Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
Family: Poeciliidae
Guppies breed like crazy—that's both their charm and their curse. Start with 3 and you'll have 30 within months. Males have the fancy tails; females are the plain-looking baby machines. Great for kids' first fish tank.
Water Parameters
Temperature
pH Level
Hardness (dGH)
Care Tips
Keep 2-3 females per male or the males harass them to death. Seriously, I've seen stressed females die from constant chasing. They prefer harder, alkaline water—my tap water at pH 7.8 is perfect for them.
Feeding
Will eat literally anything. Flakes, pellets, frozen, live—doesn't matter. I use color-enhancing food and the difference is noticeable within weeks. Feed twice daily, small amounts.
Breeding
Impossible to STOP them from breeding. Females store sperm and can have babies for months from one mating. Get ready to give away fry to your LFS or they'll overrun your tank.
📚 Sources: Care parameters based on SeriouslyFish, FishBase, and Aquarium Co-Op. Personal observations from the author's 5+ years of fishkeeping experience.