How to care for guppies is one of my favorite topics.

I’ve kept guppies for almost two decades and have enjoyed every moment caring for the upbeat, colorful fish.

Guppies are also known as “millionfish” and “rainbow fish” and are among the world’s most widely kept tropical freshwater fish. Guppies are different from most fish in that they are livebearers and birth fry to raise to a larger size, and in the wild, guppies come from Brazil, Jamaica, Trinidad, and many other nations.

Guppies are fun due to their many different, showy colors and their joyful existence as community-dwelling fish. Guppies love to swim around together and are a vibrant addition to any tropical fish tank.

When purchasing, try to source your fish from local breeders sold at pet shops instead of imported guppies.

5 Guppy Care Sheet Quick Points

  • Heating & Light — 76° Fairenheit optimum temperature with a 70-78° Fairenheit livable range.
  • Tank Size — 5 gallons minimum for an initial group of three guppies, with at least 1 gallon dedicated to every additional guppy added to the aquarium tank.
  • Feeding — Feed tropical or livebearing fish food (smaller pellets designed for smaller fish) with occasional bloodworms and brine shrimp given. Feed twice a day, as much as your guppies consume within two minutes.
  • Cleaning — Filter your aquarium water continually and clean the tank with a 25% water change (conditioned) weekly for optimum health.
  • Housing & Environment — A pH between 7.0 to 7.2 is ideal for the water in your guppy aquarium.

Healthy guppies should actively swim around the tank more towards the surface. If you find your guppy lethargically swimming near the bottom of the tank, it could be ill. Occasionally, a lethargic guppy can be a sign of pregnancy.

Guppy Care

How do you maintain guppies?

With proper water temperature, weekly water changes, daily feedings, and appropriate pH levels — guppies are an easy species of freshwater tropical aquarium fish to maintain.

Guppies will live for 1-3 years if cared for well.

Are guppies easy to take care of?

Guppies aren’t too difficult to keep. Their primary difference from commonly kept goldfish is that they are tropical freshwater fish and must be kept at mid-70’s temperature, most often listed as 76 degrees Fahrenheit as optimum. To maintain an even temperature, you’ll want to have a heater in your tank with a thermostat.

Caring for Guppies

How many guppies should be kept together?

Guppies are community-oriented fish, so you can start with an initial group of three guppies in a five-gallon aquarium and an additional gallon for every guppy added. Guppies are prolific breeders, so you can keep three male guppies to ensure you won’t have any surprise offspring, although male guppies are more territorial than female guppies.

If you choose to keep males and females together, be sure to keep at least two females per male guppy so the females don’t become too tired from being chased.

Male guppies are bright and colorful, while females are more muted and earthy in color tones.

Red Guppy

How do I know if my female guppy is pregnant?

Your guppie’s stomach will become larger, and you’ll notice a dark spot on the abdomen, also known as the “gravid spot.” The closer the pregnancy the larger and darker the spot will become, and you may even start to see the fry through the skin in the female’s body.

Can guppies survive in tap water?

Before adding to the aquarium water for guppies, water should be treated with a water conditioner to remove chlorine and other chemicals that will be harmful to your guppies. Your water should also be brought to the same temperature as your tank water before adding, so you don’t shock your fish’s systems.

If you’re not sure how to care for guppies — a little research and time will go a long way to ensure your guppy population has a long, happy, healthy life in your home. They are the most fun to keep!

Guppy in Water