What tank size does a Guppy need?

A Guppy needs an aquarium of at least 40 litres (10.6 US gallons) with a footprint at least 45 cm (17.7 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.

What water parameters does a Guppy need?

Guppy does best at 22–28 °C (71.6–82.4 °F), pH 7–8.5 and a general hardness of 8–25 °dGH.

What group size does a Guppy need?

Guppy is a social species — keep a group of at least 6 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.

Is the Guppy suitable for beginners?

Yes — Guppy is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.

Species library

Guppy

Poecilia reticulata

Poeciliidae

FishDifficulty: ●○○○○Data: well-established

📷 5snake5 · CC0 · resized · Wikimedia Commons

Guppy — Poecilia reticulata — 📷 5snake5 · CC0 · resized · Wikimedia Commons

About

The guppy is one of the most popular and hardy freshwater fish in the hobby, a small livebearing poeciliid native to northeastern South America but now found worldwide. Fancy strains display an astonishing range of tail shapes and colours, produced by decades of selective breeding. Males are small, slender and vividly coloured with large ornamental fins, while females are larger, fuller-bodied and comparatively plain. Guppies breed readily and give birth to free-swimming live young, making them an excellent beginner and community fish.

Care

Keep in groups of 6+ in hard, slightly alkaline water at 22-28°C. Best in a female-skewed ratio to reduce harassment. Feed small, varied portions and expect prolific breeding.

Diet

Omnivore; small frequent feedings of quality flake, micro-pellet, live/frozen foods and some plant matter.

Tankmate compatibility

Gets along with (31)

Possible with care (178)

Acei Cichlid African Butterfly Cichlid African Butterflyfish Agassiz's Cory Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid Auratus Cichlid Bamboo Shrimp Banjo Catfish Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish)Black Neon Tetra Black Phantom Tetra Black Ruby Barb Black Skirt Tetra Blackline Rasbora Bleeding Heart Tetra Bloodfin Tetra Blue Acara Blue Dolphin Cichlid Blue Tiger Shrimp Bolivian Ram Borleyi (Redfin Hap)Borneo Sucker Brevis Shell Dweller Brichard's Teleogramma Brichardi (Fairy Cichlid)Bristlenose Pleco Bronze Corydoras Buenos Aires Tetra Buffalohead Cichlid Bumblebee Cichlid Butterfly Hillstream Loach Calvus Cichlid Celestial Pearl Danio Checkered Barb Cherry Barb Chinese Algae Eater Chocolate Cichlid Clown Pleco Cobalt Blue Zebra Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid Colombian Ramshorn Snail Compressiceps Cichlid Congo Dwarf Cichlid Congo Tetra Convict Cichlid Cuckoo Catfish Cylindricus Cichlid Cyprichromis Demasoni Cichlid Denison Barb Discus Doctor Fish Dogtooth Cichlid Dojo (Weather) Loach Duboisi Tropheus Dwarf Chain Loach Dwarf Flag Cichlid Dwarf Gourami Dwarf Pea Puffer Dwarf Petricola Catfish Electric Yellow Lab Elephantnose Fish Ellioti Cichlid Elongate Mbuna Emperor Tetra Even-spotted Synodontis Featherfin Squeaker Festivum (Flag Cichlid)Figure-8 Puffer Firemouth Cichlid Five-bar Cichlid Flame Tetra Glass Catfish Glowlight Danio Glowlight Tetra Goby Cichlid Gold Barb Golden Dwarf Cichlid Golden Julie Golden Pencilfish Golden Tetra Golden Wonder Killifish Green Discus Harlequin Rasbora Head-and-Tail-Light Tetra Honey Gourami Hongi Cichlid Japanese Trapdoor Snail Jewel Cichlid Johanni Cichlid Julii Cory Kenyi Cichlid Keyhole Cichlid Kissing Gourami Kribensis Lambchop Rasbora Least Killifish Lemon Cichlid Lemon Tetra Leopard Danio Little Corydoras Macmasteri Dwarf Cichlid Maingano Cichlid Marlieri Cichlid Masked Julie Medaka Ricefish Molly Moonlight Gourami Multifasciatus Shell Dweller Neon Tetra Ocellatus Shell Dweller Odessa Barb Otocinclus Panda Corydoras Paradise Fish Paraguay Eartheater Peaceful Betta Peacock Cichlid Pearl Danio Pearl Gourami Penguin Tetra Peppered Corydoras Pictus Catfish Polka Dot Loach Port Cichlid Powder Blue Cichlid Purple Emperor Tetra Pygmy Corydoras Rabbit Snail Rainbow Cichlid Rainbow Shark Red Empress Red Rainbowfish Red Whiptail Catfish Red Zebra Cichlid Red-Tail Shark Redhead Cichlid Regan's Julie Reticulated Hillstream Loach Rosy Barb Rosy Tetra Rubber Lip Pleco Rummynose Tetra Rusty Cichlid Salt and Pepper Cory Sand-sifting Xenotilapia Saulosi Cichlid Scissortail Rasbora Serpae Tetra Severum Silver Moony Silver Tip Tetra Similis Shell Dweller Skunk Cory Sparkling Gourami Spotted Hoplo Star Sapphire Sterbai Corydoras Striped Kribensis Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp Sunshine Peacock Sveni Eartheater Taiwan Reef Cichlid Thai Micro Crab Thick-lipped Gourami Threadfin Acara Threadfin Petrochromis Threadfin Rainbowfish Three-spot Gourami Tiger Barb Tropheus Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid Vampire Shrimp White Cloud Mountain Minnow Yoyo Loach Zebra Danio Zebra Mbuna Zebra Pleco

