Guppy Beginner Guide
New to guppies? This step-by-step guide from Canada Guppies walks you through everything you need: tank size, cycling, feeding, breeding and more. Follow along and you’ll have a bright, active guppy tank — without turning your living room into a science experiment.
Click any section to jump straight to it. Skimming is allowed — your guppies don’t read anyway.
- Why Guppies Make Amazing Beginner Fish
- Quick Guppy Facts (At a Glance)
- Choosing the Right Tank Size
- Essential Equipment Checklist
- Cycling Your Tank (Before Adding Fish)
- Ideal Water Parameters for Guppies
- How Many Guppies Can I Keep?
- How to Acclimate New Guppies
- Feeding Schedule & Diet
- Safe Tank Mates for Guppies
- Breeding Basics (They Multiply Fast!)
- Weekly & Monthly Maintenance
- Common Problems & How to Avoid Them
- Top 10 Beginner Mistakes
- Why Buy from Canada Guppies?
- Quick FAQ for New Guppy Keepers
1. Why Guppies Make Amazing Beginner Fish
Guppies are one of the most popular freshwater fish on the planet, and they’ve earned it. They’re colourful, active, hardy and full of personality. Think of them as “entry-level” fish that still look like a premium display.
- Hardy: They tolerate a wide range of water conditions compared to many other tropical fish.
- Peaceful: Great for community tanks with other small, non-aggressive fish.
- Colourful & diverse: Dozens of tail types and patterns — mosaics, dragons, tuxedos and more.
- Perfect for learning: Ideal for understanding cycling, water changes and basic fish care.
2. Quick Guppy Facts (At a Glance)
Here’s your fast guppy cheat sheet before we dive deeper:
3. Choosing the Right Tank Size
Technically, guppies can live in small tanks. But “can live” and “look amazing, with low stress” are not the same thing. A slightly larger tank makes everything easier: your water stays more stable and your fish act more natural.
| Tank Size | Suggested Stocking | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 10 gallons | 1 trio (1 male, 2 females) plus fry and a small cleanup crew | Good starter tank if you keep up with water changes. |
| 20 gallons | 2–3 trios plus fry and a cleanup crew | More stable; better if you plan to breed or “accidentally” keep babies. |
| 29–40 gallons | Guppy colony + peaceful tank mates | Ideal for a colourful, active community tank. |
4. Essential Equipment Checklist
You don’t need a lab, just good basics. Here’s the gear list that actually matters:
- Must have Tank & stand – 10–20 gallons minimum, on a sturdy, level surface.
- Must have Filter – Sponge filter or hang-on-back filter with gentle flow.
- Must have Heater – Adjustable, sized for your tank, with a thermometer.
- Must have Water conditioner – Removes chlorine/chloramine from tap water.
- Must have Test kit – Liquid tests for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH.
- Nice to have Substrate & decorations – Sand or gravel, caves, rocks, guppy grass, java moss, etc.
- Nice to have LED light – Helps plants grow and makes colours pop.
5. Cycling Your Tank (Before Adding Fish)
“Cycling” is the process of growing beneficial bacteria that convert toxic waste (ammonia and nitrite) into a safer form (nitrate). This is the single most important step new fish keepers skip — and the fastest way to lose fish if you ignore it.
- Set up the tank: Add substrate, decorations, filter and heater. Fill with dechlorinated water.
- Turn everything on: Let the heater and filter run 24/7.
- Add an ammonia source: Pure ammonia is best, but fish food works too.
- Test regularly: Check ammonia, nitrite and nitrate 2–3 times per week.
- Wait for the cycle: The tank is cycled when ammonia = 0 ppm, nitrite = 0 ppm and nitrate is present (5–40 ppm).
6. Ideal Water Parameters for Guppies
Guppies are forgiving, but long-term health and colour depend on stable, clean water.
| Parameter | Ideal Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 22–27°C (72–81°F) | Lower end = slower metabolism, higher end = faster growth & breeding. |
| pH | 6.8–7.8 | They prefer slightly basic, but stability is more important than chasing a number. |
| Hardness (GH/KH) | Moderately hard | Canadian tap water is often perfect for guppies. |
| Ammonia | 0 ppm | Any ammonia can burn gills and damage fins. |
| Nitrite | 0 ppm | Should always remain at zero once the tank is cycled. |
| Nitrate | < 40 ppm (ideally 5–20) | Controlled with regular water changes and plants. |
7. How Many Guppies Can I Keep?
A common rule is “1 inch of fish per gallon”, but filtration, plants and maintenance also matter.
- For a 10-gallon tank, start with 4–6 guppies.
- For a 20-gallon tank, 8–12 guppies is comfortable.
- If you keep males and females together, expect babies — lots of them.
8. How to Acclimate New Guppies
Whether your guppies are shipped from Canada Guppies or picked up locally, proper acclimation reduces shock and helps them settle quickly.
- Dim the lights in the room and tank.
- Float the unopened bag in the tank for 15–20 minutes to match temperature.
