Fancy guppy
Poecilia reticulata
Colourful livebearers with flowing tails; prefer harder water and breed readily, so plan for fry.
Key facts
- Body length
- 1.4 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 13 gallons
- Group
- 3+
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 1 / 5
- Lifespan
- 2–3 years
- Diet
- Flakes, micro pellets, spirulina, brine shrimp
- Origin
- Northeast South America and the Caribbean
- Hardier than67%
- Bigger than12%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Fancy guppy tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Amano shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bristlenose plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bronze coryGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cardinal tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry barbGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Common plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fairy cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusFancy guppy outcompetes the slow-eating Otocinclus for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Black widow tetraMay nip guppy tails in small groups.Risky
- Blood parrot cichlidFancy guppy outcompetes the slow-eating Blood parrot cichlid for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Chinese algae eaterChinese algae eater eats slow fish: Fancy guppy (SF: присасывается к бокам крупных соседей, объедая слизь).Risky
- Clown loachClown loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Fancy guppy.Risky
- DemasoniDemasoni attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Fancy guppy.Risky
- BettaBettas attack guppies’ long fins.Avoid
- AngelfishAngelfish can eat Fancy guppy: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 2.3 cm.Avoid
- Tiger barbTiger barbs shred guppy tails.Avoid
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Fancy guppy: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid can eat Fancy guppy: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- Firemouth cichlidFiremouth cichlid can eat Fancy guppy: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for fancy guppies: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 3.5 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 0.64 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 0.88 BU
- Min. water
- 40 L net
- Group
- 3+ (best 6)
- Swims in
- top, middle
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- fusiform, long trailing fins
- Diet type
- omnivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Sources: Seriously Fish: Poecilia reticulata
Care notes
Guppies swim all over the tank and show off long, patterned tails. They like slightly hard, alkaline water and steady temperatures.
Keep more females than males to spread the chasing. Their long tails tempt fin nippers like tiger barbs, and bettas see them as rivals.
Questions
What size tank does a fancy guppy need?
At least 13 gallons (40 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 1.4 inches without fins.
How many fancy guppies should be kept together?
Keep at least 3, ideally 6 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do fancy guppies need?
75–81 °F, pH 7–8 and 10–18 dGH. Fancy guppies come from Northeast South America and the Caribbean.
How long do fancy guppies live?
2–3 years with good care.
What fish can live with fancy guppies?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Panda corydoras, Cherry shrimp and Amano shrimp. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.