Avoid (62)

Adonis Pleco Altum Angelfish Angelfish Bala Shark Black Moor Goldfish Cardinal Tetra Checkerboard Cichlid Chili Rasbora Chocolate Gourami Clown Killifish Clown Loach Cochu's Blue Tetra Comet Goldfish Common Goldfish Common Pleco Crystal Red Shrimp Demon Eartheater Diamond Tetra Dwarf Rasbora Electric Blue Ahli Ember Tetra Endlicheri Bichir Fantail Goldfish Frontosa German Blue Ram Green Neon Tetra Green Spotted Pufferfish Green Terror Heckel Discus Iridescent Shark Jack Dempsey Jaguar Cichlid Koi Kuhli Loach Livingstoni Malawi Eyebiter Malawi Hawk Marble Hatchetfish Oranda Goldfish Ornate Bichir Oscar Peacock Bass Pike Cichlid Ranchu Goldfish Red Devil Red Terror Reticulated Flying Fox Rostratus Rosy Red Minnow Royal Pleco Ryukin Goldfish Sailfin Pleco Salvini Cichlid Shubunkin Goldfish Silver Arowana Strawberry Rasbora Striped Raphael Catfish Telescope Goldfish Texas Cichlid Uaru (Triangle Cichlid)Venustus (Giraffe Cichlid)Wolf Cichlid

Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.

Full tank-mates guide with reasons →

Telling males from females

What works for this species, most reliable first.

The gonopodiumDefinitive · from about 4 weeks old
Look at the anal fin, underneath and just behind the belly. In females it stays a broad triangular fan. In males it narrows into a rod and angles forward — that rod is the gonopodium, a rebuilt fin rather than an organ that appears from nowhere.

All the methods, with diagrams

Also in these lists

Fish for a 54 litre tank Shrimp-safe fish Fish for hard water Fish for a first aquarium

Frequently asked questions

What tank size does a Guppy need?: A Guppy needs an aquarium of at least 40 litres (10.6 US gallons) with a footprint at least 45 cm (17.7 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
What water parameters does a Guppy need?: Guppy does best at 22–28 °C (71.6–82.4 °F), pH 7–8.5 and a general hardness of 8–25 °dGH.
What group size does a Guppy need?: Guppy is a social species — keep a group of at least 6 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
Is the Guppy suitable for beginners?: Yes — Guppy is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.

Sources

Water & tank

Temperature22–28°C

Optimal temp.24–26°C

pH7–8.5

Hardness (GH)8–25°d

Carbonate (KH)4–15°d

Adult size6 cm

Min. volume≥ 40 L

Min. tank length≥ 45 cm

Group size≥ 6

Swimming zoneTop

TemperamentPeaceful

Water typeBrackish-tolerant

FlowLow

Lifespan~2 yrs

Try in the calculator