Tank mates by speciesTM-04
Guppy Tank Mates: Good and Bad Partners, plus Shrimp, Fry and Keeping Guppies with Platies
Guppies are ○ with most small, peaceful fish. Avoid fin nippers and aggressive fish, and expect fry and baby shrimp to get eaten.
In this article (17 sections)
- In short: which fish make good guppy tank mates?
- How do guppy tank mates look across the other 22 species?
- Why do long fins matter for guppy tank mates?
- How do you split swimming levels with guppies?
- Can guppies live with platies?
- Can guppies live with neon tetras and corydoras?
- Do guppies eat shrimp?
- Do guppy fry get eaten in a community tank?
- Can guppies live with medaka and goldfish?
- Can guppies live with dwarf gouramis?
- How do you plan tank size and numbers for guppy tank mates?
- What should you check before starting guppy tank mates?
- What should you do when guppy tank mates are not working?
- What terms come up with guppy tank mates?
- What else goes with guppy tank mates?
Frequently asked questions about guppy tank mates5
- Sources
In short: which fish make good guppy tank mates?
Guppies are ○ with most small, peaceful fish. The three to avoid are the betta, the angelfish and the tiger barb.
Guppies are usually called a good community fish. GEX's care guide also says they can live with almost any peaceful fish of the same size.
The worries are whether a partner will hurt the guppies, and what happens to fry and shrimp. The key point: choose guppy tank mates by fin length and by how small the fry are.
| Result | Partners (this site's 22 species) |
|---|---|
| ○ (14 species) | Neon tetra, cardinal tetra, rummy-nose tetra, platy, two corydoras species, otocinclus, harlequin rasbora, zebra danio, cherry barb, kuhli loach, bristlenose pleco, Amano shrimp, nerite snail |
| △ (5 species) | Dwarf gourami, medaka, goldfish, Neocaridina shrimp, red cherry shrimp |
| × (3 species) | Betta (male), angelfish, tiger barb |
What this article covers:
- Why the three × species do not suit guppies
- How to split swimming levels, and pairing with platies, neon tetras and corydoras
- What to watch with shrimp (baby shrimp)
- Why fry get eaten, and how to protect them
- Tank size and numbers, and what to do if it fails
How do guppy tank mates look across the other 22 species?
○ Generally compatible (14)
- Neon tetra
- Cardinal tetra
- Rummy-nose tetra
- Platy
- Panda cory
- Peppered cory
- Otocinclus
- Harlequin rasbora
- Zebra danio
- Cherry barb
- Kuhli loach
- Bristlenose pleco
- Amano shrimp
- Nerite snail
△ With care (5)
- Dwarf gouramiMale dwarf gouramis can become aggressive around colourful fish such as guppies (Seriously Fish (Trichogaster lalius)) / Dwarf gourami is semi-aggressive and may harass long-finned Guppy
- MedakaGuppy is a tropical fish that needs a heater; Medaka does not
- GoldfishGuppy is a tropical fish that needs a heater; Goldfish does not
- Japanese swamp shrimpGuppy eats baby shrimp (adults usually survive)
- Cherry shrimpWorks with dense plants, but baby shrimp get eaten (Aquarium Co-Op (Cherry shrimp tank mates)) / Guppy eats baby shrimp (adults usually survive)
× Not recommended (3)
- Betta (male)Male bettas see long-finned fish as rivals and attack them (Seriously Fish (Betta splendens)) / Betta (male) is aggressive and chases other fish
- AngelfishGuppy is small enough for Angelfish to eat / Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may harass long-finned Guppy
- Tiger barbGuppies should not be kept with fin nippers such as tiger barbs (Seriously Fish (Poecilia reticulata)) / Tiger barb nips the long fins of Guppy / Tiger barb is semi-aggressive and may harass long-finned Guppy
Source: Judged by this site's rules from the care data of each species (see the sources of the care data table)
With peaceful fish, guppies are almost always ○. For all three × species, the reason involves the guppy's long fins.
The △ pairs fall into three groups by reason.
- Medaka and goldfish: only one of the pair needs a heater
- Neocaridina shrimp and red cherry shrimp: the baby shrimp get eaten
- Dwarf gourami: with showy fish around, the male gourami may turn aggressive
△ does not mean "cannot be kept." It means read the conditions first, then decide.
Why do long fins matter for guppy tank mates?
Because a guppy's long fins get nipped or become a target for attacks. Avoid fin nippers and aggressive fish.
