Assorted Guppy Male

Guppies are colorful, hardy, and easy-to-care-for fish, making them an excellent choice for beginner aquarists. Here’s a comprehensive care guide for keeping guppies healthy and happy in an aquarium:

Tank Setup

• Tank Size: A minimum of 30 litres is recommended for a small group of guppies (around 5). Larger tanks are better as they provide more swimming space and are easier to maintain.
• Water Parameters: Guppies thrive in clean, stable water. Ideal water parameters include:
  • Temperature: 22–28°C
  • pH: 6.8–7.8 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
  • Water Hardness: 8–12 dGH
• Filtration: A good filtration system is essential to keep the water clean and reduce harmful substances like ammonia and nitrite. Sponge filters or gentle flow filters are good for guppies as they don’t create strong currents.
• Heater: A heater is necessary to maintain the correct water temperature, especially in colder climates.
• Lighting: Moderate lighting is suitable for guppies. LED aquarium lights are energy-efficient and bring out the vibrant colours of the fish.

Aquascaping

• Substrate: Guppies are not picky about substrates. You can use gravel, sand, or bare-bottom tanks depending on your aesthetic preference and ease of maintenance.
• Plants: Live plants are highly recommended as they provide oxygen, hiding places, and help maintain water quality. Some easy-to-grow plants include:
  • Java Moss
  • Anubias
  • Java Fern
  • Hornwort
• Decorations: Smooth decorations and rocks can be added for aesthetics and for the guppies to swim around and explore. Avoid sharp objects that could harm their delicate fins.

Water Maintenance

• Water Changes: Perform weekly water changes of 25–30% to keep water conditions optimal. Use a water conditioner to remove chlorine and chloramine from tap water.
• Testing: Regularly test the water for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and pH levels using aquarium test kits.

Feeding

• Diet: Guppies are omnivores and need a varied diet. A good diet consists of:
  • High-quality flake food or pellets as the staple
  • Frozen or live food like brine shrimp, bloodworms, and daphnia
  • Vegetables like blanched spinach or peas for extra nutrients
• Feeding Frequency: Feed them 1-2 times a day, offering only as much food as they can eat in about 2 minutes. Overfeeding can lead to poor water quality and health problems.

Tank Mates

• Compatible Species: Guppies are peaceful fish and do well with other non-aggressive species like:
  • Corydoras catfish
  • Neon tetras
  • Mollies
  • Platies
  • Cherry shrimp
• Avoid Aggressive Fish: Stay away from aggressive species like bettas or large fin-nipping fish, as guppies’ long flowing tails can make them a target.

Breeding

• Guppies are Livebearers: They give birth to live, free-swimming fry. Males are smaller and have brighter colours, while females are larger and more robust.
• Breeding: If you want to breed guppies, it’s important to have a breeding tank or provide lots of hiding spaces (like dense plants) to protect the fry. Females can give birth every 30 days, producing anywhere from 20–100 fry at a time.
• Prevent Overpopulation: If you don’t want to breed guppies, consider keeping only males or controlling the breeding by removing females after mating.

Common Health Issues

• Fin Rot: This is a common issue caused by poor water quality or stress. Ensure regular water changes and monitor tank conditions.
• Ich: Ich is a parasitic disease that presents as white spots on the fish's body and fins. It’s treatable with medication and by raising the tank temperature slightly.
• Swim Bladder Disease: Caused by overfeeding or poor diet. Feeding peas (after removing the skin) can help resolve this issue.

Guppy Behavior

• Guppies are active, social fish that enjoy swimming in groups. They tend to be top-to-middle dwellers, so ensure there’s plenty of space for them to explore.
• Male guppies can be persistent in chasing females during breeding. Keeping a ratio of at least 2-3 females per male can reduce stress on the females.

Summary Checklist:

• Tank Size: 30 litres or larger
• Water Parameters: 22–28°C, pH 6.8–8.0
• Filter: Moderate flow
• Feeding: Omnivorous diet, feed 1-2 times a day
• Breeding: Separate males and females if you don't want fry
• Water Changes: 25-30% weekly

By following these guidelines, your guppies will thrive and brighten up your aquarium with their playful behaviour and vibrant colours.