Flame Guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

The Flame Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) is a fancy guppy line bred for warm, fiery color: reds and oranges that run strongest through the tail and dorsal fin. The exact shade and pattern vary from fish to fish, which is part of the fun of a guppy group. Guppies are hardy, peaceful, always on the move and one of the best first fish there is. Browse the rest of our freshwater fish and supplies.

Care Guide

• Tank size: 10 gallons is a good starter tank for a small group of guppies, and a 20 gallon gives you room for a mixed group and a few tank mates.
• Water: 72 to 80°F, pH 7.0 to 8.0, moderately hard to hard water. Guppies do best in harder, alkaline water and struggle long term in very soft, acidic water.
• Diet: omnivore with a small mouth. A fine flake or micro pellet daily, plus frozen or live baby brine shrimp or daphnia a few times a week. Feed small amounts once or twice a day.
• Flow: gentle. The long tail of a fancy guppy tires out in a strong current, so baffle a strong filter outlet.
• Males and females: males are smaller with the big colorful tails; females are larger and plainer. Mixed groups will breed, and with several females per male the males spread their attention around.
• Watch for: fancy guppies are bred for looks, not toughness. Keep the water clean and stable, and watch for clamped fins or fin rot, which are early signs of poor water.

Specifications

Compatibility

Guppies get along with nearly any small, peaceful fish that likes similar water: other guppies like the Blue Neon Tuxedo Guppy, Panda Cories, Harlequin Rasboras, Otocinclus and nerite snails.

What goes wrong: fin nippers like tiger barbs and serpae tetras shred guppy tails, and bettas often treat a colorful male guppy as a rival. Anything big enough to swallow a guppy, including adult angelfish, will eventually eat them and their fry.

Recommended Foods & Supplies

• Hikari Fancy Guppy as the daily staple
• Hikari Micro Pellets or Fluval Bug Bites Tropical Flakes for variety
• Guppy Grass for cover and a place for fry to hide
• Seachem Prime for water changes

FAQ

Will it look exactly like the photo?
Not exactly. Flame Guppies share the same warm red and orange coloring, but the pattern and how far the color spreads differ from fish to fish.

Why does my new guppy look faded?
Stress from the move, a bare tank or soft, acidic water all dull the color. Give it a few days in stable, harder water with some plants and the color usually comes back.

Will guppies breed in my tank?
Almost certainly, if you keep males and females together. Females can store sperm and drop fry for months. Thick plants like guppy grass let some fry survive; an all-male tank avoids babies entirely.

How many should I keep together?
Three or more. If you mix sexes, keep two or three females for every male so no single female gets chased all day.

Can a guppy live with a betta?
Usually not. Bettas often attack colorful, long-tailed male guppies, and some guppies nip at betta fins. Keep them apart.