Male and female Guppies have a lifespan of around two years in both the wild and captivity.
Guppies in captivity do have a greater chance of living longer than those in the wild due to the exposure of predators.
Guppies Behavior & Temperament
Guppies are fantastic fish because they are extremely peaceful.
The only exception to this is if the tank is too small or during feeding times where they can become aggressive and assert dominance over other fish.
Guppies are are fast and active swimmers who generally swim around in groups where they feel more safe. You’ll often see them chasing one another, or exploring the tank.
Most of their time is spent near the surface of the water, although they do also enjoy open spaces.
That being said, you’ll often see them hiding amongst plants or in caves if the yfeel threatened.
Size
How big do guppies grow?
- Male Guppies: 1 ⅛ inches long.
- Female Guppies: 2 ⅛ inches long.
Appearance
What makes Guppies so popular is their beautiful appearance. The stand out feature of these fish is the the large fan-shaped fin.
Along with a variety of patterns, colors and tail lengths, this species makes a great addition to your tank.
Let’s take a look at the colors and markings in greater detail in the next section.
Colors and Markings
A huge variety of patterns and colors are available when it comes to Guppies.
Guppies also come with a variety of tail lengths and shapes. Some have short tails, whilst others have long beautiful flowing tails.
Typical colors include black, orange, red, blue, pink, purple and green in either two or three-toned.
The patterned stripes and spots are found on the tail, fins and body.
You’ll notice that guppies can change in color for the following reasons:
- When stressed, Guppies become pale in color.
- Female Guppies: Become more pale when breeding.
- Male Guppies: Change to a brighter color when looking for a mate.
Gender Differences
Male guppies generally have a more vibrant color, and are around an inch smaller than females.
The brown coloration of a female means they are not as vibrant. Female guppies are also larger and have a more rounded than males.
The other difference between a male and a female guppy is the anal fin. The anal fin is thin and long in a male guppy. A female anal fin is larger and more fan shaped.
Guppy Care
Tank Size
As guppies only grow to around 2 inches, you will not need a huge tank.
You could get away with a tank as little as 5 gallons if you only had a trio of guppies.
A small tank is an issue for two reasons. Firstly, guppies reproduce quickly, and second, guppies are extremely active and love plenty of space to swim around.
For these reasons, we would recommend a 10 or even a 20 gallon tank to ensure your guppies are happy and healthy.
How Many Guppies Per Tank?
This will all depend on the size of the aquarium. In general, three guppies can be kept together in a 5-10 gallon tank, with a ratio of one male for every two to three females.
Water Conditions
The key to success with guppies is to replicate their natural environment which is South American warm waters.
That being said, guppies do adapt very well to a wide range range of temperatures. This means that it is not difficult, and you do not have to be exact when it comes to water conditions.
Here are our recommendations:
- Water temperature: 64°F to 84°F (Mid-70s is ideal)
- pH level: 7.5 to 8.0
- Water hardness: 8 to 12 dGH
It’s advised to invest in a good test kit to allow you to monitor water conditions.
What To Put Inside The Tank
Filtration
To prevent a rise in nitrate and ammonia levels, it’s best to use a reliable filtration system inside of your guppy tank.
The more fish you have in the tank, the more waste they are going to produce. This is why filtration is important.
Heater
The water temperature of a Guppy tank needs to be a consistent 64°F to 84°F. Many problems can occur if there is too much fluctuation with the temperature.
Substrate
Sand is one of the best and safest options of substrate to use in a guppy tank. Sand is small enough to not be ingested or harm the guppies.
Decorations
Guppies are not very picky when it comes to decorations which you can get creative and decorate your tank as you wish.
The only thing to be aware of is to check for anything that is going to be of any harm to your fish such as sharp edges.
Plants
Not only do plants look great and add a natural feel to your tank, they also provide a hiding place for Guppies to retreat if they feel scared or threatened.
Some great examples of plants you can use are aquatic fern or Java moss.
Lighting
When it comes to lighting, al that is required is standard aquarium lights put on a timer to replicate a natural day and night cycle.
Another option is to place the tank near a window, but this isn’t always possible for everybody.
Common Diseases
Here are some of the common diseases that guppies are prone to.
Ich
A very common disease caused by a parasite called Ichthyophthirius multifiliis that affects all freshwater fish where white spots appear on the body.
Protozoan Disease
A disease caused by a protozoan parasite called Tetrahymena sp that is common to guppies, it is also referred to as “guppy disease”.
Some of the symptoms of protozoan disease include breathing problems, loss of appetite and excess slime.
Two causes of this disease are the water not being warm enough or poor quality water.
Fin Rot
A bacterial infection caused by overcrowding, inconsistent water parameters and stress.
You’ll see the symptoms on the fins where they become shortened, ragged, frayed and discolored.
Tank Mates
Although guppies are very friendly fish, the main thing to be concerned about when thinking of potential tank mates is the size of the guppy.
Being on the small side means they can be a food source for larger and more aggressive fish.
The best option is to keep guppies in a tank with fish that are of a similar size or smaller, who are also peaceful fish.
Another thing to take into consideration is that guppies swim near the top of the tank. To avoid overcrowding at the top of the tank, it’s best to pair with fish that swim at the bottom or middle of the tank.
Here are our recommendations:
- Molly fish
- Neon Tetra
- Zebra Danios
- Ghost Shrimp
- Platy Fish
- Cory Catfish
- African Dwarf Frog
- Cardinal tetras
- Kuhli loaches
- Swordtail Fish
- Rummy nose tetras
- Harlequin rasboras
Food & Diet
Their diet should replicate how they would naturally eat in the wild as closely as possible to ensure they receive a variety of nutrients.
This would be a mix of insect larvae, invertebrates, algae and fish flakes, as well as frozen foods such as bloodworms.
How Often Do Guppies Need to Be Fed?
It’s east to over feed Guppies because they have a habit of begging for food.
Over feeding them can lead to health issues such as constipation. To prevent this, set a feeding schedule for twice a day.
Each feeding should provide as much food as they can eat within one minute. Any uneaten food should be removed from the tank.
Breeding
Guppies are extremely easy to breed, which makes them great for even beginner aquarists. Here are some steps you can take to successfully breed guppies.
- Use a 10-gallon tank with caves, low-floating plants and a gentle filter. For best results, the water temperature should be around 79ºF.
- Place one male and up to three females into the newly created breeding tank where the male will breed with the females.
- The sign to look out for is a dark mark on the abdomen of the female guppy which means she is pregnant. The non-pregnant females along with the male should be removed from the tank.
- The pregnant female should be fed three to five meals per day, ensuring each meal is highly nutritious. You will need to wait between 26 and 31 days for the gestation period.
- To prevent any harm to the fry, the female should be removed from the breeding tank after she gives birth, as they are know for eating their fry.
Looking After the Guppy Fry
- Feed them brine shrimp and fish flakes.
- Every three days, change around 40% of the water.
- At around 6 weeks old, the fry will be ready to join the regular tank.
GuppiesConclusion
Guppies are peaceful, easy to take care of and make the perfect fish for beginner aquarists.
Just make sure you have the correct tank setup to keep them healthy, and pair them with ideal tank mates that are not going to eat them.
Do you own guppies? Let us know your experience with this beautiful fish in the comments section below.