Seriously Fish says not to keep guppies with fin nippers such as the tiger barb. GEX's guide also says the tiger barb is aggressive and nips guppy fins.
| × partner | Reason | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tiger barb | Nips the guppy's long fins | Seriously Fish, GEX |
| Betta (male) | Sees long-finned fish as rivals and attacks them | Seriously Fish |
| Angelfish | A guppy fits in its mouth. It may also chase long-finned fish | Seriously Fish |
Aquarium Co-Op also says to avoid fin nippers and fish that eat guppies. The example it gives is the tiger barb.
The basic rule for guppy tank mates is never to add fin nippers. Once fins are torn, they take a long time to grow back to their old shape.
How do you split swimming levels with guppies?
Guppies swim near the top. Paired with tetras in the middle and corydoras on the bottom, they get in each other's way less.
| Species | Swimming level | Temperament | Group size (or more) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neon tetra | Middle | Peaceful | 8 |
| Cardinal tetra | Middle | Peaceful | 8 |
| Guppy | Top | Peaceful | 3 |
| Platy | Top | Peaceful | 3 |
| Panda cory | Bottom | Peaceful | 6 |
| Otocinclus | Bottom | Peaceful | 6 |
| Harlequin rasbora | Middle | Peaceful | 8 |
Source (7)
The swimming levels in the table were checked in sources. That guppies swim near the top comes from a guide by the German maker sera.
Platies are also top-level fish, so they use the same height as guppies. When you add more top-level fish, leave plenty of room near the surface.
With the levels split, the same number of fish makes the tank look less crowded.
Can guppies live with platies?
Guppies and platies are ○ on this site. Both are peaceful, and both like fairly hard water.
Seriously Fish says guppies can live with other livebearers. A livebearer is a fish whose eggs hatch inside the mother, so she gives birth to fry.
The platy is also a peaceful fish that gets along with many community fish.
| Species | Adult size (cm) | Temperature (°C) | pH | Swimming level | Temperament | Group size (or more) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guppy | 6 | 17–28 | 7–8.5 | Top | Peaceful | 3 |
| Platy | 6 | 20–26 | 7–8.2 | Top | Peaceful | 3 |
Source: Seriously Fish (Poecilia reticulata) / Seriously Fish (Xiphophorus maculatus)
| Item | Guppy | Platy | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water hardness | A hard-water fish | Medium hardness or harder. Does poorly in soft, acidic water | Seriously Fish |
| Males and females | One male to several females | One male to several females | Seriously Fish |
| Male behavior | Chases females tirelessly | Chases females eagerly | Seriously Fish |
| Do parents eat fry? | Yes | No | Seriously Fish |
When keeping guppies and platies together, have more females of both. This spreads out the males' chasing (Seriously Fish).
Keep more females than males of both guppies and platies. The males' chasing is spread out, and the females settle down.
Can guppies live with neon tetras and corydoras?
Both are ○. Aquarium Co-Op also names corydoras and neon tetras as guppy tank mates.
Seriously Fish also names tetras, rasboras, corydoras and small plecos. All of them make a tank of peaceful fish.
| Species | Temperature (°C) | pH | Group size (or more) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neon tetra | 21–25 | 4–7.5 | 8 |
| Cardinal tetra | 23–29 | 3.5–7.5 | 8 |
| Guppy | 17–28 | 7–8.5 | 3 |
| Panda cory | 22–25 | 6–7.4 | 6 |
| Peppered cory | 22–26 | 6–7 | 5 |
Source (5)
The preferred pH is in the table: guppies lean from neutral toward slightly alkaline. They meet tetras and corydoras around neutral.
Even for ○ pairs, set the water where both preferences overlap. Neon tetras and corydoras both live in groups, so keep the group sizes in the table.
For the neon tetra's side, see Neon Tetra Tank Mates, and for corydoras, Corydoras Tank Mates.
Do guppies eat shrimp?
Adult shrimp survive, but baby shrimp get eaten. The two small shrimp are △, and the Amano shrimp is ○.
Aquarium Co-Op gives guppies with cherry shrimp as an example. It says to make hiding places for baby shrimp and fry, so adult fish have a harder time catching them.
The same source says fish like these may pick off baby shrimp but leave the adults.
| Shrimp or snail | Result | Reason | Breeds in the tank? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neocaridina shrimp | △ | Baby shrimp get eaten | Yes |
| Red cherry shrimp | △ | Possible with thick plants, but baby shrimp are targeted | Yes |
| Amano shrimp | ○ | No baby shrimp are born in the tank. Adults survive | No (larvae grow up in the sea) |
| Nerite snail | ○ | Temperature and water chemistry overlap | No (larvae go down to the sea) |
If you want the shrimp to breed, grow plants thickly so baby shrimp can escape. If you want shrimp as cleaners rather than to breed, the Amano shrimp, which does not breed in the tank, suits best.
