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Most people come to Guppies unintentionally when they first start this hobby, and soon realize that these species are their true “love”. This small fish will definitely beat out all other kinds due to its variations. Each of which presents a brilliant appearance, interesting personalities, and a vivid look for your tank. To the extent that many aquarists even recommend a guppy only tank since they themselves already make aquariums stunning.
Fancy Guppy Fish Overview
Fancy Guppies are actually common guppies that have dedicated coloration and fancy fins. These features are the result of many selective breeding that have taken place for generations. Thanks to that, we not only have a guppy in the “dress” of striking tiger-like patterns but also with solid red and gold “cloth”, and many so on in various forms.
In the wild, Guppy fish such as the Dumbo guppy hail from streams and rivers in northeast South America. Before being widely seen in the aquarium market, they were known for pest control, as they are able to consume mosquito eggs and larvae. That said, the guppies are quite unwelcome. These freshwater fish are great breeders and really a threat to other co-living species for that reason. It would be unwise if you carelessly released them into nature.
Fun fact: Can you guess why Guppy has another “nickname” Million Fish? It is owing to that fast breeding rate (the female can give birth every 30 days).
Image of a Guppy Fish
Set Up An Ideal Guppy Fish Tank
Best Guppy Fish Tank Size
Guppies live in shoals, and it is encouraged to keep the habit when you raise them in theaquarium tank. Generally, a 10-gallon tank is recommended for small fish, and in the case of Guppies, they are not exceptional. In fact, you may have heard of other smaller sizes discussed and accepted among skilled fishkeepers. Some say a 4-gallon works well for a trio of Guppies. Others suggest a 5-gallon be better as it allows more swimming space for them. Both are practical since Guppy is quite small in terms of size (2 inches long for adults on average, females sometimes reach 2.5 inches long). That makes 3 fish deemed fit for a small tank.
Nevertheless, if you can get a bigger aquarium at the beginning, go for the bigger one. You will be thankful for it when the Guppies come into spawning season. Or if you decide to have a guppy only tank, stick to the rule of thumb, one fish per two gallons. It works well in most cases.
Guppy Fish Water Parameters
Fancy Guppy Fish is recommended to beginners for many reasons, among others, its hardiness, peaceful disposition, active personalities, and even cleverness enough to recognize you come near. It is also true to say they can tolerate quite many beginner mistakes. Despite that, creating and maintaining a stable environment for them to live in is still crucial. It will keep your guppies the fish healthy and prolong their lifespan (in optimal conditions, the Guppies, such as Blue Tarzan Guppy, Koi Guppy, can live up to 5 years).
These little fish enjoy warm aquarium water with moderate current flow. The ideal range is around 70°F. There is an interesting fact about the effect of temperature on the Guppy’s life cycle. According to many experienced aquarists, the Guppy can withstand low temperatures. The lower the water temperature is, the slower your fish matures, which means a longer period they can live. However, it is worth noting that the range should not go below 65°F for a long time. Otherwise, your aquarium fish may suffer and get stressed.
Besides temperature, other parameters are not less important. You can refer to our suggestion below when setting up your tank for Guppies.
- Ammonia and Nitrite: 0 ppm
- Nitrate: less than 20 ppm
- GH: 8 – 12 dGH
- pH: 6 – 8, but the most preferred range is 7.0 – 7.2
- Water change: 25% per week
Good to know: Although Fancy Guppies are hardy, they are not as resilient as the original species. As a result of much selective breeding, it is not hard to imagine their physical conditions may slightly alter.
Guppy Fish Tank Decorations
Apart from the above, Guppy does not have any special requirements for their living environment. You can fill up your fish tank with any aquarium decorlike live aquatic plants, bonsai driftwood, rock caves, or substrates as long as they meet your personal taste. Speaking of which, Guppy is fond of aquarium plants. Some ideal candidates you can consider are Java Moss, Java Fern, Amazon Sword plants, etc.
What Do Guppies Eat?
