10 Best Tank Mates of Guppy: Choose According To Tank Size
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Guppies are one of the most suitable & colourful pet fish for beginner fish keepers. But if you want then you can start a community fish tank with guppies also. Because it’s easy to choose tank mates for guppies.
Keeping guppies with other similar types of fish is not so difficult however, before going to make a community tank it is required to know about their tank mates.
So, this article is going to discuss the 10 best tank mates of guppies. So without wasting time let’s dive deep into the topic.
Top 10 suitable 10 tank mates of guppy fish
Choosing a couple of perfect tank mates for guppies is not hard. Hundreds of websites will recommend the same fish as their tank mates mostly.
However, they should be chosen according to their size, temperament, appetite & tank size. We will discuss all of these factors before choosing a guppy tank mate. After that, we will recommend our best suggestion among those 10 freshwater fish. Let’s start the topic.
1. Platy Fish
Comparison between Guppy & Platy fish
| Factors | Guppy Fish | Platy fish |
| Size | 1 – 2 inches | 2.8 – 3 inches |
| Tank Size | 10 – 20 – Gallon | 10 – 20 – Gallon |
| Tank level dwellers | Med-top Level | Med Level |
| Food habit | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Breeding compatibility | Guppies breed very often | Yes |
| Aggression | Low | Low |
| How many Guppy with platy | 6-10 guppies with 3-5 platies are good for a 20-gallon tank | |
Platies are one of the most suitable tank mates for guppies. Despite their sizes, they are mostly similar types of fish. Platies are freshwater fish that need ample space to swim like guppies. A low-maintenance planted tank will be the best for these fish.
Platies are livebearers like guppies. It means they give birth to their fries instead of laying eggs. So, floating plants will be good to keep their fries alive.
Platies & guppies breed very often. So if you want to breed them then you must prepare a separate breeding tank for them.
2. Zebra Danios
Comparison between Guppy & Zebra danios
| Factors | Guppy Fish | Zebra danio |
| Size | 1 – 2 inches | 1.5–2.5 inches |
| Tank Size | 10 – 20 – Gallon | 10 – Gallon |
| Tank level dwellers | Med-top Level | Top Level |
| Food habit | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Breeding compatibility | Guppies breed very often | No |
| Aggression | Low | Low |
| How many Guppy with zebra danio | 6-10 guppies with 3 zebra danio are good for a 20-gallon tank | |
Zebra danio is a slender-bodied fish. They appear with green body colour & blue stripes along with the body. They are very popular tank mates of guppies.
If you keep zebra danios with guppies then the tank will become more colourful and eye-catching. Zebrafish are hyperactive. So they need ample space to swim frequently.
Zebra danios are not livebearers like guppies. So it will be a bad idea to breed them together in the same tank. Not only that, danios don’t breed frequently like guppies.
You must know that zebra danios are considered top dwellers in captivity whereas guppies are considered top-middle dwellers.
So the water surface should be wide enough to keep them healthy. Otherwise, they may fight each other for food. A shallow but wider tank is preferable for them.
Read More:- 7 Best Beginner-friendly Aquarium Plants: Why & when to choose these?
3. Molly Fish
Comparison between Guppy & Molly fish
| Factors | Guppy Fish | Molly fish |
| Size | 1 – 2 inches | 3 inches |
| Tank Size | 10 – 20 – Gallon | 10 – Gallon |
| Tank level dwellers | Med-top Level | Med Level |
| Food habit | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Breeding compatibility | Guppies breed very often | Yes |
| Aggression | Low | Low |
| How many Guppy with molly | 6-10 guppies with 3-4 molly fish are good for a 20-gallon tank | |
Molly fish is probably the best tank mate for fancy guppies. They are also livebearers like guppies. Mollies are somewhat similar to them. So beginner fishkeepers, they can make a great community tank together.
There are so many types of mollies. Among them, balloon mollies & black mollies are the most popular. Black mollies may add elegance to your aquarium definitely with guppies.
Mollies are bigger than guppies. So a medium-sized aquarium is required to keep them healthy. During breeding, time add some plants to the aquarium. It helps to reduce the aggression of pregnant mollies towards guppies.
Due to a round belly, lots of aquarists can’t understand whether your mollies are pregnant or not. So if you want to know about the pregnancy of your mollies then click the link to know comprehensively.
