Guppy tank mates
Hardy and beginner-friendly in tap water. The real planning question is breeding. A mixed-sex group produces dozens of fry per month and overstocks a small tank within one season.
Lists below are built from this species record (safest, best with, risky, unsafe) — each link opens a pair-level check, not a guarantee.
Best tank mates (on file)
Merged from conservative safest and best with fields — de-duplicated by species.
The Guppy profile lists Corydoras Catfish as both safe and a recommended pairing. Corydoras Catfish schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish. Corydoras Catfish swims in the bottom zone while Guppy stays in the top, so the two will not crowd the same water column.
The Guppy profile lists Honey Gourami as both safe and a recommended pairing. Honey Gourami is a peaceful beginner-care species with a 40L minimum. Run the pair checker for your specific tank before stocking.
The Guppy profile lists Molly as both safe and a recommended pairing. Molly grows bigger than Guppy (10cm vs 5cm). Stock the Guppy group large enough to outnumber the Molly, or the smaller fish ends up bullied or off food. Water parameters barely overlap between the two, so check the temperature and pH ranges on both profiles before stocking.
The Guppy profile lists Neon Tetra as both safe and a recommended pairing. Neon Tetra schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish. Water parameters barely overlap between the two, so check the temperature and pH ranges on both profiles before stocking.
The Guppy profile lists Platy as both safe and a recommended pairing. Platy is a peaceful beginner-care species with a 60L minimum. Run the pair checker for your specific tank before stocking.
Risky or situational
From risky tank mates and broad avoid with (excluding “unsafe” below). May work with species-only setups, more water, or mature systems — read the pair page.
None on file beyond the safe list.
Fish to avoid with Guppy
From the unsafe list — predation, aggression, or space rules on this profile.
Oscar reaches 35cm and is flagged predatory. Guppy at 5cm is prey-sized for it. Oscar needs at least 300L, far above the 40L minimum for Guppy. The tank that houses one stresses the other. Oscar is rated aggressive and Guppy is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.
Jack Dempsey reaches 25cm and is flagged predatory. Guppy at 5cm is prey-sized for it. Jack Dempsey needs at least 200L, far above the 40L minimum for Guppy. The tank that houses one stresses the other. Jack Dempsey is rated aggressive and Guppy is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.
Tiger Barb conflicts with Guppy on temperament, predation, or footprint. The juvenile size in a shop tank is not the figure that matters here.
Betta conflicts with Guppy on temperament, predation, or footprint. The juvenile size in a shop tank is not the figure that matters here.
Tank size and groups
- Published minimum for Guppy: 40L — group minimum 3 .
- Compatibility changes when the tank is too short for turning, too little for a real school, or too warm for one species and not the other — that is why pair checks include tank context, not only temperament.
- Nearest litre hub to this minimum: 40L hub.
Plan before you buy
Pair checks for every mix, then multi-species stocking in the builder.
Filtration & heating
A 40L minimum tank for Guppy needs a filter rated for at least 160L/hr turnover and a heater maintaining 22–28°C.
Similar fish (same category)
- Endler's Livebearer — min 40L
- Platy — min 60L
- Molly — min 80L
- Swordtail — min 80L
- Sailfin Molly — min 120L
Related (care + temperament)
Other species that list Guppy
Reverse lookup: these profiles reference Guppy under safe or “best with” lists.