Freshwater Guppies

These hardy, confident fish are perfect for beginners and remain popular among experienced aquarists thanks to their huge variety of colours and tail shapes. Guppies are prolific breeders - often called ”Millionfish” - making them an ideal choice for anyone wanting to learn about fish breeding.

Guppy Care

Guppies are wonderfully easy to care for. They are hardy, low-maintenance and suitable for anyone seeking a reliable fish species for beginners. Across their roughly 300 varieties, guppies share similar size, shape and behaviour. Males are more colourful, while females are essential if you wish to breed them.

Popular varieties include the Cobra Tail Guppy, Neon Blue Guppy and Black Guppy. Our mixed groups 10-pack assorted guppies or 20-pack assorted guppies are excellent for newcomers. All are available through our online fish shop.

Guppies Natural Habitat

Guppies originate from South America, where they inhabit warm ponds, lakes and slow-moving streams. They have since been introduced across the world, particularly in Asia, where they are commonly used to control mosquito larvae in still water.

Behaviour & Compatibility

Guppies are bold mid-water swimmers and are usually visible throughout the day. If a guppy hides constantly, it may be stressed or unwell. Males do not fight, but they will often chase females during breeding displays.

Avoid keeping them with large carnivores, red tail sharks or aggressive barbs. Suitable tankmates include Mollies, Platys, Corydoras and Gouramis.

Guppies Fish Tank Set-Up Tips

• Tank

  Guppies make some of the best fish for small tanks. A single guppy can live in 10 gallons, while 15 gallons is a good starting point for small groups.

  Breeding tanks differ slightly: use floating plants, avoid substrate and keep them separate from other species. The guidelines below apply to display/show tanks:

  Recommended Max Fish Count	Tank Volume
  2 Guppies	40 litres (10 gallons)
  10 Guppies	52 litres (14 gallons)
  15 Guppies	110 litres (30 gallons)
  30 Guppies	150 litres (40 gallons)

• Base

  Guppies are mid-water swimmers, so their behaviour is not affected by your choice of substrate. Choose your base according to the needs of your other fish or your preferred aesthetic.

• Foliage

  Guppies enjoy a reasonably decorated aquarium. Decor such as driftwood adds structure and visual appeal. Plants like hornwort are excellent for providing hiding places for fry when breeding occurs.

• Water

  Guppies tolerate a wide temperature range: 18-28°C (64-82°F). Where needed, use a water heater to keep conditions stable.

  Ideal parameters: pH 5.5-7.8, hardness 1-15 dH. Use a testing kit to ensure parameters are correct.

  They prefer slow to moderate flow and benefit from aeration using a fish tank pump.

  Maintain good water quality with regular changes (10% weekly or 25% fortnightly) and clean the substrate as needed. When topping up with tap water, use suitable water conditioners.

Feeding and Care

Guppies are omnivores and require a balanced mix of plant and protein-based foods. High-quality flake foods are ideal as a staple, supported by live, frozen or freeze-dried treats such as bloodworms, brine shrimp and mosquito larvae.

Feed twice daily, only as much as they can finish within two minutes. Browse our full selection of tropical fish food to find a suitable option.

Great Reasons to Keep Guppies in Your Tropical Fish Tank

• They are low-maintenance fish, incredibly forgiving of different aquarium setups.
• They mix very well with other peaceful species and can help relax shy tankmates.
• They display vibrant colours and remain active in the mid to upper zones of your aquarium.

If you're choosing your first guppies, you might prefer specific varieties such as the Red Dragon Guppy or Cobra Leopard Tail Guppy. If you’d like a mix of colours and styles, try one of our male and female guppy bundles for a varied and lively guppy aquarium.