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 or more
- Lifespan
- 3–5 years
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.
Fancy Guppy care mistakes to avoid
- 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 setup
The essentials for a small, gently filtered tank.
TankAt least 11 US gal (41 L), 45 x 30 cm
The smallest tank our sources give for Fancy Guppy. We list only tanks that hold this volume (allowing 10%, so a standard size counts) and have at least this much floor.
Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium 20 Long US
Eheim clearTank 73 Spain
Why we chose these (Best 10-Gallon Fish Tank: What to Look For). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Starter kitA kit with the tank, filter and light in one box
We list only kits whose tank fits Fancy Guppy, up to twice its minimum volume. A kit whose heater has a fixed setting shows only when that setting is inside Fancy Guppy's temperature range.
Tetra Complete LED Aquarium Kit 20 Gallon US
Check the heater's setting
Tetra Starter Line LED Aquarium 54 L Spain
Heater preset to 25 °C
Tetra Starter Line LED Aquarium 80 L Spain
Heater preset to 25 °C
Why we chose these (Best Aquarium Starter Kit: What to Look For). Nobody here has used or tested them.
FilterAir-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.
HeaterKeep it at 63–82 °F (17–28 °C)
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 conditionerDechlorinator 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
Sold at Kiwoko · Sold at Tiendanimal · Sold at zooplus.es · Maker's details
Why we chose these (Best Water Conditioner for Betta Fish). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Test kitLiquid 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
See it at The Shrimp Farm (a retailer; affiliate link) · Sold at Bulk Reef Supply · Maker's details
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.
SubstrateUnfussy about its setup.
We are still choosing products for this.
Hiding places and decorA planted tank with floating plants is appreciated.
We are still choosing products for this.
PlantsSafe with live plants
Cycle the tank before adding animals. See our guide on how to cycle a fish tank.
Where to buy Fancy Guppy
Stores that list it under the same scientific name as this page. Links marked as affiliate links may earn us a commission. We have not bought from them, so check each store's own terms.
See it at The Shrimp Farm (a retailer; affiliate link)
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.
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.
Fancy Guppy facts and sources
- 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
Sources
- Seriously Fish: Tank size, water ranges and behavior
- FishBase: Cross-check of water ranges and size
Lifespans are approximate and come from aquarium care guides, because these databases rarely publish them.
Where sources differ, we show the Seriously Fish aquarium figures.
Spotted something wrong? Report a parameter correction. For a sick fish, see our veterinary disclaimer.