Fish Compatible With Guppies
The guppy, known also as a million or rainbow fish, is probably one of the most admired topical fish among aquarium enthusiasts. This is mainly due to its beautiful and varied colors and its easy maintenance, care and reproduction.
Int his AnimalWised article we aim to show you a complete list of fish which are compatible with guppies. This list is important to take into account when evaluating the coexistence of your fish with others. In addition, we will be mentioning other fish species which are not compatible with guppies.
Contents
What fish can I put with guppies?
The guppy, known scientifically as Poecilia reticulada, is a fish native to America. Nowadays however we can find this fish present in homes all around the world. This is mainly thanks to its wonderful and easy adaption to practically any environment. In addition, taking care of a guppy is relatively simple.
In order to know which fish you can add to your guppy’s tank, it is important to understand the characteristics and behavior typical of this species:
Guppies are an omnivorous species, this means that they feed on both plants and animals and have a varied diet. Telling the difference between a female and male guppy is quite simple. We can tell this difference by their colors: males appear in a great range of different tones, while females oscillate between shades of green and opaque gray. Guppies are very good swimmers, which can sometimes make other fish nervous. However, they usually get along well with other fish species. Although, this means that the other fish cannot be too aggressive or territorial, as this can lead to an unpleasant tank environment and sometimes even death.
1. Genus Corydoras
Under this name there are about one hundred and fifty species, characterized by their: peaceful behavior, ability to live in harmony with other aquarium fish and their simple diet. This diet is mostly composed of remains found in the bottom of the tank.
You will not run any risks with having a guppy and a fish from the Corydoras genus. This is because these fish are known to get on well with other fish.Some fish from this genus include:
- Bronze corydoras or bronze catfish (Corydoras aeneus)
- Suckermouth Catfish or pleco (Hypostomus plecostomus)
- Peppered Catfish (Corydoras paleatus)
2. White Cloud Mountain Minnow
The Tanichthys albonubes is a small fish native to Asia. This fish is colorful and easy to care for. It develops and adapts easily to community aquariums. This is mainly because of its calm and sociable character. The White Cloud Mountain Winnow gets along well with other fish and avoids possible conflicts.
3. Boeseman’s Rainbowfish
The Melanotaenia boesemani is a very popular fish among aquarium lovers, due to its colorful appeal which, however, fades a little when raised in captivity. A fish originally from Asia, it can now be found all over the world. Like the guppy, this fish is an excellent swimmer with a peaceful character. However, it does prefer to live in schools of its own species, therefore we recommend considering the size of the aquarium when introducing it as a companion to other fish.
4. Southern Platyfish
The Xiphophorus maculatus is a fish from Central America and is actually a relative of the guppy. Like the guppy this species reproduces quickly and requires little care. Thanks to this similarity, they make perfect aquarium companions. Although males can sometimes be territorial during mating season, they are not generally aggressive.
5. Zebrafish or Danio Rerio
The Danio rerio is a small fish, native to the Himalayan region. This fish is not only incredibly popular in aquariums but also commonly used for scientific research. Zebrafish are calm fish with very little care of what is happening around them. They take very well to guppies, as long as they are also surrounded by a couple of their own, in order to feel protected.
6. Endler’s Livebearer
The Poecilia wingei is a fish that comes from South America. It is a threatened species but thankfully has not dissapeared thanks to its distribution in certain areas and the fact that it is bred in captivity. It comes from the guppy family, with whom it shares its size and peaceful character. These fish are extremely attractive thanks to the metallic shine of their bodies. These fish should only be added to aquariums if it can be proved that they haven’t come from illegal captures and practices.
Which fish are not compatible with guppies?
When discarding certain species as companions to the guppy, you should mainly consider character compatibility. However, there are other important factors that need to be noted:
- Water conditions: temperature, hardness and the alkalinity of water are some of the things to consider when choosing partners for your guppy. Even if personalities prove to be compatible, each species requires specific water conditions. These conditions must must be met when having forming a community aquarium. Therefore, we recommend combining species with similar water needs.
- Aquarium dimensions: building a community aquarium can seem like a great adventure, and it is, but you can not just adopt all of the fish that you want. The number of fish that you have will always depend on the size of the tank, especially for those species that require their own schools.
- Aggression: Some bigger fish can sometimes eat the smaller fish for food. They might also be bothered if the guppies or other fish bite the fins. If, as the aquarist, you notice that there is any tension between the fish, we recommend separating them immediately to avoid any harm.
Some specific species should be avoided when looking for partners for your gupp. These species include:
- Freshwater Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)
- Common Barbel (Barbus barbus)
- Betta fish (Betta splendens)
If you want to read similar articles to Fish Compatible With Guppies, we recommend you visit our What you need to know category.