For shrimp compatibility in general, see Fish That Can Live with Shrimp.
Do guppy fry get eaten in a community tank?
Yes. Both the parent guppies and other fish eat fry, so protect them with thick plants or a separate container.
Seriously Fish says adult fish eat fry. If you want to keep them all, it says the sure way is to move the parents after the birth.
GEX's guide says fish with large mouths eat both parents and fry. Tokyo Aqua Garden also says the fry are very small, so they get eaten.
Guppies have many fry at a time.
| Item | What the source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fry per birth | 5 to 100 | Seriously Fish |
| Fry per birth | About 30 to 100 | GEX |
| Time carried inside the mother | 4 to 6 weeks | Seriously Fish |
| When they start breeding | At 3 to 4 months old, once the water is stable | GEX |
The sources give these ways to protect fry.
| Method | How | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Grow plants thickly | Add floating plants too, for more hiding places | Seriously Fish |
| Add willow moss | Fry escape into the fine, dense leaves | Aquarium Co-Op |
| A container for fry | Move fry into a fry-rearing box | GEX |
| Move the parents | After the birth, move the parents to another tank | Seriously Fish |
| A filter that does not suck in fry | Use a sponge filter | Aquarium Co-Op |
In a community tank, assume that not every fry will survive. Raise as many as you want to keep in a box or a separate tank.
GEX also says that breeding generation after generation in the same tank tends to produce weaker young. It recommends bringing in new fish from outside now and then.
If you want fry to survive, add willow moss or floating plants beforehand. Setting them up after the birth is often too late.
Can guppies live with medaka and goldfish?
Both are △. The guppy is a tropical fish that needs a heater, while medaka and goldfish do not need one.
| Species | Adult size (cm) | Temperature (°C) | pH |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guppy | 6 | 17–28 | 7–8.5 |
| Medaka | 4 | 16–22 | 6.5–8.5 |
| Goldfish | 10 | 20–24 | 6.5–7.5 |
Source: Seriously Fish (Poecilia reticulata) / Seriously Fish (Oryzias latipes) / RSPCA Australia: How should I care for my goldfish?
The temperatures overlap, as the table shows. But warming the tank for the tropical fish makes it on the warm side for medaka and goldfish.
GEX's guide names medaka as a guppy tank mate. This site also marks the pair △ rather than ×, on the condition that the water stays in a range that suits both.
For goldfish, there is a guide from the RSPCA (an animal welfare charity in Australia). It says fish kept with goldfish must be larger than the goldfish's mouth.
Goldfish grow large, so keeping them in a separate tank from guppies is safer. If you pair guppies with medaka, decide in advance how you will set the temperature in winter.
Can guppies live with dwarf gouramis?
They are △. With showy fish such as guppies around, the male dwarf gourami may turn aggressive.
This reason comes from Seriously Fish's dwarf gourami page.
The dwarf gourami is a somewhat aggressive fish. It may also chase long-finned guppies.
Some shop guides do name it as a guppy tank mate. If you try, keep a single male gourami and watch whether it keeps chasing the guppies. If it does, move one of them to another tank.
How do you plan tank size and numbers for guppy tank mates?
GEX suggests one fish per 1 to 2 L of water. Add in the tank mates, and the fry that will be born.
| Guideline | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Water and number of fish | One fish per 1 to 2 L | GEX |
| Smallest tank | About 19 L (5 gallons) for three fish | Aquarium Co-Op |
| For long-term keeping | About 38 to 76 L (10 to 20 gallons) | Aquarium Co-Op |
| Tank floor | About 45×30 cm | Seriously Fish |
| Males and females | One male to 2 or 3 females | Aquarium Co-Op |
| Room for fry | A tank with spare room, or several tanks | GEX |
The guppy's group size is in the table. Tank mates also have group sizes, and fish such as neon tetras need fairly large numbers.
Count the partners' group sizes too, and you will avoid overstocking. As fry are born, the number of fish can change a lot within a few months.
What should you check before starting guppy tank mates?
Check in this order: the partner's result, temperature and heater, fin nipping, then shrimp and fry. Rule out × partners at this step.
| What to check | Where to look | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The partner's result | The compatibility list above | Do not add ×. For △, read the reason |
| Temperature and heater | The temperatures in the table, and whether a heater is needed | With medaka or goldfish, keep to the △ conditions |
| Fin nipping and temperament | The partner's temperament and notes | Leave out the tiger barb and the betta |
| Shrimp and fry | Whether the partner eats baby shrimp or fry | If you want them to survive, prepare plants or a box first |
| Tank size | The total number with every group size added | Aim for one fish per 1 to 2 L |
You can check other pairs with the chart and checker in Tropical Fish Tank Mates Chart. Before adding fish, check every pair once.
