Peaceul Guppy Tank Mates Your Guppies Will Get Along With

12 Awesome Guppy Tank Mates

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When it comes to finding the best Guppy tank mates it’s actually pretty easy.

If you were ranking popular fish, guppies would be a strong contender, hands down. Although they can be found in streams, ponds, lakes, and just about any other body of water, many guppy fish call aquariums home and 

People like to put guppy fish in their tanks because they’re low maintenance fish that are beautifully colored and get along with many other different types of fish.

Guppy Tank Mates

In fact, its colors are so brilliant that guppies are often referred to as rainbow fish because of the beautiful colors on its fins and body. Males are typically brighter while the female guppies tend to be more subdued in color.

Guppies have small heads, long bodies, and tails that can’t be missed. They come in a variety of shapes which is the prominent feature of the guppy. Their typical lifespan is anywhere from 1-3 years and are omnivores who like tropical fish flakes and brine shrimp.

Guppies are tropical fish that are native to South America and named after Robert John Lechmere Guppy who discovered the fish in 1866 in Trinidad.  They are also sometimes called “million fish” because they reproduce easily and often have numerous offspring at the same time.

Here are some other facts about the ever-so-popular Guppy fish.

Care Level: Easy (they’re also inexpensive fish which also makes them popular)
Ideal tank size:  depends on the number of guppies in the tank, it’s recommended 1 gallon of water for every 1 inch of fish
Temperature range:  65-85 degrees Fahrenheit
pH Range: 7-8

What fish are compatible with Guppies?

The best tank mates would be small active fish that don’t have long fins. Most tetras like the cardinal or neon tetra as well as some bottom feeders like shrimp and corydoras catfish would work well. Rasboras and other livebearers can also be compatible with your Guppies.

Some Cool Stuff For Your Guppies

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While some people prefer to have a tank of only guppies, other people allow their guppies to invite friends over.

If this is the case, here are some of the best Guppy tank mates:

#1 Cardinal Tetras

Cardinal Tetra

Care level: Moderate
Max Size of fish: 2 inches
Temperature range: 73-81 degrees Fahrenheit
pH range: 5-6

Cardinal Tetras make good tank mates for Guppies because they are also beautiful in color, making for one good-looking tank!

They are also peaceful fish that just want to swim around, hang out, eat and have a good time!

Check out this roundup of some great Cardinal Tetra Tank Mates! 

#2 Corydoras Catfish

Cory Catfish

Care level: Easy
Max Size of fish: 2.5 inches
Temperature range: 74-80 degrees Fahrenheit
pH range: 7-8

Corydoras Catfish are busy fish as they swim around and clean the tank by looking for particles that may not have been eaten. Having these guys in with your guppies means less clean-up for you!

They come in peace, just like a Guppy which is another reason why they’re excellent tank mates. If you’re going to add Corydoras Catfish in with your guppies make sure you get a big enough tank because they like to be kept in groups of at least four.

#3 Clown Loaches

clown loaches

Care level: Moderate
Max Size of fish: 1 foot
Temperature range: 72-86 degrees Fahrenheit
pH range: 6.5-7.5

Loaches are a great companion for guppies because they’re bottom feeders that will just do their own thing without much interaction or trouble. They’re calm and peaceful just like the guppies.

Keep in mind that some Loaches can get pretty big, so you want a tank that can house everyone comfortably.

#4 Glass Fish

Transparent glass fish

Care level: Moderate
Max Size of fish: 3 inches
Temperature range: 68-86 degrees Fahrenheit
pH range: 6.5-7.5

GlassFish don’t particularly like aggressive fish, that’s why they’re a good match for the guppies. They add beauty to the tank with their see-through bodies (thus the name glass).

They like to be kept in schools of five or more so keep this in mind when choosing a tank that will also be big enough for the guppies.

#5 Ghost Shrimp

Ghost shrimp

Care level: Easy
Max Size of fish: 1-2 inches
Temperature range: 65-80 degrees Fahrenheit
pH range: 6.5-8

Like the glass fish, the Ghost Shrimp get their name from the fact their body is semi-translucent. They’re good little tank mates for the guppies because they don’t bother with anything else.

They do like a good place to burrow, so if you are going to add these to the tank be sure to get a sand or gravel substrate to create a little hiding place. The size of your tank and the number of guppies will determine just how many ghost shrimp you can invite over to play.

Since they do enjoy their burrowing space you want to make sure there’s room for everyone.

#6 Halfbeak

Malayan Halfbeak (Dermogenys pusilla)

Care level: Moderate
Max Size of fish: 3 inches
Temperature range: 75-79 degrees Fahrenheitt
pH range: 6.8-7.5

Halfbeaks are known as good community fish making them friends for guppies and many other fish. They thrive with fish that are not aggressive. Halfbeaks like to jump so add a cover if these guys are in your tank.

They also have colorful fins which can complement the vibrant colors of the guppies.

#7 Molly

Poecilia-latipinna

Care level: Easy
Max Size of fish: 6 inches
Temperature range: 68-82 degrees Fahrenheit
pH range: 7-8

The Molly shares the same environmental needs as the guppy fish so it’s only natural that the two should make great tank mates. The best thing about the Molly fish is that it won’t fight with the guppy.

There are several different types of Molly fish to choose from including the Sailfin Molly, Black Molly, and Balloon Molly.

