How to Grow Guppies

With their brilliant colors and frilly tails, guppies might look like fragile exotic fish, but they are actually adaptable and reasonably easy to raise. Provided their basic needs are met, guppies tend to thrive in a home aquarium. They are a good choice for people new to aquariums, as you have a high chance of successfully rearing them. Provide a suitable habitat and diet for young guppies and they should live for up to three years, possibly longer. Breeding is also likely once the fish mature.

Things You'll Need

  • 20-gallon or larger tank with light
  • Gravel, rocks and aquatic plants
  • Heater and thermometer
  • Filter
  • Flake fish food
  • Live food
  • Gravel cleaner
  • Bucket
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up a tropical freshwater tank. Include a heater, filter, gravel, rocks and plenty of aquatic plants. The minimum tank size for guppies is 20 gallons. However, larger tanks not only provide a more natural habitat, they are also easier to maintain because the water parameters fluctuate less. Fill the tank with water and wait at least a week before introducing any fish to allow the nitrogen cycle to start.

    • 2

      Adjust the thermostat as required to maintain a temperature of approximately 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

    • 3

      Introduce guppies two or three at a time. Float their bag in the tank for at least half an hour to allow temperatures to equalize before releasing the fish. Have about two female guppies for every male to maintain a balanced social group.

    • 4

      Feed the guppies a good-quality flake food. Supplement with live food such as bloodworms and daphnia. Live foods are high in nutrients and aid healthy growth. They also allow the guppies to exhibit natural chasing behavior and may improve their coloration.

    • 5

      Remove 10 percent to 25 percent of the water each week, using a gravel cleaner with a tube attached and a bucket. Shake the gravel cleaner in the tank to start the water flowing and focus on siphoning up debris as well as water. Replace the water slowly with fresh, dechlorinated water.