The guppy, also called million fish, is probably one of the favorite fish among aquarium enthusiasts, mainly due to its beautiful and varied color, the ease of its maintenance and care and how easy it is to reproduce them.
In this article on our site we will show you a complete list of guppy-compatible fish that you can take into account when evaluating the coexistence of your fish with others. In addition, we will also show you other fish that are not compatible with guppies. Keep reading!
What fish can I put with guppies?
The guppy fish, with the scientific name Poecilia reticulata, is native to America, but today it is present in homes all over the world. the world, thanks to its wonderful adaptation in practically any environment. Also, guppy fish care is relatively easy.
To know which fish we can add to a fish tank inhabited by guppy fish, it will be essential to pay attention to their characteristics and their own behavior of the species:
Its diet is omnivorous and the males differ from the females at first sight, mainly because of their colours: the males show a wide range of tones, while the females oscillate between shades of green and opaque gray. It is a strong swimmer, so this can be disturbing for very nervous fishHowever, it tends to get along with most species, although sharing an aquarium with overly territorial or aggressive fish can result in unpleasant situations, and even death. To avoid these inconveniences, here are some species of fish that are compatible with guppies:
1. Genus Corydoras
Under this name there are about one hundred and fifty species, characterized by their peaceful behavior, their ability to living in harmony with other fish in the aquarium and their simple diet, since their food is mostly made up of remains found at the bottom of the tank, as long as they are not decomposed.
With fish of the Corydoras genus you won't run any risk with your guppy, as they get along very well and neither disturbs the other's space. Some fish of this genus are:
- Coridora or tan tack (Corydoras aeneus)
- Catfish or Pleco (Hypostomus plecostomus)
- Pepper Coridora (Corydoras paleatus)
two. Chinese Neon
The Tanichthys albonubes is a small fish native to Asia, colorful and easy to care for. It gets along easily in community aquariums, as it has a calm and sociable character, gets along well with other fish and stays away from possible conflicts.
3. Rainbow Fish
The Melanotaenia boesemani is a very popular fish among aquarium lovers, due to its attractive colouring which, however, declines a little when bred in captivity. Coming from Asia, and today it can be found all over the world. Like the guppy, it is an excellent swimmer and its character is peaceful It prefers to live in schools of its own species, so it is recommended to consider the size of the aquarium when introducing it as a companion to other fish.
4. Platy
The Xiphophorus maculatus is a Central American fish related to the guppy, and like the guppy, it reproduces quickly and requires very little care. Due to its similarity, is a perfect tank mate for the guppy. Although the males show some territoriality when mating arrives, in general they are not aggressive.
5. Danio or zebrafish
The Danio rerio is a small fish, native to Asia, which is not only one of the favorites of aquariums, but it is also frequently used in scientific research. They are calm fish, of little care and that get along very well with guppies, although they need a school of their own kind to feel protected.
6. Endler
Poecilia wingei comes from South America. It is an endangered species, and in general it has not disappeared thanks to its distribution in certain areas and it is bred in captivity It is from the guppy family, with whom it shares its size and peaceful character. They are especially attractive thanks to the metallic shine of their bodies. It is important to point out that we should only add these fish to our aquariums if we certify that their origin does not come from illegal catches or malpractice.
Which fish are not compatible with guppies?
When ruling out certain species as guppy companions, what are the criteria you should follow? It's not just character compatibility, there are other factors just as important:
- Water conditions: The temperature, hardness and alkalinity of the water are some of the things to consider when to choose partners. Although the personality is compatible, each species needs specific water conditions, which must be met when having a community aquarium. Therefore, only species that require similar conditions can be brought together.
- Aquarium Dimensions: Building a community aquarium may seem like a big adventure, and it is!, but you can't just adopt all fish, the number of individuals will always depend on the size of the tank, especially in those species that require schools of at least five individuals to feel comfortable.
- Aggressiveness: Perhaps some species are not particularly aggressive with their own congeners, but they are with other calmer subjects. In the same way, large fish tend to take small ones for food and, if this does not happen, they will at least annoy them by biting their fins, which will create an environment of hostility in the aquarium that will make life difficult for all specimens..
In this sense, some species that should be avoided when looking for guppy mates are:
- Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)
- Barbel (Barbus barbus)
- Betta fish (Betta splendens)
