How to Raise Fancy Guppies

Fancy guppies are live-bearing fish that can quickly fill your home aquarium tank with multitudes of adorable baby fish. Guppies come in a wide variety of colors with several different fin shapes and sizes, adding a seemingly endless assortment of color to the home aquarium. Following proper care for guppies will help keep your fish at their happiest and healthiest, although these fish are one of the easiest freshwater aquarium breeds to care for and can tolerate water conditions that are less than ideal.

Things You'll Need

  • 10-gallon aquarium tank
  • Air pump
  • Filter
  • Heater
  • Aquarium decorations
  • Flake tropical fish food
  • Gravel vacuum
  • Sponge
  • Water testing kit
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up an aquarium using a tank that holds at least 10 gallons of water, if you do not already have a community aquarium. Include a basic filter and air pump, and keep the aquarium's heater within the range of 75 to 82 degrees.

    • 2

      Purchase at least one female and one male guppy if breeding the fish. Guppies are live-bearers and give birth to baby fish approximately once per month if basic conditions are met. Provide plenty of plants and other aquarium decorations for baby guppies to hide so the adults will not eat them.

    • 3

      Feed your guppies flake tropical fish food two to three times per day. Feed them only as much as they will eat within a few minutes to avoid overfeeding. You may supplement their diet with brine shrimp.

    • 4

      Clean the tank with a gravel vacuum once per week. Wipe the outside of the tank with a wet sponge or paper towel. Avoid using chemical cleaners that can kill your fish.

    • 5

      Test the aquarium water once per week with a water testing kit to monitor pH levels and other water conditions. Compare the results with the chart included in the testing kit. Correct dangerous water conditions as soon as possible.

    • 6

      Watch your guppies for signs of disease, including torn fins, spots or changes in behavior. Guppies are hardy fish and seldom become ill unless basic water conditions are not met.