Guppy

The universal beginner livebearer, Cape Town tap water hits its preferred hard-and-alkaline window almost out the box. Keep 3 females per male to spread male attention. Drops fry continuously; if you don't want a population explosion, plant heavily or harvest fry weekly. Sensitive to soft acidic water, pair with rotala / blackwater set-ups at your peril.

Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) reaches 3–6 cm as an adult and needs a minimum tank of 45 L. Native to Northeastern South America, naturalised globally, it lives in the mid to top water column with a peaceful temperament. Aim for 22–28 °C, pH 6.8–8.0, and 8–25 dGH hardness. Lifespan is 1–2 years with good care. Keep guppy in groups of 3+, no (live in groups) schoolers need numbers to display natural behaviour. Diet: omnivore, Crushed flake, micro pellets, daphnia, baby brine shrimp. Eats 1–2x daily; happy to graze biofilm. Plant-safe: Yes. Shrimp-safe: Yes (with adults; may eat shrimplets).