Tank mates for guppies

We checked guppies against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.

Good tank mates for guppies include cherry shrimp, nerite snail, neon tetra, panda corydoras, bristlenose pleco and bronze corydoras. Avoid betta fish, oscar and tiger barb: betta fish tends to attack colourful, long-finned fish like guppies, mistaking them for rivals.

Guppies: 22–27°C (72–81°F), pH 7–8, adult size 5 cm (2 in), minimum tank 10 gallons (38 L). Full guppy care guide.

Check a full stocking plan

Good Compatible tank mates (78)

Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.

Caution Possible, with care (44)

These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.

  • Angelfish · 29+ gal
    • Angelfish may eat guppies, especially young or small ones.
    • Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller guppies.
  • Common goldfish · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–22°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Common goldfish may eat guppies, especially young or small ones.
    • Common goldfish sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
  • Dwarf gourami · 15+ gal
    • Dwarf gourami sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
    • Dwarf gourami defends its patch of the tank and may chase guppies, which use the same area.
  • Fancy goldfish · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–23°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Zebra danio · 20+ gal
    • Zebra danio sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
  • Black skirt tetra · 20+ gal
    • Black skirt tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
  • Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
    • Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller guppies.
  • Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–27°C).
  • Clown loach · 180+ gal
    • Clown loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
    • Clown loach grows much larger than guppies and may swallow them as it grows.
  • Denison barb · 75+ gal
    • Denison barb sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
  • Dojo loach · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–23°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
    • Firemouth cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller guppies.
  • German blue ram · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • Hillstream loach · 20+ gal
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Kribensis · 29+ gal
    • Kribensis sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
  • Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
    • Rainbow shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller guppies.
  • Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
    • Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller guppies.
  • Rosy barb · 29+ gal
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Rosy barb sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
  • Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
    • Three spot gourami sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
    • Three spot gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller guppies.
    • Three spot gourami defends its patch of the tank and may chase guppies, which use the same area.
  • White cloud mountain minnow · 15+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–22°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Yoyo loach · 75+ gal
    • Yoyo loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
  • African butterfly fish · 29+ gal
    • African butterfly fish may eat guppies, especially young or small ones.
    • African butterfly fish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller guppies.
    • African butterfly fish defends its patch of the tank and may chase guppies, which use the same area.
  • Black phantom tetra · 20+ gal
    • Black phantom tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
  • Bleeding heart tetra · 29+ gal
    • Bleeding heart tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
  • Bloodfin tetra · 20+ gal
    • Bloodfin tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
  • Crystal red shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7–8 vs 6–6.8).
  • Diamond tetra · 20+ gal
    • Diamond tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
  • Dwarf chain loach · 29+ gal
    • Dwarf chain loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
  • Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Dwarf orange crayfish sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
  • Giant danio · 55+ gal
    • Giant danio sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
  • Gold barb · 29+ gal
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Gold barb sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
  • Golden wonder killifish · 20+ gal
    • Golden wonder killifish may eat guppies, especially young or small ones.
  • Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
    • Kissing gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller guppies.
    • Kissing gourami grows much larger than guppies and may swallow them as it grows.
  • Odessa barb · 20+ gal
    • Odessa barb sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
  • Penguin tetra · 20+ gal
    • Penguin tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
  • Swordtail · 29+ gal
    • Swordtail sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
  • Zebra loach · 29+ gal
    • Zebra loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
  • Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–27°C).
  • Black ruby barb · 20+ gal
    • Black ruby barb sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
  • Dwarf rasbora · 10+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7–8 vs 5–6.5).
  • Glowlight danio · 20+ gal
    • Glowlight danio sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
  • Green neon tetra · 10+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7–8 vs 5–6.5).
  • Pearl danio · 20+ gal
    • Pearl danio sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
  • Silvertip tetra · 20+ gal
    • Silvertip tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.

Avoid Bad tank mates (27)

  • 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.
  • Discus: They need different temperatures: Guppy 22–27°C (72–81°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
  • Electric blue acara: Electric blue acara can eat guppies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Guppies don't belong in that setup.
  • Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey can eat guppies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful guppies.
  • Pea puffer: Pea puffer is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of guppies. Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful guppies. Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
  • Peacock cichlid: Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Guppies don't belong in that setup.
  • Pictus catfish: Pictus catfish can eat guppies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful guppies. Red zebra cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Guppies don't belong in that setup.
  • Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat guppies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Black ghost knifefish: Black ghost knifefish can eat guppies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Buenos Aires tetra: Buenos Aires tetra is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of guppies.
  • Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful guppies. Demasoni cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Guppies don't belong in that setup.
  • Frontosa: Frontosa can eat guppies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Frontosa is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 8–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Guppies don't belong in that setup.
  • Green terror: Green terror can eat guppies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful guppies.
  • Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful guppies.
  • Paradise fish: Paradise fish tends to attack colourful, long-finned fish like guppies, mistaking them for rivals.
  • Ropefish: Ropefish can eat guppies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Serpae tetra: Serpae tetra is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of guppies.
  • Severum: Severum can eat guppies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Shell dweller cichlid: Shell dweller cichlid is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Guppies don't belong in that setup.
  • Tinfoil barb: Tinfoil barb can eat guppies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.

Frequently asked questions

What fish can live with guppies?

Good tank mates for guppies include cherry shrimp, nerite snail, neon tetra, panda corydoras, bristlenose pleco and bronze corydoras. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat guppies.

Can guppies live with angelfish?

Sometimes, with care. Angelfish may eat guppies, especially young or small ones. Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller guppies.

Can guppies live with bettas?

No. Betta fish tends to attack colourful, long-finned fish like guppies, mistaking them for rivals. Betta fish defends its patch of the tank and may chase guppies, which use the same area.

Can guppies live with bristlenose plecos?

Yes. They share similar water needs (22–26°C (72–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Can guppies live with bronze corydoras?

Yes. They share similar water needs (22–26°C (72–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Popular questions

How we decide: we compare each pair's comfortable temperature, pH and hardness ranges, adult sizes, mouth size (who can eat whom), fin nipping, aggression and territory. Read the full method. Data last reviewed 2026-10-13.