When it comes to diet, Guppies are not picky at all. They are omnivores and can accept a variety of common fish food such as pellets, flakes, dry or frozen foods, bloodworms, brine shrimp, etc. Sometimes, they even graze on algae growing inside your aquarium. All you need to do is make sure they feed on high-quality food once or twice every day, with an amount enough for them to consume in two or three minutes. Guppies are pro at begging for food, don’t let them fool you. If you overfeed them, they may get constipation and other health issues.
Guppy Fish Tank Mates
Other Guppy Fish
The best guppy fish tank mates are other guppies. Indeed, they are gorgeous, active, and joyful when around together, which makes the whole tank pleasant to look at. So, why do we need other fish? If you incline to that idea, you can create for yourself a guppy-only tank.
Male and Female Guppy Fish Tank
Males and females can live together following the ratio 1:2. This is because male guppy tends to pursue the female when alone. Therefore, if you keep them at 1:1, the female may get depressed and be prone to diseases. The ratio of one male for every two females reduces that behavior and balances the living environment. For that reason, you may see why a trio is highly encouraged by many aquarists. However, it is still alright in case you want to enlarge the quantity.
Another issue you need to be concerned about when choosing this combination is that your guppies will spawn frequently when the time comes. Hence, make sure you have everything in place when it happens.
One Sex Guppy Fish Tank
If you don’t like the population boom, you can still have a guppy-only tank by keeping only one sex. In the case of Guppies, the male is preferable due to its vibrant coloration. Opt for this way, you are worry-free about the aggression stuff and care for new babies. Just ensure you give each fish 2 gallons of water, and then a guppy-only tank is ready.
Freshwater Fish
That said, Guppy can make friends with other kinds of fish. Molly Fish, Platy Fish, Corydoras Catfish, or TetraFish are those peaceful species that get along well with Guppy Fish. Visit here to discover more about The Best Tank Mates for Guppy Fish.
Fancy Guppy Fish Breeding
Breeding is an interesting part of this care guide. If you randomly search for ‘Easy to Breed Fish’, the Guppy is always at the top. There is no need for external stimulation to cause this little fish to breed. When they mature, the male will naturally chase the female for courting. And just after one insemination, the female can easily give birth several times.
Fancy Guppies are livebearers. They have an incredible reproduction rate. With the ability to store sperm, the female can easily spawn every 30 days, with each spawning having around 10 – 40 fry. Like other live-bearing fish, Guppies do not show any sign of parental care. Hence, the newborn would become a potential prey for larger fish. To avoid that, it is usually recommended that the breeding process take place in a separate tank so that the fry can have time to grow up enough to protect themselves.
Conclusion
Fancy Guppy Fish is one of the most popular freshwater fish among aquarium hobbyists. Even you are an experienced or amateur fish keeper, this friend is the best choice for any aquarium community due to its colorful appearance and ease of care. If you are looking for a fancy guppy for your aquarium, our Guppy fish for sale can be your great choice. Visit our Splashy Fish tropical fish storeonline or ourfish store in Virginia for more high-quality products such as freshwater fish for sale, invertebrates for sale, live aquatic plants for sale, and other aquarium supplies.
Guppy Fish Care Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long do Guppies live in an aquarium?
In a well-maintained aquarium, Guppies typically live for 2 to 3 years. Guppy fish lifespan depends on factors such as water quality, diet, genetics, and tank size. With stable water parameters, a varied diet of high-quality flakes, live, and frozen foods, and protection from aggressive tank mates, some Guppy fish can live closer to 4 years. Regular maintenance and stress-free conditions are the key to helping your Guppies reach their maximum lifespan.
How big do Guppies get?
Adult Guppies are small fish, but their size varies by gender. Male Guppies grow between 0.5 to 1.5 inches, while female Guppies can reach 2 to 2.5 inches. Their compact size makes them ideal for smaller aquariums, though they thrive best in community tanks with at least 10 gallons of space. Selective breeding, such as with fancy guppy strains, can slightly influence size, but most Guppies stay within this range.
How often do Guppies have babies?
Guppies are prolific livebearers and can give birth every 30 days under the right conditions. A single female Guppy can produce 20–60 fry at a time, and in some cases, even up to 100. Since females can store sperm, they may continue having babies for several months without the presence of a male. To manage guppy breeding, consider separating males and females or providing plenty of plants and hiding spots if you want to increase fry survival in a community tank.
