🐠Guppy: gear and buying guides

The guppy is a colorful, lively and very prolific livebearer, ideal for beginners as long as births are managed. It lives in groups with roughly two to three females per male, in a tank of at least 60 L heated between 22 and 26 °C. It prefers fairly hard water and a planted tank; the equipment is simple but a heater and filter are essential.

Profile : 3 to 6 cm as an adult depending on sex, 60 L minimum for a group, water between 22 and 26 °C.

Guppy gear, family by family

• 🍖 Food

  An easy omnivore: quality flakes as a staple, with plant matter such as spirulina and baby brine shrimp. Two small meals a day are enough, even though it constantly begs.

• 🧴 Care & grooming

  Hardy in moderately hard to hard, slightly alkaline water, it copes poorly with very soft acidic water. A 20 to 25 percent weekly water change and quarantining newcomers are recommended.

• 🎾 Toys & enrichment

  Fine-leaved plants such as Java moss or cabomba provide refuge for fry and areas to explore. Leave an open swimming zone at the front of the tank for this active swimmer.

• 🏠 Bedding & habitat

  A tank of at least 60 L, well planted, with stable parameters rather than perfect values. Plan for overpopulation: one female can produce dozens of fry per month.

• 🧳 Travel & safety

  Transport in bags in small groups, protected from the cold. Acclimate slowly, especially if the source water is harder than yours, mixing the waters over 30 minutes.

• 🧰 Accessories

  A standard filter, a 50 to 100 W heater, a fine net for fry and possibly a breeding box. Equipment budget of around 80 to 150 euros for a 60 to 100 L tank.

Guides to read

• 60-litre aquarium kit: the full beginner budget with no nasty surprisesBedding & habitat

  How much does a 60-litre aquarium kit really cost? The full start-up budget, item by item: equipped tank, substrate, decor, water tests and consumables.

• Nano shrimp tank: the essential equipment to start off rightBedding & habitat

  What equipment does a nano shrimp tank need? Volume, gentle filtration, the right substrate and a full budget: the complete checklist for keeping Neocaridina.

• Betta tank of 20-30 litres: the ideal setup, step by stepBedding & habitat

  How do you set up a 20 to 30 litre betta tank? Low-flow filtration, heating, resting plants and a lid: the ideal setup explained in detail.

• Garden pond for goldfish: volume, equipment and budgetBedding & habitat

  How do you build a garden pond for goldfish? Minimum volume, frost-free depth, filtration and predator protection: the complete guide with budget.

• RO units and reverse osmosis water in aquariums: who actually needs it?Care & grooming

  Is reverse osmosis water essential for an aquarium? Find out who really needs an RO unit, how to remineralize and what budget to plan (unit or jerrycan).

• Water conditioner and starter bacteria: essential or just marketing?Care & grooming

  Water conditioner and starter bacteria: what do they actually do? Chlorine, heavy metals, faster cycling: what to buy and what to skip.

• Fertilizer and CO2 for aquarium plants: start simple, skip the lab setupToys & enrichment

  Do aquarium plants need fertilizer and CO2? The simple starter method: liquid fertilizer, easy plants, and when injected CO2 actually becomes worthwhile.

• Driftwood and rocks for aquariums: which ones are safe for your fish?Toys & enrichment

  Which driftwood and rocks are safe in an aquarium? Tannin-releasing woods, limestone rocks to avoid, the vinegar test and preparation: the complete guide.