Poecilia reticulata
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).
Care at a glance
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.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 1 min read
Part of our complete guide to aquarium fish for the planted tank.
The parameters that decide whether guppy fits in your tank.
Mid to Top
No
Small group of 3+
Poeciliidae
Omnivore
Crushed flake, micro pellets, daphnia, baby brine shrimp. Eats 1–2x daily; happy to graze biofilm.
1–2 yrs
Very Easy
Warm shallow ponds and ditches of Trinidad and Venezuela
Northeastern South America, naturalised globally
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) needs a minimum tank of 45 L. They live in the mid to top water column and should be kept in groups of 3+, so a longer footprint matters more than depth.
Target 22–28 °C, pH 6.8–8.0, and 8–25 dGH hardness. Acclimate slowly when moving them between water sources.
Shrimp safety: Yes (with adults; may eat shrimplets). Plant safety: Yes.
Guppy are omnivore. Crushed flake, micro pellets, daphnia, baby brine shrimp. Eats 1–2x daily; happy to graze biofilm.
On Fin & Stem's 1–5 difficulty scale this species rates 1/5. Almost unkillable, a solid first-tank choice. Breeding difficulty: very easy.
Typical lifespan in a well-maintained tank is 1–2 years.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this fish with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
