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Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii›Poeciliidae
📍 Trinidad & Northern South America
Guppies are hardy, colourful livebearers that reproduce readily in captivity. Males display elaborate tails and body patterns to attract females. They adapt to a wide range of water conditions, though clean, well-filtered water is essential to prevent fin disease.
Care Guide
Diet
Guppies are omnivores that thrive on high-quality flake food and micro pellets as staples, fed once daily in small portions. Supplement with frozen brine shrimp, daphnia, and spirulina 2-3 times weekly to enhance coloration and promote breeding. Vary their diet regularly to maintain health and vibrant fin patterns.
Behavior
Guppies are active, peaceful swimmers that spend most of their time in the upper water column, constantly foraging and exploring. Males display elaborate courtship behaviors with their colorful tails, while females are generally less colorful and more reserved. They are social fish that do best in groups of 3 or more, though males may chase females persistently during breeding season.
Breeding
Guppies breed readily in captivity and are livebearers, meaning females give birth to fully-formed fry rather than laying eggs. A single female can produce 20-30 fry every 4-6 weeks once mature, making population control important in established tanks. Provide dense plants like Java Moss or Guppy Grass for fry to hide in, as adults will readily consume their own young.
Tank Mates
Nearly identical water requirements and peaceful temperament; both are small livebearers that coexist harmoniously
Similar size, peaceful nature, and tropical water preferences make them ideal community tank companions
Peaceful invertebrates that occupy different water zones; guppies generally ignore them and won't nip at their size
Harmless algae eaters that help maintain water quality; guppies show no aggression toward snails
Generally peaceful but males can be territorial; monitor for aggression, especially if tank is under 20 gallons
Common Diseases
Fin Rot
Frayed, disintegrating fin edges; often starts at the tail and progresses toward the body; may appear white or black
Perform 25-30% water changes every 2-3 days, improve water quality, and treat with aquarium salt (1 tsp per gallon) or antibacterial medication if severe
Ich (White Spot Disease)
Small white spots covering body and fins; fish rub against objects and show rapid gill movement
Raise temperature gradually to 28-30°C, treat with ich medication or aquarium salt, and perform daily water changes; ensure good filtration
Velvet Disease
Fine golden or rust-colored dust on body; lethargy, rapid gill movement, and loss of appetite
Treat with copper-based medication or methylene blue; dim lighting helps reduce stress; maintain pristine water conditions
Dropsy
Swollen, bloated abdomen; scales appear raised or pinecone-like; lethargy and loss of appetite
Isolate affected fish immediately; perform frequent water changes; treat with antibacterial medication; unfortunately, prognosis is often poor
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Varieties
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Quick Facts
- diet
- Omnivore – flake food, micro pellets, spirulina, brine shrimp
- lifespan
- 2–3 years
- max size
- 6 cm (2.4 in) females; 3.5 cm (1.4 in) males
- tank size
- 10 gallons minimum
- temperament
- Peaceful
Water it likes
- ph
- 6.8–7.8
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 8–20 dGH
- temperature
- 72–82°F (22–28°C)