FreshwaterBrackish
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
Poeciliidae, Poeciliinae
Facts
Characteristics
- Length
- Up to 5 cm
- Body shape
- Streamlined
Care
- Group
- Missing
- Smallest aquarium
- 5 liters
- Diet
- Missing
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Behavior
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Swims
- Missing
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Water values
Smallest tank
5 liters26 × 13 × 16 cm · For one fish
Worked out from its length, as we don’t yet know what size tank it should have. Do you? Sign up and tell us in the app.
Try other measures in the appNativeIntroduced
Lives wild in Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Japan, Trinidad & Tobago, and Venezuela.
Introduced to Albania, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Comoros, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, and 54 more countries.
Videos
Deep Blue Springs & Critically Endangered Bettas | Exploring Southern Thailand EP1
Rodrigo SilvaDec 18, 2025
Poecilia reticulata video.mp4
MikoljiJan 21, 2010
Tank mates
More about the species
About the species
Inhabits warm springs and their effluents, weedy ditches and canals. Found in various habitats, ranging from highly turbid water in ponds, canals and ditches at low elevations to pristine mountain streams at high elevations. Occurs in wide variety of habitats with low predation pressure, usually in very small streams and densely vegetated lakes and springs. Has a wide salinity range but requires fairly warm temperatures (23-24 °C) and quiet vegetated water for survival. Feeds on zooplankton, small insects and detritus. One of the most popular aquarium fishes with many standardized varieties. Used in genetics research. Female reaches 5 cm SL. Males mature at 2 months and females at 3 months of age. Aquarium keeping: in groups of 5 or more individuals; minimum aquarium size 60 cm. A very popular and widely available species in the aquarium trade. In Australia, wild populations were established prior to the 1970s, undoubtedly the result of thoughtless aquarists discarding unwanted pets. Maximum length for female taken from Ref. 43281.
Source: FishBase
Other names
Other scientific names
- Acanthophacelus guppii
- Acanthophacelus reticulatus
- Girardinus guppii
- Girardinus reticulatus
- Haridichthys reticulatus
- Heterandria guppyi
In other languages
- Guppy
- Guppy
- Guppy
- Miljoonakala
- Barbados millions, Guppies, Million fish, Millions, Millions fish, Rainbow fish
Articles
All articles
Fin rot and columnaris4 min read
Bacteria that attack the fins, mouth and skin, nearly always after poor water. When water changes are enough, and when more is needed.
How to set up a South American aquarium4 min read
Soft, acidic water, subdued light, sand, roots and fallen leaves: how to set up a biotope aquarium from the Amazon and the rivers around it.
How to set up a Central American aquarium5 min read
Hard, alkaline water, sand and rock: an aquarium from the rivers and lakes of Mexico and Central America, with cichlids and livebearers.
How to set up an Asian aquarium5 min read
Two aquariums from Southeast Asia: calm forest streams and peat swamps with soft, brown water, and fast mountain streams with cool, oxygen-rich water.