TankStocking

Guppy (Fancy) Tank Mates

Guppies are hardy, peaceful livebearers that mix happily with most small, calm community fish.

By the TankStocking team · methodology-driven, sourced from aquarium care references Data v2026.06 · last reviewed How we judge this →

Their one vulnerability is their long, colourful tails, which fin-nippers like tiger barbs will shred. Otherwise guppies are unusually easy to stock around — the engine clears most peaceful community species, from corydoras to small tetras and dwarf cichlids. Plan for breeding: a mixed-sex group multiplies fast.

Guppy (Fancy) key facts

The sourced figures the engine uses to judge Guppy (Fancy) pairings.

Key facts — Guppy (Fancy) (Poecilia reticulata)
Adult size5 cm
Minimum tank10 US gal
Minimum group3+ (pair/group)
TemperamentPeaceful
Temperature range22–28°C
pH range7–8
BioloadLow
Swim levelAll levels
Beginner-friendlyYes
Sources & confidence (11 species)

These back the Guppy (Fancy) figures and the recommended tank mates above. Each figure is read from the TankStocking species database (v2026.06); below is the care reference behind it and how confident we are in that data. Confidence reflects the source quality, not whether any pairing is safe. Full source list and the welfare model are on the methodology page.

  • Guppy (Fancy) Poecilia reticulata — Aquarium Co-Op guppy care guide / FishBase Poecilia reticulata high confidence
  • Amano Shrimp Caridina multidentata — Aquarium Co-Op amano shrimp care; Aquadiction high confidence
  • Bamboo Shrimp (Wood/Fan Shrimp) Atyopsis moluccensis — Aquariadise (aquariadise.com/caresheet-bamboo-shrimp-atyopsis-moluccensis) high confidence
  • Black Neon Tetra Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi — Seriously Fish / Aqua-Fish (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi) high confidence
  • Black Phantom Tetra Hyphessobrycon megalopterus — Seriously Fish (Hyphessobrycon megalopterus) high confidence
  • Bleeding Heart Tetra Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma — Seriously Fish (Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma) high confidence
  • Boesemani Rainbowfish Melanotaenia boesemani — Seriously Fish; Aquarium Co-Op Boesemani guide high confidence
  • Bolivian Ram Mikrogeophagus altispinosus — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/mikrogeophagus-altispinosus) high confidence
  • Brilliant Rasbora Rasbora einthovenii — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/rasbora-einthovenii) high confidence
  • Bronze Corydoras Corydoras aeneus — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/corydoras-aeneus) high confidence
  • Cardinal Tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/paracheirodon-axelrodi) high confidence
Tank & group guidance: Keep guppies in a group (a trio or more) in a 10-gallon tank or larger. If you do not want fry, keep males only — a mixed group will breed continuously. The planner below is pre-set to 10 gallons — add your real list to test it.

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      Verdict

      Top Guppy (Fancy) tank mates

      A ranked shortlist: the species the engine clears with Guppy (Fancy) and that suit its size and temperament best — tap any to load the exact pairing in the planner.

      Amano ShrimpBamboo Shrimp (Wood/Fan Shrimp)Black Neon TetraBlack Phantom TetraBleeding Heart TetraBoesemani RainbowfishBolivian RamBrilliant RasboraBronze CorydorasCardinal Tetra
      Top Guppy (Fancy) tank mates — engine-cleared, ranked by size & temperament fit
      SpeciesAdult sizeTemp rangeMin groupSwim levelWhy it works
      Amano Shrimp 5 cm 18–27°C 3+ (pair/group) All levels Peaceful temperament, similar adult size, not a fin-nipper
      Bamboo Shrimp (Wood/Fan Shrimp) 10 cm 20–27°C 1 All levels Peaceful temperament, similar adult size, not a fin-nipper
      Black Neon Tetra 3.5 cm 23–27°C 6+ (shoal) Midwater Peaceful temperament, similar adult size, not a fin-nipper
      Black Phantom Tetra 3.6 cm 20–28°C 6+ (shoal) Midwater Peaceful temperament, similar adult size, not a fin-nipper
      Bleeding Heart Tetra 6 cm 21–28°C 8+ (shoal) Midwater Peaceful temperament, similar adult size, not a fin-nipper
      Boesemani Rainbowfish 10 cm 24–28°C 6+ (shoal) Midwater Peaceful temperament, similar adult size, not a fin-nipper
      Bolivian Ram 8 cm 24–27°C 2+ (pair/group) Bottom Peaceful temperament, similar adult size, not a fin-nipper
      Brilliant Rasbora 9 cm 22–26°C 6+ (shoal) Midwater Peaceful temperament, similar adult size, not a fin-nipper
      Bronze Corydoras 7 cm 22–26°C 6+ (shoal) Bottom Peaceful temperament, similar adult size, not a fin-nipper
      Cardinal Tetra 3 cm 23–29°C 6+ (shoal) Midwater Peaceful temperament, similar adult size, not a fin-nipper

      Other engine-cleared options (not necessarily ideal)

      These clear TankStocking's hard welfare checks with Guppy (Fancy), but are larger, bolder, or otherwise less ideal than the shortlist above — read up before committing.

