Guppy care guide
Also called: Fancy guppy, Common guppy, Millionfish
The guppy is a small, colorful livebearer and one of the easiest fish to start with. Males have big flowing tails, while females are larger and plainer. Keep guppies in hard, alkaline water and plan for babies, because they breed nonstop.
Guppies need a tank of at least 10 gallons (38 L), a group of 3 or more, and water at 22–27°C (72–81°F) with a pH of 7–8. They grow to about 5 cm (2 in) and are peaceful.
Plan a tank with guppiesSee all tank mates
Guppy quick facts
| Scientific name | Poecilia reticulata |
|---|---|
| Family | Poeciliidae |
| Origin | Northeastern South America and the southern Caribbean, such as Venezuela, Trinidad and the Guianas (aquarium guppies are captive-bred strains) |
| Adult size | 5 cm (2 in) |
| Minimum tank | 10 gallons (38 L) |
| Temperature | 22–27°C (72–81°F) |
| pH | 7–8 |
| Hardness (GH) | 8–20 dGH |
| Group size | 3 or more (shoaling fish) |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims at | Top |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Care level | Easy |
| Lifespan | 2–3 years |
| Safe with shrimp? | Mostly (eats baby shrimp) |
| Safe with plants? | Yes |
- Long fins attract fin nippers.
Tank setup
A 10 gallon (38 L) tank suits a trio of one male and two females, but 20 gallons (76 L) gives room for the fry that soon follow. Use gentle filtration, such as a sponge filter, because long-tailed males tire in strong current. Floating plants and moss give females and fry places to rest and hide.
How many guppies in a tank?
The smallest common tank that suits guppies is a 10 gallon. Here is roughly how many fit in each size when they are the only fish, based on adult size and waste output. Leave room if you want tank mates.
| Tank | Guppies (alone) |
|---|---|
| 3 gallon | Too small |
| 5 gallon | Too small |
| 10 gallon | 3–9 |
| 15 gallon | 3–14 |
| 20 gallon | 3–19 |
| 20 gallon long | 3–19 |
| 29 gallon | 3–28 |
| 40 gallon | 3–39 |
| 55 gallon | 3–53 |
| 75 gallon | 3–73 |
| 125 gallon | 3–121 |
What you need for guppies
Sized for a 10 gallon tank, the smallest common size that suits a group of 3 guppies. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.
Tank and equipment
- 10 gallon aquarium (tank or kit) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bigger tanks are more stable and easier for beginners. How to choose
- Adjustable heater, 50 W (opens Amazon in a new tab)Holds about 76 °F (24.5 °C) in a room at 65 °F (18 °C). How to choose
- Aquarium thermometer (opens Amazon in a new tab)Check it daily: heaters can fail stuck on or off. How to choose
- Sponge filter for 20 gallons (opens Amazon in a new tab)Gentle flow, about 20–40 GPH, suits guppies, which prefer slow water. Needs a small air pump. How to choose
- About 25 lb of aquarium gravel (opens Amazon in a new tab)Enough for a layer about 2 in (5 cm) deep. Smooth gravel suits most community fish. How to choose
- Water conditioner (dechlorinator) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. Seachem Prime is a popular, concentrated choice. How to choose
- Liquid test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Liquid kits are more accurate than strips. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the common choice. How to choose
- Gravel vacuum (siphon) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cleans the gravel and does the water change in one go. How to choose
- LED aquarium light, about 20 in long (opens Amazon in a new tab)Match the light to the tank length. Basic LEDs grow easy plants. How to choose
Food and extras for guppies
- Micro pellets or flakes for small fish (opens Amazon in a new tab)Small enough for tetras, rasboras and other nano fish.
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Water parameters
Keep guppies at 22–27 °C (72–81 °F), pH 7.0–8.0 and moderately hard water of about 8–20 dGH. Soft, acidic water is a common cause of poor health, so add minerals if your tap water is very soft. The cooler end of the range slows growth but tends to give a longer life. Change about 25% of the water each week.
Best tank mates for guppies
These popular species share guppies' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 78 good matches.
Cherry shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 20–27°C (68–81°F)
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Neon tetra
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 21–25°C (70–77°F)
Panda corydoras
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 21–25°C (70–77°F)
Bristlenose pleco
12 cm (4.7 in) · 22–26°C (72–79°F)
Bronze corydoras
7 cm (2.8 in) · 21–26°C (70–79°F)
Assassin snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Ramshorn snail
2 cm (0.8 in) · 21–27°C (70–81°F)
Avoid keeping guppies with
- Betta fish: Betta fish tends to attack colourful, long-finned fish like guppies, mistaking them for rivals.
- Oscar: Oscar can eat guppies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Tiger barb: Tiger barb is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of guppies.
- Bala shark: Bala shark can eat guppies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful guppies.
- Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful guppies.
Feeding
Guppies eat almost anything. Feed a quality flake or micro pellet once or twice a day, only what they finish in about a minute. Add small frozen or live foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia and bloodworm a few times a week. Fry need three to five tiny meals a day.
Behavior
A peaceful, active fish that spends most of its time near the surface and in the middle of the tank. Males court females almost nonstop, so keep two or three females per male, or keep males only. The long tails of fancy males attract fin nippers such as tiger barbs, serpae tetras and male bettas, so avoid those tank mates.
Breeding
Guppies give birth to live young about every four weeks, from a handful to several dozen fry at a time. Females store sperm and can keep having broods for months after one mating. Adults eat their babies, so dense plants or moss help some survive. If you don't want fry, keep males only.
Tips from experienced keepers
- Buy from a good breeder or local fish club if you can. Mass-bred store guppies are often weakened by heavy inbreeding.
- Keep two or three females per male so the females get a break from constant chasing.
- An all-male group gives you the most color and no surprise babies.
- Don't mix guppies with Endler's livebearers if you want pure lines. The two interbreed freely.
- Quarantine new guppies for a few weeks before adding them to an established tank.
Frequently asked questions
How many guppies should be kept together?
Start with at least three: one male with two females, or an all-male group. Five or more looks better and spreads out the males' attention.
Can guppies live with bettas?
Usually not. Male bettas often attack the long, colorful tails of fancy guppies, mistaking them for rivals. If you try it, use a large planted tank and have a spare tank ready.
How often do guppies have babies?
A mature female can give birth roughly every 4 weeks (about 30 days). She stores sperm, so she may keep having broods for months even after the male is removed.
Sources
We checked these references when writing this page. Values are for healthy long-term keeping, not survival limits. Last reviewed 2026-10-13. See our editorial policy.