Guppies are small peaceful fish, making them compatible with many different types of aquarium fish. In general, other small peaceful fish such as corydoras, rasboras, and various tetras species would be potentially good tank mates, among many others.
Aggressive fish, fin nippers, and significantly larger fish should be generally avoided as tank mates for guppies. Guppies are active fish, but they have long fins, making them vulnerable to attacks by other fish. Significantly larger fish should be avoided as well, since they may eat guppies, even if they aren’t considered to be particularly aggressive fish.
In addition, tank mates need to be able to live in the same water parameters, such as temperature and pH. Fortunately, guppies are hardy and adaptable to a wide range of water parameters.
Since guppies are peaceful community fish, it’s not difficult to find compatible tank mates for them. With that said, here are the best tank mates for guppies:
Panda Corydoras
Common Name
Panda Corydoras
Scientific Name
Corydoras panda
Origin
Ucayali river system, Peru
Size
About 2 inches (5 cm)
Tank Size
Minimum 10 gallons
Temperature
68 to 77 F (20 to 25 C)
Water pH
6.0 to 8.0
Ease of Care
Intermediate
Compatibility with Guppies
Yes, they are compatible. Since they are bottom dwellers, they will be occupying a different level within the aquarium compared to guppies.
Native to rivers in South America, most commonly found throughout the Madeira River, the Nanay River, and the Aguarico River
Size
About one inch, with females being slightly rounder and longer than males
Tank Size
10-gallon or larger is recommended for a school of at least 8–12 pygmies
Temperature
Slightly cooler temperatures between 72–78°F (22–26°C) are appreciated
Water pH
pH of 6.4–7.5
Ease of Care
Easy to care for, but may be finicky in terms of water conditions
Compatibility with Guppies
Excellent tank mates for guppies, primarily because of their peaceful nature. Since they are bottom dwellers, they will be occupying a different level within the aquarium compared to guppies.
Yes, Zebra Danios can live with Guppies, so long as you provide a large enough tank for the two fish to have territory of their own. However, Zebra Danios are known to nip on other fish’s fins, especially those larger fins like guppies. If the environment is too crowded you can run into issues.
Leopard Danios
Common Name
Leopard Danio
Scientific Name
Danio rerio
Origin
India
Size
2.25–2.5 inches
Tank Size
10–20 gallons
Temperature
64–75°F (18–24°C)
Water pH
6.0–8.0
Ease of Care
Easy
Compatibility with Guppies
Yes, Leopard Danios and guppies can live together peacefully if certain conditions are met. Please note that while both species are generally peaceful, danios can sometimes be nippy and may harass slower-moving fish like guppies. Therefore, it’s important to provide enough space for all fish and monitor their behavior if you plan to keep them together.
Guppies and Dwarf Gouramis are compatible tank mates that can live together in peace for a long time. However, it’s vital to monitor the male Dwarf Gourami’s behavior carefully and provide ample hiding spaces to maintain a peaceful environment.
They are generally compatible. However, Guppies may try to eat small juvenile Cherry Shrimp, so providing a lot of hiding places would be necessary. There’s no risk of fully grown adult Cherry Shrimp of getting eaten by Guppies.
Indigenous to Thailand and the surrounding areas, specifically the Mae Klong river basin in western Thailand and the Ataran drainage, around the border between Thailand and Myanmar.
Size
Around 2 to 2.5 inches when fully grown
Tank Size
A minimum of 20 to 30 gallons is recommended
Temperature
Between 75°F and 82°F (24°C and 28°C)
Water pH
Between 6.0 and 7.5
Ease of Care
Dwarf Chain Loaches are generally peaceful but may exhibit territorial behavior towards their own kind. They require a finely tuned environment and balanced food to stay healthy.
Compatibility with Guppies
Dwarf Chain Loaches are generally peaceful and can coexist harmoniously with a variety of small community fish species such as Guppies.
With decades of collective fishkeeping experience, we are happy to share the fish care tips that we've picked up along the way. Our goal at Fish Laboratory is to keep publishing accurate content to help fishkeepers keep their fish and aquarium healthy. Check us out on YouTube, Instagram, and learn more about us!