      Anabantoids (Bettas/Gouramis)

      Banded GouramiCroaking GouramiDwarf GouramiHoney GouramiMoonlight GouramiPeaceful Betta (Crescent Betta)Pearl GouramiSparkling (Pygmy) GouramiThree-spot (Blue/Opaline/Gold) Gourami

      Barbs

      Checker BarbCherry BarbFive-banded BarbGold Barb

      Cichlids

      Freshwater AngelfishGerman Blue RamKeyhole Cichlid

      Corydoras

      Julii CorydorasPanda CorydorasPeppered CorydorasPygmy CorydorasSalt and Pepper CorydorasSterbai Corydoras

      Danios

      Celestial Pearl DanioDwarf Emerald RasboraPearl Danio

      Invertebrates

      Assassin SnailCherry ShrimpGhost Shrimp (Glass/Grass Shrimp)Mystery SnailNerite Snail

      Killifish

      Clown KillifishMedaka Ricefish (Japanese Ricefish)

      Livebearers

      Endler's LivebearerLeast Killifish (Dwarf Livebearer)Molly (Common / Sailfin)PlatySwordtail

      Loaches

      Clown LoachDojo Loach (Weather Loach)Dwarf Chain LoachKuhli LoachReticulated Hillstream LoachSiamese Algae EaterYoyo LoachZebra Loach

      Oddball

      Peacock GudgeonScarlet Badis

      Plecos & Catfish

      Asian Stone CatfishBristlenose PlecoClown PlecoGlass CatfishOtocinclusRubber Lip PlecoUpside-Down Catfish

      Rainbowfish

      Celebes RainbowfishNeon Dwarf RainbowfishThreadfin Rainbowfish

      Rasboras

      Chili RasboraGreen Neon (Kubotai) RasboraHarlequin RasboraLambchop RasboraMosquito Rasbora (Dwarf Rasbora)Scissortail Rasbora

      Tetras

      Congo TetraDwarf PencilfishEmber TetraFlame Tetra (Von Rio Tetra)Glowlight TetraLemon TetraMarbled HatchetfishNeon TetraRummynose TetraX-ray (Pristella) Tetra

      Possible with care

      These can work, but the engine flags something to watch — read the reason before you commit.

      • Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish) — Territorial
      • Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (Apisto Cacatuoides) — Territorial
      • Convict Cichlid — Aggression
      • Jewel Cichlid — Aggression
      • Kribensis (Rainbow Krib) — Territorial

      Best avoided

      A hard welfare check fires for each of these — don't mix them with Guppy (Fancy).

      • Chocolate Gourami — Species-only fish
      • Kissing Gourami — Predation risk
      • Licorice Gourami — Species-only fish
      • Paradise Fish — Aggression, Fin-nipping
      • Snakeskin Gourami — Predation risk
      • Bala Shark — Predation risk
      • Denison Barb (Roseline Shark) — Fin-nipping
      • Odessa Barb — Fin-nipping
      • Rosy Barb — Fin-nipping
      • Tiger Barb — Fin-nipping
      • Tinfoil Barb — Predation risk
      • Discus — Temperature clash
      • Electric Blue Acara — Predation risk
      • Firemouth Cichlid — Predation risk, Territorial

      Guppy (Fancy) community ideas

      Each build is scored by the same engine as the planner — tap one to load it.

      Guppy + shrimp nano

      ✓ Good starter plan

      5× Guppy (Fancy), 8× Cherry Shrimp

      Colourful livebearers over a planted base; shrimp need cover so their young survive.

      Load this build in the planner ↑

      Guppy + cory community

      ✓ Good starter plan

      6× Guppy (Fancy), 6× Bronze Corydoras

      A livebearer group up top with a bottom shoal — a forgiving beginner community for a 20g.

      Load this build in the planner ↑

      Common questions

      What fish can live with guppies?

      Most peaceful community fish: platies, mollies, corydoras, neon and ember tetras, honey gouramis, and shrimp. Avoid known fin-nippers (tiger barbs, serpae tetras) that target a guppy's long tail.

      Can guppies live with bettas?

      It is risky. A betta may flare at or nip brightly-coloured male guppies, and fancy guppies' long fins are tempting targets — the planner treats it as a "closer look" pairing best tried in a larger planted tank.

      Do guppies need to be in groups?

      Yes — keep at least three, and keep more females than males if mixed, so no single female is harassed. Males-only groups avoid the constant breeding.

      More on Guppy (Fancy)

      Related guides on TankStocking — each scored by the same welfare engine as the planner.

      Can Guppy (Fancy) live with…?

      Guppy (Fancy) stocking by tank size

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      Compatibility is a planning estimate: individual temperament, tank layout, and group sizes all matter. Cycle the tank, add fish gradually, and watch how they behave. See the methodology or browse the full freshwater fish list.