#8 Pleco

Common Pleco/Pléco Commun (Hypostomus plecostomus)

Care level: Easy
Max Size of fish: 24 inches
Temperature range: 72-78 degrees Fahrenheit
pH range: 6.5-7.5

The Pleco is a good choice for a guppy tankmate because it is a calm fish that is also a bottom feeder. Plecos will mainly stick on the bottom of the tank leaving the rest of the tank free for the Guppies to roam.

Their main hobby is eating the algae in the tank, so there’s even less work for you to do when these guys are around!

#9 Red Cherry Shrimp

Red Cherry

Care level: Easy
Max Size of fish: 1 ½ inches
Temperature range: 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit
pH range: 6.6.-7.0

You can cut down on your tank cleaning time by adding red cherry shrimp in with your guppies. They like to eat algae off the tank glass and any tank decorations you may have. The red coloring adds to the beauty of the guppies making for a vibrant tank.

You don’t want to have too many red cherry shrimp in your tank at once because they are known breeders and can multiply quickly.

#10 Swordtail

Marigold Swordtails

Care level: Easy
Max Size of fish: 4 inches
Temperature range: 64-82 degrees Fahrenheit
pH range: 7-8.3

The funny thing about swordtail fish is that they’re aggressive towards each other but are fine with many other fish including guppies. These fish are easy to take care but are known to be frisky jumpers.

So, if you decide to add these in with your guppies, investing in a cover may be a good idea to prevent any unfortunate happenings!

#11 Endler’s Livebearers

Endler

Care level: Easy
Max Size of fish: 2 inches
Temperature range: 64-84 degrees Fahrenheit
pH range: 5.5-8.0

Endler’s Livebearers are a good match for guppies because of their size and visual similarities. They are so much alike that some people believe they are relatives. Endler’s Livebearers are known to interbreed with guppies when they’re in the same tank.

They’re very small fish so if you’re putting them in the tank with fish that are in the guppy tank make sure the other fish are not too big.

#12 Rasboras

Harlequin rasbora

Care level: Easy
Max Size of fish: 2 inches
Temperature range: 73-82  degrees Fahrenheit
pH range: 6-7.5

Colorful and peaceful, the Rasboras are great little friends for the guppies. Just like the guppies, they’re not aggressive and just want to swim around the tank.

They do best in schools of six. If you choose the Rasboras as roomies for your guppies make sure your tank is big enough so all the fish have enough room to swim.

Tips For Guppy Tanks

Whether you are choosing one of these tank mates for your guppy or want to try a different type of fish, keep these tips in mind:

  • Stick with small fish. Big fish will try to attack your little guppies.
  • Get a big enough to tank. Since many of the guppy tank mates are schooling fish make sure the tank is big enough for all of the friends.
  • Diet & water requirements. Make sure the fish you choose will eat the same guppy food and need the same water requirements to ensure both fish will thrive.
  • No nibblers. Don’t get fish that are known to nibble like barbs. The end result won’t be good for your guppies.

Guppy Tank Mates to Avoid

Keeping these tips in mind, these are guppy tank mates you want to avoid:

Angelfish: If Angelfish are small enough, this little union may work. But, if they are too large they’ll mistake the guppy fish for dinner. So, if you decide to add in Angelfish you need to be prepared that some may mysteriously disappear.

Cichlids: These guys are just too aggressive to live in the same tank as the guppies. They’re quick, aggressive and will eat the guppies for dinner as well.

Further Reading: Cichlid Tank Mates

Those are the two biggies to avoid.

Others include the red-tiger shark and barbs due to their size. The bottom line is that you don’t want to add any large, aggressive fish in with your guppies.

Guppies are calm fish who just want to swim around in peace. They’re not into fighting and getting to know other fish that are too aggressive.

Fun Facts About Guppies

Besides the basic textbook facts about guppy fish, there are some other lesser known interesting facts.

Did you know?….

  • Guppies have been introduced to many rivers in Asia to reduce the number of mosquito larvae and to help fight malaria.
  • Female guppies give birth to babies that can be seen even before they’re born thanks to the see-through bodies that the females have.
  • Female guppies that are not in the wild can give birth to 20 to 60 fry a month! In extremely rare cases, their pregnancies can end in 100 to 200 fry! Can you imagine?
  • Guppy fish can survive in fresh water as well as in saline water.
  • If the guppy’s tank is too crowded it will get stressed out and start swimming erratically.
  • Guppies are prone to diseases such as fungal infections in the mouth. If another fish nips them, this can cause a wound which can lead to infection.

Can Guppies mate with other fish?

Male Guppies prominent reproducers and may try to mate with other fish, typically other livebearers like platies. Unfortunately, Guppies will not produce with other fish species, so their attempts will not produce any fry.

The bottom line is that guppy fish are beautiful to look at and relatively low maintenance. If you follow the rules and find some great tank mates, your guppies should live happily ever after.

Learn More About Guppies:

Sources:

http://www.softschools.com/facts/animals/guppy_facts/2461/
https://perfectfishtank.com/guppy-fish-care/
http://www.petguide.com/breeds/fish/glass-fish/
https://www.fishlore.com/aquariummagazine/may08/glassfish.htm
https://www.fishlore.com/profile-ghostshrimp.htm
www.petguide.com/breeds/fish/halfbeak/
https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/1073/?pcatid=1073
https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=1075+2725&pcatid=2725
https://www.buildyouraquarium.com/guppy-tank-mates/

Jack Dempsey
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