Guppy

Hardy, colorful livebearers that breed readily. Keep a ratio of one male to two or three females if you want to limit chasing, and expect fry in planted tanks.

• Minimum footprint: 10 gallons; a 10+ gallon tank gives real swimming room.
• Preferred swimming zone: top of the water column.
• Social — keep a group of at least 3.
• Care level: easy.

• Temperature: 72–82°F
• pH: 6.8–7.8
• Hardness: 8–20 dGH (Hard)

Stable parameters matter more than perfect ones — aim for consistency before chasing an exact number.

peaceful

livebearerhardytop-dwellerbreeds-freely

An omnivore — offer a staple flake or pellet plus regular frozen or live foods (daphnia, bloodworm, brine shrimp) and some vegetable matter for balance.

• Neon Tetra
• Bronze Corydoras
• Harlequin Rasbora
• Zebra Danio
• Platy
• Molly

A further 1 species pair with Guppy as conditional — workable with the right tank and precautions.

• Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish) — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.
• Angelfish — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.
• Electric Blue Acara — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.

Standard tanks at or above the recommended 10 gallons:

• 10 gallon 20 × 10 × 12″
• 15 gallon 24 × 12 × 12″
• 20 gallon High 24 × 12 × 16″
• All tank sizes

• Start from a 10 gallon minimum and plan the full group size (3+) before you buy.
• Activity level is high, which affects how much of the tank it uses and how much it adds to the bioload.
• Zoning matters: this species lives mostly in the top zone, so choose tank mates that occupy other levels.

Compatibility depends on tank size, water chemistry, temperament, and adult size. Run a full check against any species in our database.

In-depth guides for Guppy:

• Guppy and BettaNot Recommended
• Guppy and Neon TetraGood Match
• Guppy and Bronze CorydorasGood Match
• Guppy and MollyGood Match
• Guppy and PlatyGood Match
• Guppy and Harlequin RasboraGood Match
• Guppy and Zebra DanioGood Match
• Guppy and Honey GouramiGood Match
• Guppy and Black Skirt TetraRisky
• Guppy and Tiger BarbRisky
• Guppy and Cherry ShrimpGood Match

• FishBase(Scientific Database, accessed 2026-09-20)
• SeriouslyFish(Specialist Publication, accessed 2026-09-20)
• Aquarium Forge editorial guidelines(Editorial Interpretation, accessed 2026-09-22)

Data reviewed: September 2026 · Data version: 2026.11
Editorial note: Minimum tank recommendations may vary by source and husbandry approach. Our figures synthesise the sources above for planning purposes.