We will talk about guppy fish care in this blog.This care sheet will provide all the necessary information about how to take care of guppies, their diet, habitat, tank set-up,health conditions and much more.
Overview
In this blog
- Key specifications of guppies
- Why is guppy fish care important?
- Why are guppies so popular?
- What are the different names and types of guppies?
- What are the things to keep in mind before introducing your guppies to the tank?
- How long do guppy fish live for?
- Guppies appearance or their physical attributes
- Guppies Habitat
- Guppies tank set-up
- Water conditions for guppies
- Temperature for guppies
- Guppy fish diet
- Guppy fish health condition
- Conclusion
How to take care of Guppy Fish?
You can take care of your Guppy fish by doing the following:
Tank should be cycled always to check the ammonia and nitrates levels in water.Spikes in their level is harmful for your guppies and their chance of survival will be reduced.
De-chlorination is also important and do check your tap water if they contain chlorine.So its important to change the water weekly to avoid chemical pollution.
Installing a good quality filter will do the needful,as it keeps the ammonia and nitrates levels in check and keep the water quality intact.
They need proper oxygenated water like other fish.Drop in the oxygen level can lead to the death of your guppies.
A sponge filter can be installed to check the oxygen levels in water.It’s quite effective and keeps your guppies beautiful and healthy.
The pH range between 6.8 to 7.5 or 8(almost neutral like tap water) will be best for them.Water hardness should be between 8-12 dGH.
Key Specifications of guppy fish
| Scientific name | Poecilia reticulata |
| Orderfamily | CyprinodontiformesPoeciliidae |
| Common names | Rainbow fishMillion fish or lebistes |
| SizeColors Sexual dimorphism | SmallGray (natural),red, gold ,bronze,albino (selective breeding)Males are more vibrant than females |
| Livebearers | Yes |
| Habitat | Tropical freshwaterSouth AmericaGlobal fish |
| Care-level | Easy |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| TemperaturepHWater hardness | 64F-84F6.8-7.58-12dGH |
| Tank size | 2 inch20 gallons |
| Diet | OmnivoresSurface feeders |
| female to male ratio | 2:1 |
| Lifespan | 2-3 years |
| No of Guppy species reported | 300 |
| Role | Pest control (Mosquito population) |
Why is guppy fish care important?
Guppies are one of the most beautiful aquarium fish and have been inbred (selective breeding) for generations for their beautiful colors.
They are one of the easiest aquarium fish to keep but before buying them you should definitely know some basic requirements and details about them.This will help you in the long run.
Why are guppies so popular?
Guppies are one of the easiest and most adaptable aquarium fish known.They are popular because of their vibrant colors, adaptability to various water conditions and can happily stay in aquariums of any size, because of their small size.
They are freshwater fish but can survive even in salt water conditions.They were introduced in home aquariums and ponds as pest control for mosquitoes(eat their larvas) to stop the spread of malaria.This was one of the reasons for their popularity back then.
Guppies are low maintenance fish and dont need heavy equipment set-up to keep them, often termed as beginner fish because of these reasons.
What are the different names and types of guppies?
Guppies are known by different names such as:
- Rainbow fish(Vibrant colors)
- Million fish or lebistes (high breeding or spawning rate,Guppies can give birth to 200 babies straight.)
- Livebearers (they give birth to young ones)
Types of Guppies:
- Poecilia reticulata – Most commonly found
- Poecilia wingei- Endler Guppies
- Micropoecilia picta
What are the things to keep in mind before introducing your guppies to the tank?
- Get healthy Guppy fish from the pet shops, try to check if they are skinny or suffering from any kind of parasitic disease.
- Some females are fat due to buildup fluids inside their body cavity.They should be avoided.Its very important to get rich quality guppies in order to avoid further complications.
- Male to females ratio should be maintained, to avoid stress in female guppies.
- Males chase females for breeding and this could stress the female guppies.It’s better to keep 1 male for 2-3 females in the tank to avoid such conditions.
- If you don’t want to breed your guppies then avoid adding males and females together.You can keep them in separate tanks if you want.
How long do guppy fish live for?
These beautiful babies can live upto 2 years depending upon the water conditions and the amount of care given to them.If the water quality is good they can live upto 3 years.
Guppies appearance or their physical attributes
Sexual dimorphism is prominent in guppies i.e males and females can be easily differentiated on the basis of colour, pattern and fin type.
- Guppies are mostly small in size and that’s the main reason they fit into any tank size.
- They are grayish in their natural habitat but in captivity they come in varieties of colors(red,gold,bronze,albino etc) because of selective breeding.
- Females(5 centimeters and can reach upto 7 centimeters) are larger than males.
