Species › Livebearers

Guppy tank mates and minimum tank size

Poecilia reticulata

Guppies grow to 6 cm (2.4 in). Their long fins draw fin nippers. They need 18–28 °C (64–82 °F) and pH 7.0–8.0.

Minimum tank

41 L (11 US gal), at least 45 cm (18 in) long

Adult size

6 cm (2.4 in)

Temperature

18–28 °C (64–82 °F)

pH

pH 7.0–8.0

Group

no minimum

Guppy minimum tank size

Guppies need at least 41 L (11 US gal), in a tank at least 45 cm (18 in) long.

That is the largest minimum among the sources below. The planner also checks the tank length against the adult size of 6 cm (2.4 in): a tank shorter than 4 times that is cramped (24 cm (9.4 in)).

Guppy tank mates

Each of the other 52 species in this reference, judged against guppies by the same rules as the compatibility checker. A guide, not a guarantee.

Compatible (29)

• Angelfish
• Black neon tetra
• Boeseman's rainbowfish
• Bristlenose pleco
• Bronze corydoras
• Celestial pearl danio
• Cherry barb
• Common pleco
• Congo tetra
• Glowlight tetra
• Goldfish
• Honey gourami
• Kribensis
• Lemon tetra
• Molly
• Mystery snail
• Nerite snail
• Otocinclus
• Panda corydoras
• Paradise fish
• Pearl gourami
• Platy
• Pygmy corydoras
• Red tail shark
• Rosy barb
• Siamese algae eater
• Swordtail
• White cloud mountain minnow
• Zebra danio

With care (10)

• Black skirt tetraThe only pH that suits both is pH 7.0, set by guppies and black skirt tetras. That leaves no margin. Black skirt tetras nip fins, and guppies have long, trailing fins.
• Cherry shrimpGuppies (6 cm) usually leave adult cherry shrimp (4 cm) alone but eat the young.
• Chili rasboraThe only pH that suits both is pH 7.0, set by guppies and chili rasboras. That leaves no margin.
• DiscusThe only pH that suits both is pH 7.0, set by guppies and discus. That leaves no margin.
• Dwarf gouramiDwarf gouramis and guppies: brightly coloured guppies can make male dwarf gouramis aggressive.
• Ember tetraThe only pH that suits both is pH 7.0, set by guppies and ember tetras. That leaves no margin. Ember tetras (2 cm) are shy and easily intimidated by much larger guppies (6 cm).
• Glass catfishThe only pH that suits both is pH 7.0, set by guppies and glass catfish. That leaves no margin.
• Harlequin rasboraThe only pH that suits both is pH 7.0, set by guppies and harlequin rasboras. That leaves no margin.
• Neon tetraThe only pH that suits both is pH 7.0, set by guppies and neon tetras. That leaves no margin.
• Peppered corydorasThe only pH that suits both is pH 7.0, set by guppies and peppered corydoras. That leaves no margin.

Not compatible (13)

• BettaBettas and guppies: a male betta treats bright, trailing-finned fish as rivals. Bettas are usually best kept alone. Some accept calm tank mates such as guppies, many do not.
• Cardinal tetraGuppies need pH 7.0–8.0; cardinal tetras need pH 4.0–6.0. No pH suits both.
• Clown loachClown loaches nip fins, and guppies have long, trailing fins. The only pH that suits both is pH 7.0, set by guppies and clown loaches. That leaves no margin.
• Cockatoo dwarf cichlidGuppies need pH 7.0–8.0; cockatoo dwarf cichlids need pH 6.0. No pH suits both.
• Convict cichlidConvict cichlids are aggressive and best kept in a tank of their own; they attack fish several times their size, so guppies would be harassed.
• Endler's livebearerEndler's livebearers and guppies: they interbreed.
• German blue ramGuppies need pH 7.0–8.0; German blue rams need pH 5.0–6.0. No pH suits both.
• Kuhli loachGuppies need pH 7.0–8.0; kuhli loaches need pH 5.5–6.5. No pH suits both.
• OscarOscars grow to 46 cm and eat animals they can swallow; guppies grow to 6 cm.
• Rummy-nose tetraGuppies need pH 7.0–8.0; rummy-nose tetras need pH 5.5–6.0. No pH suits both.
• Serpae tetraSerpae tetras nip fins, and guppies have long, trailing fins.
• Tiger barbTiger barbs nip fins, and guppies have long, trailing fins.
• Yoyo loachYoyo loaches nip fins, and guppies have long, trailing fins.

Sources

Where sources differ, the value shown is computed as the most cautious one.

Behaviour notes are from Seriously Fish, read 2026-10-26.

Check against another species Plan a tank