Read More:- Types of Mollies: Choose from 8 Most Popular One
4. Harlequin Rasbora
Comparison between Guppy & Harlequin rasbora
| Factors | Guppy Fish | Harlequin rasbora |
| Size | 1 – 2 inches | 2 inches |
| Tank Size | 10 – 20 – Gallon | 10 – Gallon |
| Tank level dwellers | Med-top Level | Med-top Level |
| Food habit | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Breeding compatibility | Guppies breed very often | No |
| Aggression | Low | Low |
| How many Guppy with harlequin
rasbora |
6-10 guppies with 5-8 harlequin rasbora are good for a 20-gallon tank | |
Harlequin rasboras are great to look at just because of their appearance. These big-chested orangish fish are very peaceful but active.
Harlequin rasboras need a large number of mates. Otherwise, they may become timid & fade. In captivity, you must keep at least 8-10 harlequin rasboras in a tank.
You need to help Harlequin rasboras feel safe in captivity. So, adding live plants in aquariums will help both of these fish.
Cryptocoryne is a plant that is meant for harlequin rasboras. Their red colouration matches with harlequin rasboras. This live plant provides extra protection to guppies & rasboras both.
Read More:- 7 Best Beginner-friendly Aquarium Plants: Why & when to choose these?
5. Otocinclus Catfish
Comparison between Guppy & Otocinclus catfish
| Factors | Guppy Fish | Otocinclus catfish |
| Size | 1 – 2 inches | 1.5 – 2 inches |
| Tank Size | 10 – Gallon | 10 – 20 – Gallon |
| Tank level dwellers | Med-top Level | Bottom Level |
| Food habit | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Breeding compatibility | Guppies breed very often | No |
| Aggression | Low | Low |
| How many Guppy with otocinclus
catfish |
6-10 guppies with 6 otocinclus catfish are good for a 20-gallon tank | |
Otocinclus catfish are considered suitable tank mates for guppies. They are one of famous tiny algae eaters. If you want to add scavengers to your tank then otocinclus should be the preferred option for a guppy tank.
Guppies are med-top dwellers and otocinclus catfish are bottom dwellers. So they won’t disturb your fancy guppies anyhow. They can eat uneaten foods & algae from the top of the substrate.
Otocinclus catfish aren’t active fish species like guppies. They are shy and they need hiding places in a tank. So, you must add driftwood, small caves, live plants, etc to keep them safe. However, unlike guppies, otocinclus catfish need quality water to live healthily.
6. Honey Gourami
Comparison between Guppy & Honey gourami
| Factors | Guppy Fish | Honey gourami |
| Size | 1 – 2 inches | 2 – 2.4 inches |
| Tank Size | 10 – 20 – Gallon | 10 – Gallon |
| Tank level dwellers | Med-top Level | Med Level |
| Food habit | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Breeding compatibility | Guppies breed very often | Medium |
| Aggression | Low | Medium |
| How many Guppy with honey
gourami |
6-10 guppies with 1 honey gourami are good for a 20-gallon tank | |
Honey gourami is a good choice as a tank mate for guppies. They are colourful and can make a good community tank with fancy guppies.
Despite their tiny size, honey gourami should not be kept with guppies in a small tank. They need a minimum 40-50 gallon tank to live healthily. The planted aquarium is preferable for honey gourami. It is because they need hiding places in the tank.
Guppies can live in hard water. However, it should not be followed if you wish to keep honey gourami with guppies. Quality water is a must for both of them. Chlorine & chloramine should be removed before adding any fish.
Read More:- Symptoms of Chlorine Poisoning in Fish Tank
7. Female Betta
Comparison between Guppy & Female Betta
| Factors | Guppy Fish | Female betta |
| Size | 1 – 2 inches | 2.5 inches |
| Tank Size | 10 – 20 – Gallon | 5 – Gallon |
| Tank level dwellers | Med-top Level | Med Level |
| Food habit | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Breeding compatibility | Guppies breed very often | No |
| Aggression | Low | Medium |
| How many Guppy with female
betta |
6-10 guppies with 1 female betta are good for a 20-gallon tank | |
Lots of fish keepers want to keep guppies with betta fish as both are colourful fish breeds. However, it is not possible to keep guppies with male betta fish due to their aggressive nature.
Therefore, guppies can be kept together with female betta fish. Female bettas are comparatively less aggressive than males. You can make a betta sorority tank with guppies.
There should be lots of live plants in the guppy community tank. These plants help to reduce the aggressive nature of betta.
The community fish tank must be big to reduce the aggression of female betta fish. However, you must monitor them minutely. If you see any fin-nipping activity, immediately remove the betta from the tank.