What should you do when guppy tank mates are not working?
If fins are torn or a fish is chased nonstop, separate the fish causing it. If fry or baby shrimp vanish, add more hiding places.
| What you see | What it may mean | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Fins are torn or shorter | A fin nipper is in the tank | Separate it. Check whether a × fish has slipped in |
| Females are chased nonstop | Too many males | Keep more females |
| Fry disappear | The parents or other fish eat them | Grow plants thickly. Move fry into a box |
| Baby shrimp do not increase | Baby shrimp are being eaten | Add more plants. Breed the shrimp in another tank |
| The dwarf gourami chases the guppies | The male gourami has turned aggressive | Move the gourami to another tank |
If a fin wound turns white and cloudy, disease may have set in. If you use medicine, check the active ingredient and follow the instructions.
Keeping one spare container for separating fish means you will not have to panic.
What terms come up with guppy tank mates?
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Tank mates (混泳) | Keeping different kinds of fish or shrimp in the same tank |
| Livebearer (卵胎生) | A fish whose eggs hatch inside the mother, so she gives birth to fry. Guppies and platies belong here |
| Fry (稚魚) | Newborn, small fish |
| Baby shrimp (稚エビ) | Newborn, small shrimp |
| Fin nipping (ヒレかじり) | A habit of biting other fish's fins |
| Top, middle and bottom levels (上層, 中層, 底層) | Near the surface, the middle and near the bottom of the tank. Each fish swims at its own height |
| Hard water (硬い水) | Water with a lot of calcium and other minerals dissolved in it. Guppies and platies like it |
| Willow moss (ウィローモス) | A moss-like aquatic plant with fine, dense leaves. A hiding place for fry |
| Sponge filter (スポンジフィルター) | A filter that cleans water through a sponge, with weak suction |
What else goes with guppy tank mates?
Guppy tank mates connect to bettas, tetras, corydoras and shrimp. Go on to the next article from the partner you are curious about.
- Why bettas cannot live with guppies: Betta Tank Mates
- Partners in the middle: Neon Tetra Tank Mates
- Partners on the bottom: Corydoras Tank Mates
- Shrimp compatibility in general: Fish That Can Live with Shrimp
- The chart and checker for 23 species: Tropical Fish Tank Mates Chart
Tank mates by speciesCan Bettas Have Tank Mates? Why Males Live Alone, plus Cherry Barbs, Shrimp, SnailsA male betta is best kept alone. Betta tank mates for 22 species rated ○△× with reasons, the cherry barb, shrimp and snail exceptions, and fixes if it fails.
Tank mates by speciesNeon Tetra Tank Mates: 22 Species Rated ○△× with Reasons, plus Medaka, Shrimp, CardinalsNeon tetra tank mates for 22 species, rated ○△× with reasons. Bettas, angelfish and goldfish are ×. Medaka, tiger barbs, shrimp and cardinals, with sources.
Tank mates by speciesCorydoras Tank Mates: 22 Species Rated ○△×, Shrimp, Crowded Bottoms and How Many to KeepCorydoras tank mates for 22 species, rated ○△× with reasons. Bettas, medaka and goldfish are ×. Shrimp, sharing the bottom with plecos, and how many to keep.
Shrimp and snailsWhich Fish Can Live with Shrimp? Neocaridina and Amano Ratings, Hiding Places, AcclimationShrimp tank mates rated ○△× with reasons for Neocaridina and Amano shrimp. Fish that eat baby shrimp vs adults, willow moss hiding places and acclimation steps.Frequently asked questions about guppy tank mates
What fish can live with guppies?
Most small, peaceful fish. Of the 22 species on this site, 14, including tetras, corydoras and platies, are ○.
Avoid the tiger barb, which nips fins, the male betta, which attacks, and the big-mouthed angelfish. Choosing by the partner's temperament and the length of its fins prevents most failures.
Can guppies live with neon tetras?
Yes. They are ○, and they use different levels: guppies at the top and neon tetras in the middle.
Their preferred pH overlaps around neutral, as in the table. Neon tetras settle in a school, so add a full group.
Can guppies live with platies?
Yes. They are ○, both are peaceful, and both like fairly hard water.
In both species the males chase the females, so keeping more females calms both. They use the same top level.
Can guppies live with bettas?
No. They are ×, because the male betta sees long-finned guppies as rivals and attacks them.
