Fancy Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
Also known as Guppy, Million Fish
Edited by Ivan F. · Reviewed
Beginner verdict
A colorful, peaceful livebearer with huge flowing tails, and one of the easiest fish to breed. It prefers harder, alkaline water and a quiet community. Females give birth constantly, so plan ahead for fry and never house those beautiful fins with barbs or other nippers.
Care at a glance
- Min tank size
- 11 US gal
- Footprint
- 18 x 12 in
- Temperature
- 63–82 °F
- pH
- 7–8.5
- Hardness
- 8–30 dGH
- Swim zone
- Top
- Min group
- 3 fish
- Lifespan
- 3–5 years
Fancy Guppy care mistakes to avoid
The mistakes beginners most often make with this species.
- Do not buy just one or two. Keep at least 3 fish so they feel secure.
- Never mix them with fin nippers such as tiger barbs or serpae tetras.
- Expect babies. A mixed group will breed constantly unless you keep one sex.
- Keep flow gentle, because the long tails of fancy males make strong currents exhausting.
- Check your tank before you buy. Our sourced minimum is 11 US gallons.
Fancy Guppy tank mates and swim zone
Top
Spends most of its time in this part of the tank.
Paracheirodon innesi
Paracheirodon axelrodi
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
Hemigrammus erythrozonus
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Trigonostigma espei
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Their pH ranges barely overlap, so you will have little room for error.
Boraras brigittae
Chili Rasbora is small and shy, and is easily outcompeted for food by Fancy Guppy.
Danio margaritatus
Celestial Pearl Danio is small and shy, and is easily outcompeted for food by Fancy Guppy.
Poecilia wingei
Endler's Livebearer is small and shy, and is easily outcompeted for food by Fancy Guppy.
Trichogaster lalius
Bright, gaudy fish like Fancy Guppy can trigger aggression in male Dwarf Gourami.
Hyphessobrycon eques
Serpae Tetra is a known fin nipper and will shred the long, flowing fins of Fancy Guppy.
Puntigrus tetrazona
Tiger Barb is a known fin nipper and will shred the long, flowing fins of Fancy Guppy.
Common tank-mate questions
Fancy Guppy feeding and care
How to feed
- Feed small flakes or micro pellets, including some vegetable content.
- Add baby brine shrimp or daphnia for strong color and growth.
- Feed small portions you can see finished within a couple of minutes, because overfeeding fouls the water fast.
Telling males from females
Males are smaller and far more colorful with long fins, and have a pointed anal fin called a gonopodium. Females are plainer and larger.
Plants that suit it
Species facts
- Family
- Poeciliidae
- Native to
- Northern South America and the Caribbean
- Adult size
- 2.4 in (6 cm)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social needs
- Harem/Pairs
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Water flow
- Gentle
- Substrate
- Any
- Live plants
- Yes - Loves Plants
- Shrimp
- Adult Shrimp Only
- Fin nipping
- None
- Vulnerable to nippers
- Yes
- Breeding
- Easy Livebearer
Fancy Guppy FAQ
What size tank do Fancy Guppies need?
Our sourced minimum is 11 US gallons (41 liters), with a footprint of 45 x 30 cm. A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable.
How many Fancy Guppies should I keep?
Keep at least 3 fish. Bigger groups usually look better and behave more confidently.
What can live with Fancy Guppies?
Good matches on our list include Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra and Black Neon Tetra. Avoid Betta and Dwarf Gourami.
How long do Fancy Guppies live?
Care guides report about 3–5 years. Stable water and a good diet make the biggest difference.
How many female guppies per male?
Keep at least two females per male, because males chase females constantly and can wear them out.
Where to buy Fancy Guppy
Stores that list it under the same scientific name as this page. We earn nothing from these links. We have not bought from them, so check each store's own terms.
We have not found a store that sells Fancy Guppy under its scientific name yet. We add stores as we confirm them.
Live animals and plants travel by courier. Check the store's live-arrival guarantee, and only buy once your tank has cycled (see how to cycle a fish tank).
Some US states restrict certain species. Check our US state aquarium rules table and your state's own rules before you buy.
Complete the tank
The essentials for a small, gently filtered tank.
Tank size for this species
At least 11 US gallons (41 L), 45 x 30 cm footprint
Filter
Air-driven sponge filter
Gentle flow that small fish and long fins can handle, plus a safe home for good bacteria.
Aquarium Co-Op Coarse Sponge Filter (Small) US
Fluval AquaClear 20 Power Filter US
Tetra Brillant Filter Spain
Fluval AquaClear 20 Power Filter Spain
Why we chose these (Best Filter for a 10-Gallon Tank). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Heater
Adjustable heater, about 5 W per gallon: 25 W at 5 gallons, 50 W at 10
Keeps a small tank stable. Adjustable models let you set the temperature your species needs. Size up for a cold room.
Fluval T50 Fully Electronic Aquarium Heater US
Aqueon Pro Adjustable Heater 50 W US
Fluval T50 Fully Electronic Aquarium Heater Spain
Eheim Thermocontrol e 50 Heater Spain
Why we chose these (Best Heater for a 10-Gallon Aquarium). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Water Conditioner
Dechlorinator such as Seachem Prime
Tap water contains chlorine or chloramine that harms fish.
Seachem Prime US
Fritz Complete Water Conditioner US
API Betta Water Conditioner US
sera aquatan Spain
Tetra AquaSafe Spain
Maker's page · Sold at Kiwoko · Sold at Tiendanimal · Sold at zooplus.es
Why we chose these (Best Water Conditioner for Betta Fish). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Test Kit
Liquid kit such as API Freshwater Master
Tracks ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH while the tank cycles.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit US
API General & Carbonate Hardness Test Kit US
Maker's page · Sold at The Shrimp Farm · Sold at Bulk Reef Supply
sera aqua-test box (Cl) Spain
JBL PROAQUATEST COMBISET Plus NH4 Spain
Why we chose these (Best Test Kit for a Freshwater Aquarium). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Cycle the tank before adding animals. See our guide on how to cycle a fish tank.