- Female guppies have colorful tails and fins.
- Males are thinner and more vibrant than female guppies.
- Breeding tubes can be easily visible in males.
- Male guppies have four types of fin-anal fin which is rod shaped),dorsal fin (larger in males), caudal fins (larger and more beautiful in males),and a pelvic and pectorial fin.
- On the other hand, female guppies anal fins are fan shaped and are less brightly coloured than males.Their dorsal,caudal,pelvic and pectorial fins are smaller than male guppies.
Guppies Habitat
Guppies are tropical freshwater fish belonging to the family Poecillidae and are found in the warm waters (river, lakes and ponds) in natural conditions and are native to South America.
They are also known as global fish as they are widely distributed throughout the globe now.They were named after the scientist,John Lechmere Guppy who discovered them.
Guppies Tank set-up
Guppies can easily survive in any kind of aquarium.There are mainly two types of tank set-ups, bare bottom tank set-up and planted tank set-up. Both the set ups are suitable for them.
Planted setups are best for them so add healthy plants inside the tank for proper oxygenation and filtration.Floating plants are a good choice for guppy tanks.
Plants like java moss, aquatic ferns, sword plants, hornworts etc can be included in your planted setups.
They are also called as cooling fish and can be kept in numbers in a similar tank.Their personalities are so enchanting (especially males) that they make your tank look so beautiful with their presence in it.
Guppies tank size
Guppies can adjust in any tank size,but the ideal tank size of 2 inch will be perfect for them. A 20 gallon will be sufficient for them.
Guppies tank Mates
Guppies are peaceful fish and small sized fish and they get along well with tank mates of their own kind like neon tetras, cory catfish, mollies, platies, swordtails etc.
Avoid keeping them with aggressive and large sized fish like angelfish, bala sharks and tiger barbs as they try to hurt guppies by ripping off their fins and even fight for food and space with them.
They are smaller in size and can become food for large fish like angelfish.In my opinion add peaceful and compatible fish in your guppy tank.
Temperature for guppies
Guppies are tropical fish so the temperature between 64-84 degrees fahrenheit (if you want to grow them faster) should be maintained in the tank.
Guppy fish diet
Guppies are omnivorous and enjoy eating varieties of food.They are not picky-eaters and can eat almost anything.Algae is the main source of their high-protein diet.
They eat live food like worms, pellets, flakes and customized guppy food of high nutritional value are also available in the market.
You can give them veggies also from your kitchen, make sure they are boiled properly, smaller in size and soft to eat.
Feed them twice a day, but don’t overfeed them.Guppies are surface feeders because of their mouth shape.
Guppy fish health condition
Guppies are easygoing aquarium fish and don’t need special care to grow and survive,still they are susceptible to illness and various diseases, the primary reason being the poor water quality.They are prone to various parasitic diseases and tail and fin rotting disease.
Conclusion
- Guppies are easygoing beginner fish and get along well with right tank-mates.
- Keep the water parameters in check and always maintain the male to female ratio in the tank for both breeding purposes and stress related issues.
- Quarantine the new fish for about 2-3 weeks in a quarantine tank before introducing them to the main tank to avoid parasitic and related diseases.
- They don’t need any sophisticated equipment to handle them.All they want is a clean tank, with good filtration, balanced and nutritional meals twice a day and a stress free environment.
- If all the above mentioned points are followed properly then definitely your guppies will grow well in the tank for 2 years without any disease.
Frequently asked questions on guppy fish care
How long does guppy fries take to mature?
Guppy fries mature in 4 to 5 months.
How long is the gestation period of Guppies?
The gestation period of guppies varies between 21-40 days.
Is guppy a low maintenance fish or high maintenance fish?
Guppies are usually low maintenance fish because they don’t need any special equipment to maintain them.
Do Guppies eat their fries?
They mistake their fries for food and try to eat them.
Can you add shrimps in guppy tanks?
Yes,shrimps are also peaceful like guppies and will not harm guppies. They can co-exist easily in the same tank.
How many guppies can you keep in your tank?
You can keep 3-4 guppies together in a 5 gallon tank.
Do you need a separate breeding tank for your guppies?
Yes, you need a separate tank for breeding your guppies as they increase the chance of survival.
How male attract females for mating?
They display their courtship behavior by dancing.
What should be given to them to maintain their beautiful and vibrant colors?
They should be given a protein and vitamin rich diet to maintain their beautiful colors.
How to avoid breeding in a tank of male and female guppies?
Males and females can be separated in a similar tank with the help of nets to avoid breeding.Males tend to harass female guppies for mating and chase them.Chasing leads to stress and this in turn will make them less active and in the same tank.