A guppy's long fins are a target for a male betta. See Betta Tank Mates for details.
Can you add shrimp to a guppy tank?
Adult shrimp survive. Amano shrimp are ○, and Neocaridina shrimp and red cherry shrimp are △.
With the small shrimp, the baby shrimp get eaten. If you want the shrimp to breed, let the plants grow thick before adding them.
Sources
- Seriously Fish: Poecilia reticulata (peaceful, lives with other livebearers and tetras, not with fin nippers, adults eat fry, number of fry and time carried, hard water, one male to several females)
- Seriously Fish: Xiphophorus maculatus (lives with many community fish, fairly hard water, parents do not eat fry, keep more females)
- Seriously Fish: Trichogaster lalius (males may turn aggressive with showy fish around)
- Seriously Fish: Betta splendens (sees long-finned fish as rivals)
- GEX: How to keep guppies, for beginners (初心者さんにおすすめ！グッピーの飼い方について, in Japanese. Tank mates, tiger barbs, fry, water per fish, number of fry, inbreeding)
- GEX: How to keep guppies (グッピーの飼い方, in Japanese. Can live with almost any peaceful fish of the same size)
- Aquarium Co-Op: Guppy Care Guide (corydoras and neon tetras as partners, fish to avoid, hiding places for fry, sponge filter, tank size, male to female ratio)
- Aquarium Co-Op: Cherry Shrimp Tank Mates (guppies with cherry shrimp, baby shrimp)
- sera: Fish stock for a 60 cm aquarium (guppies swim near the top)
- Tokyo Aqua Garden: Tropical fish that can share a tank (混泳できる熱帯魚, in Japanese. Guppy fry are small and get eaten)
- RSPCA Australia: How should I care for my goldfish? (fish kept with goldfish must be larger than the goldfish's mouth)
Read next
Tank mates by speciesTM-02Neon Tetra Tank Mates: 22 Species Rated ○△× with Reasons, plus Medaka, Shrimp, CardinalsNeon tetra tank mates for 22 species, rated ○△× with reasons. Bettas, angelfish and goldfish are ×. Medaka, tiger barbs, shrimp and cardinals, with sources.Tank mates by speciesTM-03Can Bettas Have Tank Mates? Why Males Live Alone, plus Cherry Barbs, Shrimp, SnailsA male betta is best kept alone. Betta tank mates for 22 species rated ○△× with reasons, the cherry barb, shrimp and snail exceptions, and fixes if it fails.Tank mates by speciesTM-05Corydoras Tank Mates: 22 Species Rated ○△×, Shrimp, Crowded Bottoms and How Many to KeepCorydoras tank mates for 22 species, rated ○△× with reasons. Bettas, medaka and goldfish are ×. Shrimp, sharing the bottom with plecos, and how many to keep.
Tank mates by speciesTM-07Medaka Tank Mates: 22 Species Rated ○△× with Reasons, plus Tropical Fish, Shrimp, Nerite Snails, Goldfish and No HeaterMedaka tank mates for 22 species, rated ○△× with reasons. Three shrimp and the nerite snail are ○. Why tropical fish are △ or ×, goldfish, and outdoor ponds.
Tank mates by speciesTM-08Goldfish Tank Mates: 22 Species Rated ○△× with Reasons, plus Tropical Fish, Shrimp, Medaka, Cleaners and Goldfish VarietiesGoldfish tank mates for 22 species, rated ○△× with reasons. Why small fish and shrimp are ×, why tropical fish are △, medaka, nerite snails and tank size.
Tank mates by speciesTM-09Angelfish Tank Mates: Good and Bad Partners, Why Grown Angelfish Eat Small Fish and Shrimp, Tank Size and How Many to KeepAngelfish tank mates must be too big to swallow. 22 species rated ○△× with reasons, why small fish get eaten as angels grow, neons, corydoras, shrimp, tank size.
Tank mates by speciesTM-10Platy Tank Mates: Good and Bad Partners, Keeping Platies with Guppies, Shrimp and Neon Tetras, and Protecting FryPlaties are ○ with most small, peaceful fish. Platy tank mates for 22 species rated ○△× with reasons, guppies, neons, shrimp, fry, too many babies and tank size.Tank mates by speciesTM-11Otocinclus Tank Mates: 22 Species Rated ○△× with Reasons, Why They Get Bullied, Medaka, Goldfish, Shrimp, Algae and FoodOtocinclus tank mates for 22 species rated ○△× with reasons. Why otos get bullied, × bettas, angels and goldfish, △ medaka and shrimp, algae, food and numbers.