Best for
Aquariums where its role fits: community fish.
Fish · Freshwater
Guppy
Poecilia Reticulata
The guppy is hardy and colorful, but it should not be treated as a fish without needs. It does best in medium to hard water, stable temperature, mature filtration and balanced groups. Its fast breeding can turn a good aquarium into an overcrowded one if not planned.
Long-finned males are attractive but vulnerable to fin nippers and territorial fish. Tankmate choice must consider activity, aggression and water hardness.
Difficulty
Beginner
Aggression
2/10
Schooling
Yes
Size
4.00 cm
Minimum volume
20 L
Temperature
22.0-28.0 ºC
Zone
Midwater
Lifespan
3 years
Quick profile scan
fish
Territoriality
Low
Aggression
2/10
Activity
Moderate
Thermal sensitivity
Medium
Bioload
Medium
Speed
Moderate
Predation risk
None
Expert calculator
Check whether this species fits your aquarium
Analyze volume, parameters, behavior and relationships with other species.
Expert read
Quick verdict
A practical summary to quickly decide whether it fits your aquarium.
Avoid
Mixes marked as high risk or not recommended in manual relationships.
Compatible with
Has positive or conditional references with species such as Platy.
Typical risk
Stability depends on temperature, group size, and real compatibility.
Aquarium zone
Where it lives best
Surface
Midwater
primary
Bottom
Quick compatibility
Community signals
Shrimp
Conditional
Snails
Compatible
Slow fish
Compatible
Aggressive fish
Conditional
Small fish
Compatible
Large fish
Compatible
Delicate plants
Conditional
Buying decision
Before buying Guppy
Review these points before adding it to your aquarium. They are practical notes based on its profile, ecological data, and known relationships.
L
Adult volume
Make sure your aquarium is above 20 L before buying it.
G
Minimum group
Do not keep it alone if it needs a group; plan space for the right number of individuals.
A
Vulnerable fins
Avoid fin nippers or very nervous fish that may harass it.
Parameters
Water conditions
pH
7.0 - 8.0
GH
8 - 19
KH
5 - 12
Temperature
22.0 - 28.0 ºC
Growth and behavior
Juvenile to adult
Juvenile
As a juvenile it is usually more flexible and less dominant than an adult. Even so, it benefits from cover, stable parameters and tank mates that do not compete intensely in the midwater area.
Shift
The transition to adulthood usually brings more stable behavior when group size, space and parameters are suitable.
Adult
As an adult it behaves as a community fish and needs space, tank mates and activity level to be well balanced. Its impact increases when bioload or competition is high.
Ecological profile
Role and biological pressure
Community Fish
Community Fish
Small
Medium
Wide
None
Profile: community fish, with medium bioload and primary use of the midwater area. It can adapt to calm communities, although it usually behaves better with compatible companions. It is vulnerable to harassment from fast fish or fin-nipping species.
Ecological radar
profile
Territoriality
24%
Aggression
20%
Activity
52%
Thermal sensitivity
52%
Bioload
52%
Common mistakes
What to avoid
Keeping it in tanks below the recommended adult volume.
Keeping too few individuals for a social species.
Relations
Compatible with
✓
Platy
Compatible
Main risk: Water parameters
Low risk
Poecilia Reticulata + Xiphophorus maculatus: cohabitation is usually viable if volume, parameters, groups and adult behavior are respected.
B
Bronze cory
Compatible
Main risk: Water parameters
Low risk
Poecilia Reticulata + Corydoras aeneus: cohabitation is usually viable if volume, parameters, groups and adult behavior are respected.
Angelfish
Conditional
Main risk: Water parameters
Review conditions
Pterophyllum scalare + Poecilia Reticulata: territoriality, dominance or competition for calm areas of the aquarium may occur.
C
Cardinal tetra
Conditional
Main risk: Thermal stress
Review conditions
Poecilia Reticulata + Paracheirodon axelrodi: water parameters are not fully compatible or only overlap within a limited range.
C
Cherry shrimp
Conditional
Main risk: Predation
Review conditions
Poecilia Reticulata + Neocaridina davidi: shrimp, fry or small invertebrates may be at risk from curiosity, harassment or opportunistic predation.
Relations
Avoid keeping with
!
Oscar
Not recommended
Main risk: Predation
Not recommended
Astronotus ocellatus + Poecilia Reticulata: there is a predation risk due to size difference, mouth capacity or feeding behavior.
Siamese Fighting Fish
High risk
Main risk: Fin nipping
High risk
Betta splendens + Poecilia Reticulata: there is a risk of fin nipping, harassment or stress in slow, nervous or long-finned species.
B
Bumblebee goby
High risk
Main risk: Water parameters
High risk
Brachygobius doriae + Poecilia Reticulata: one species requires or does better in brackish conditions, unlike a standard freshwater community.
D
Dwarf puffer
High risk
Main risk: Fin nipping
High risk
Carinotetraodon travancoricus + Poecilia Reticulata: there is a risk of fin nipping, harassment or stress in slow, nervous or long-finned species.
G
Goldfish
High risk
Main risk: Thermal stress
High risk
Carassius auratus + Poecilia Reticulata: this combines coldwater or temperate species with tropical species that need different temperatures.
Essential care
Keep groups with more females than males if you want controlled breeding and less harassment. Avoid unstable soft water, ammonia spikes and tanks without fry cover. Filtration must handle population growth.
- Best in mineralized water.
- Control births and density.
- Avoid aggressive bettas and fin-nipping barbs.
Related biomes
Classification
Poeciliidae
Breeding
It is a livebearer and breeds very easily. Females may produce several broods after one mating. If overpopulation is not desired, separate sexes, manage rehoming or keep male-only groups in suitable tanks.
Alerts and health
- Agua estable y madura
- Dureza media-alta
- Filtro biológico eficiente
- Cambios de agua regulares
- Plantas o refugios para crías
- Control de sobrepoblación si se mantienen ambos sexos
Common issues
Control de sobrepoblación si se mantienen ambos sexos
Podredumbre de aletas
Infecciones bacterianas
Parásitos externos
Hidropesía
Problemas de vejiga natatoria
Hongos cutáneos u orales
Expert notes
Interesting details
01
Las hembras pueden almacenar esperma y producir varias camadas sin volver a aparearse.
02
Es una de las especies más usadas en estudios de evolución, selección sexual y genética.
03
Ha sido introducida en muchos países para control de mosquitos, con impactos ecológicos variables sobre fauna nativa.
04
Existen cientos de variedades ornamentales seleccionadas por color, patrón y forma de cola.
Editorial confidence
Last review: June 2026
Content based on parameters, ecological profiles and manual relationships.
Profile data
Ecological profile
Manual relationships
General aquarium observation
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