- Open the bag and gradually add small amounts of tank water every 5–10 minutes for 30–45 minutes.
- Net the fish and place them gently into the tank. Avoid pouring shipping water into your aquarium.
- Keep lights low for the first few hours and avoid heavy feeding on day one.
9. Feeding Schedule & Diet
Guppies are active little eating machines. A varied diet keeps them colourful and boosts their immune system.
| Food Type | Examples | How Often |
|---|---|---|
| Staple & simple | High-quality guppy pellets or flakes | 1–2× per day in small amounts |
| For the best colour | Frozen or live brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms | 2–3× per week |
| Veggie foods | Spirulina flakes, blanched spinach or zucchini | 1–2× per week |
10. Safe Tank Mates for Guppies
Guppies get along with most peaceful community fish that enjoy similar water parameters.
| Great Choices | Use Caution | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Small tetras, rasboras | Angelfish (may eat fry or nip) | Large cichlids (oscar, jack dempsey, etc.) |
| Corydoras catfish, small plecos | Some barbs (can nip fins) | Fin-nipping species kept in small numbers |
| Snails & shrimp | Betta fish (depends on individual temperament) | Predatory fish that see guppies as food |
11. Breeding Basics (They Multiply Fast!)
Guppies are livebearers, which means females give birth to free-swimming babies instead of laying eggs. Under good conditions, they’ll breed without any special effort from you.
- Gestation: Around 28–30 days.
- Number of fry: 10–60 babies per drop, depending on the female.
- Hiding spots: Dense plants like guppy grass, hornwort or java moss help fry survive.
- Fry food: Crushed flakes, baby brine shrimp or specialized fry foods.
12. Weekly & Monthly Maintenance
Regular, simple maintenance keeps your guppies healthy and your water crystal clear.
| Task | How Often | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Water change | Every 1–2 weeks or when nitrates hit 30 ppm, whichever comes first | Change 20–40% using temperature-matched, dechlorinated water. |
| Gravel vacuum | Every 1–2 weeks | Remove uneaten food and waste from the substrate. |
| Glass cleaning | As needed | Use an aquarium-safe scraper or sponge. |
| Filter maintenance | Every 3–4 weeks | Rinse filter media in old tank water — never under tap water. |
| Water testing | Weekly (more often in new tanks) | Keep ammonia & nitrite at 0, nitrate under ~40 ppm. |
13. Common Problems & How to Avoid Them
Most guppy health issues come back to three things: poor water quality, sudden temperature changes, or introducing sick fish without quarantine.
| Problem | Signs | Prevention Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Fin rot | Ragged, melting fins; red or black edges | Keep water clean, avoid nipping tank mates and treat early if seen. |
| Ich (white spot) | White grains on body/fins, flashing against objects | Quarantine new fish, treat the whole tank if spotted, raise temperature gradually if appropriate. |
| Ammonia burn | Gasping at surface, red or inflamed gills | Always cycle the tank, test water and avoid overstocking or overfeeding. |
| Stress | Clamped fins, hiding, dull colours | Keep parameters stable, avoid sudden changes and provide plants and hiding places. |
14. Top 10 Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
- Adding fish before the tank is cycled.
- Buying a tank that is too small for the number of guppies.
- Overfeeding and then fighting cloudy water, ammonia spikes and algae.
- Skipping water tests and water changes.
- Mixing guppies with aggressive or fin-nipping fish.
- Cleaning filter media under tap water (killing beneficial bacteria).
- Not using a heater in rooms that get cold at night.
- Making big, sudden changes to pH or temperature.
- Buying weak or low-quality stock from random sellers.
- Ignoring early signs of illness instead of treating quickly.
15. Why Buy from Canada Guppies?
At Canada Guppies, our goal is to make guppy keeping easy and enjoyable for Canadians from coast to coast.
- Premium strains: Hand-selected guppies with strong genetics and vibrant colours.
- Arrive-alive focus: Packaging and shipping methods designed specifically for Canadian weather.
- Beginner-friendly support: Care advice before and after your order; we actually keep guppies ourselves.
- Canadian-owned & operated: Supporting Canadian hobbyists and the local aquarium community.
16. Quick FAQ for New Guppy Keepers
How long should I wait before adding guppies to a new tank?
Wait until the tank is fully cycled — usually 3–6 weeks depending on your method. Use a test kit to confirm that ammonia and nitrite are at 0 before adding fish.
Can I keep guppies without a heater?
In most Canadian homes, a heater is strongly recommended. Room temperatures often drop at night, and guppies do best when kept consistently in the 22–27°C range.
Do guppies need live plants?
Live plants aren’t required, but they help a lot with water quality and provide hiding places for fry. Easy beginner plants include java fern, anubias and guppy grass.
How soon will my guppies start breeding?
If you have males and females together in good conditions, you can see babies in as little as 4–6 weeks. Females can store sperm, so even new females may already be pregnant.
Where can I get high-quality guppies in Canada?
Right here at Canada Guppies! Browse our latest strains, mystery boxes and beginner-friendly starter packs on our website.
