Fancy Guppy

Poecilia reticulata

Bred for a century into hundreds of colour forms, guppies are the rainbow of the freshwater world – and they multiply fast.

A peaceful freshwater fish that grows to 5 cm, lives in the middle of the tank and needs 22–28 °C, pH 6.8–8.2 and an aquarium of at least 30 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Freshwater

Temperature

22–28 °C (72–82 °F)

pH

6.8–8.2

Adult size

5 cm (2.0 in)

Aquarium

30 L or bigger (8 US gal)

Temperament

Peaceful

Group size

Fine on its own

Swims

Middle

Diet

Omnivore

Wild home

Streams of Venezuela & Trinidad

Good to know

• Long fins. An easy target for fin nippers.
• Livebearer. Gives birth to live fry – easy to breed.
• Hardy. Tolerates less-than-perfect water. Great for beginners.

Tank mates

Good company: Amano Shrimp, Bristlenose Pleco, Corydoras, Dwarf Gourami, Ghost Shrimp, Honey Gourami, Kuhli Loach, Marbled Hatchetfish, Mystery Snail, Neocaridina Shrimp.

Eaten by: Asian Arowana, Axolotl, Black Ghost Knifefish, Flowerhorn, Frontosa, Jack Dempsey, Motoro Stingray, Ornate Bichir, Oscar, Siamese Tigerfish.

Attacked by: Demasoni Cichlid, Flowerhorn, Jack Dempsey.

Harassed by: Black Skirt Tetra, Pea Puffer, Serpae Tetra, Tiger Barb.

Eats the newborn fry of: Black Skirt Tetra, Bloodfin Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Celestial Pearl Danio, Cherry Barb, Chili Rasbora, Crystal Red Shrimp, Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish, Ember Tetra, Endler's Livebearer, German Blue Ram, Ghost Shrimp and 11 more.

Its fry are eaten by: Angelfish, Bala Shark, Betta, Black Skirt Tetra, Bloodfin Tetra, Boesemani Rainbowfish, Clown Loach, Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, Comet Goldfish, Congo Tetra, Discus, Dwarf Gourami and 17 more.

Colours and breeding

• Blue Grass common
• Red Dragon common
• Tuxedo common
• Cobra uncommon
• Koi rare
• Galaxy epic

In Aquarius a grown male and female breed in a healthy tank. Their young are born about 0.6 cm long and take after one of the parents.

Some pairs give a colour neither parent has:

• Blue Grass × Red Dragon can give Koi
• Tuxedo × Cobra can give Koi

Now and then a rare mutation shows up: Galaxy.

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.