Read More:- Female Betta is Running Away From Male: 8 Possible Causes
8. Neon Tetra
Comparison between Guppy & Neon tetra
| Factors | Guppy Fish | Neon tetra |
| Size | 1 – 2 inches | 1.5 inches |
| Tank Size | 10 – 20 – Gallon | 10 – Gallon |
| Tank level dwellers | Med-top Level | Med Level |
| Food habit | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Breeding compatibility | Guppies breed very often | Yes |
| Aggression | Low | Low |
| How many Guppy with neon
tetra |
6-10 guppies with 3-5 neon tetra are good for a 20-gallon tank | |
The neon tetra is a great option to add to a guppy tank or pond. This fish is tiny like fancy guppies. They are peaceful and active too.
Neon tetras are famous for their appearance. The neon body colour of this fish is very eye-catching. Neon tetras prefer to live in soft water. So if you want to keep neon tetra & guppy both then a black water tank can be the best for them.
Neon tetra can live in planted tanks too. However, make sure the tank is wide enough. They need ample space to swim. Both of these fish are tropical fish so you don’t need a heater if you live in any tropical country.
Both of these fish are suitable for low-maintenance tanks. However, you must maintain the water quality well. Bad water quality decreases their lifespan very quickly.
9. Kuhli Loach
Comparison between Guppy & Kuhli loach
| Factors | Guppy Fish | Kuhli Loach |
| Size | 1 – 2 inches | 5 inches |
| Tank Size | 10 – 20 – Gallon | 15 – Gallon |
| Tank level dwellers | Med-top Level | Bottom Level |
| Food habit | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Breeding compatibility | Guppies breed very often | No |
| Aggression | Low | Low |
| How many Guppy with kuhli
loach |
6-10 guppies with 3 kuhli loaches are good for a 20-gallon tank | |
Kuhli loaches are the good tank mates of guppies. Like otocinclus catfish, they are bottom dwellers too. Their body shape is very unique. This slender-bodied fish doesn’t have any fins like an ideal fish.
Kuhli loaches are a very shy type of fish. So you need to add lots of hiding places in the community tank. Small types of caves and live plants with large leaves are the most preferable for them.
Kuhli loaches are suitable for guppies because they are bottom dwellers. The nocturnal kuhli loaches become active at night. They are algae eaters. They act as scavengers and clean the tank well.
Read More:- Bottom Dwelling Freshwater Fish: Choose From 9 Best Options
10. Cory Catfish
Comparison between Guppy & Cory catfish
| Factors | Guppy Fish | Cory catfish |
| Size | 1 – 2 inches | 1.5 inches |
| Tank Size | 10 – 20 – Gallon | 10 – Gallon |
| Tank level dwellers | Med-top Level | Bottom Level |
| Food habit | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Breeding compatibility | Guppies breed very often | Yes |
| Aggression | Low | Low |
| How many Guppy with cory
catfish |
6-10 guppies with 5-7 cory catfish are good for a 20-gallon tank | |
Cory catfish are another suitable tank mate of guppies. They are bottom dwellers like otocinclus catfish & kuhli loaches. So they won’t bother about the top dweller guppy fish mostly.
Cory catfish are a very peaceful species. They can live with any other type of tiny peaceful freshwater fish easily. They prefer to live with shoals. So a minimum of 5 cory catfish should be kept together with guppies.
Read More:- How Many Algae Eaters For Fish Tank: 5, 20, 55, 60g & More
Final thoughts
Despite being a colourful species, guppies need proper tank mates to build a successful community tank. So this article has discussed the top most suitable 10 tank mates of guppy fish.
All of the fish are good to go with guppies, as discussed in this list. However, we just recommend a few to choose quickly.
If you are just starting a fish-keeping hobby then you may choose mollies with guppies. It is because both are very cheap.
If you want to add extra colours to your guppy tank then neon tetras are the second recommendation as guppy tank mates.
Otocinclus catfish, kuhli loaches are suitable if you want to add some scavengers. Otherwise, it is not worthy enough to add them to a guppy tank.
Harlequin rasboras & zebra danios are suitable with guppies when you want a hyperactive aquarium. Those fish are good for kids.
You should not add female betta and honey gourami in a guppy tank unless you are doing an experiment or you have a little bit of fish-keeping experience. However, as tank mates of guppies, both of them are very good.
Best of luck and happy fish-keeping.