Compatibility brief
Can African freshwater butterflyfish live with Guppy?
Risky. This mix is commonly discouraged for typical setups.
Compatibility score
Profile confidence: medium
How we decideFishori checks adult size and predation risk, behaviour, water requirements and tank needs before giving a verdict.
150L
Combined minimum footprint reference for these two species: about 150L (larger active fish often want more length).
African freshwater butterflyfish (about 10cm as an adult) can realistically eat Guppy (about 5cm) once grown. Plan around adult sizes, not shop sizes.
African freshwater butterflyfish is a fin nipper and Guppy is vulnerable to nipping — long fins are a common target even when water parameters match.
Assessment details
Compatible temperaments
Both African freshwater butterflyfish and Guppy share a peaceful temperament.
African freshwater butterflyfish may eat Guppy
Top issueAfrican freshwater butterflyfish (10cm) is predatory and Guppy (5cm) is small enough to be eaten. This pairing is unsafe.
Fin nipping risk
African freshwater butterflyfish is a known fin nipper and Guppy has long, flowing fins. African freshwater butterflyfish will likely harass Guppy.
Compatible temperature range
Both fish can comfortably share similar water temperatures.
Narrow pH overlap
These fish can share water but their ideal pH ranges overlap only slightly. Aim to keep pH stable in the shared range.
“African freshwater butterflyfish (10cm) is predatory and…”
African freshwater butterflyfish may eat Guppy
Next steps
Concrete changes, not "research more" filler.
- •Avoid keeping African freshwater butterflyfish with long-finned fish like Guppy.
Try instead
- →Build a species-only tank for the larger fish, or restock with fish too large to be eaten at adult sizes.
- Seriously Fish. Pantodon buchholzi
Supports: aquarium size, water chemistry, temperament and compatibility (primary care reference).
- FishBase. Pantodon buchholzi
Supports: taxonomy and wild maximum size — translate to tank stocking, not a target number.
- Wikipedia. Pantodon buchholzi
Supports: general species background and common-name orientation only.
- Seriously Fish. Poecilia reticulata
Primary: aquarium size, water chemistry, behaviour, and compatibility (URL verified in upgrade script; recheck if site content changes).
- FishBase. Poecilia reticulata
Secondary: taxonomy, distribution, and maximum length in nature; cross-check with aquarium import lines and measured tank parameters.
- Wikipedia. Poecilia reticulata
Secondary: general species context; verify all husbandry numbers against a dedicated aquarium care sheet and your test kit, not a single table row.
- Wikipedia. Guppy
Encyclopaedia overview; use specialist aquarium sources for your stock's real temperature/pH/footprint needs.
Try this next
Build the full stocking list with African freshwater butterflyfish + Guppy
Plan further
Check each species’ mates list, size the glass, then verify the full stock in the builder. Methodology explains how verdicts are produced.
Individual fish vary in personality. Fishori uses conservative hobby rules. Observe any new introduction closely, feed thoughtfully, and keep a quarantine or backup plan. This is not veterinary advice.
Profile data confidence: high. Checked against several solid care sources that mostly agree.