🐠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.

Species profile

Lifespan

2 to 3 years

Adult size

6 cm

Minimum tank

60 L

Water temperature

22 to 26 °C

pH

7 to 8

Temperament

Peaceful and sociable, yet males court relentlessly: keep two to three females per male to spread the pressure.

Health watch

white spot disease in stressed fish · fin rot in unstable water

🩺 Reminder: this page informs, it does not diagnose. For any symptom or health question, your veterinarian remains the only reference.

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

• Community aquarium or species-only tank: which is right for a first setup?Bedding & habitat

  Community aquarium or species-only tank: pros, cohabitation risks and advice for choosing how to set up your first aquarium.

• Best easy aquarium plants without CO2 for beginnersToys & enrichment

  Which aquarium plants can you choose without CO2 injection? A selection of hardy, easy plants for a beginner's planted tank.

• Budget for a first brackish water aquarium: the real cost to get startedBedding & habitat

  How much does a first brackish water aquarium cost? Tank, filtration, salt and salinity monitoring, budgeted item by item.

• Changing filter media too often: the mistake that wrecks your aquarium's cycleCare & grooming

  Why you should never replace all your filter media at once: nitrifying bacteria, replacement frequency and the right habits.

• Restarting a neglected aquarium: a step-by-step guideCare & grooming

  How do you restart an aquarium that's been left neglected without endangering the fish? Steps, water changes and mistakes to avoid.

• GH, KH and pH: understanding and adjusting aquarium water hardnessCare & grooming

  GH, KH, pH: what do these three readings actually measure, and how do you adjust aquarium water hardness without stressing the fish?

• Upgrading to a bigger aquarium: moving your fish without the stressBedding & habitat

  How do you upgrade to a bigger aquarium without breaking the biological cycle or stressing your fish? Steps and mistakes to avoid.

• Aquarium electrical safety: GFCI protection and good habitsTravel & safety

  Heater, filter, lighting near the water: what electrical precautions keep an aquarium safe for fish and people?