15 Best Guppy Fish Tank Mates

The Guppy is not the type of fish you are going to have a lot of problems with when looking for tank mates. The thing with peaceful fish like this one is that they are compatible with a huge number of other fish. There are many ways to set up a colorful community tank with Guppies.

Thanks to their personality, they get along well with all the fish we are going to talk about in this article. There are so many potential tank mates for the Guppy fish that your best bet is to open up a list like this one and choose the ones you like the most.

Choosing Tank Mates for Guppies

Guppies are known for their flamboyance and vivacity, which makes them ideal aquarium dwellers. As an aquarist for over a decade, I’ve had my fair share of experiences with these little wonders. Selecting suitable tank mates for them is an essential aspect of maintaining their exuberance.

Factors to Consider

While choosing tank mates for your guppies, ponder upon the following aspects:

1. Size: Opt for tank mates that are of similar dimensions. Gargantuan creatures may intimidate or devour guppies.
2. Temperament: Serene and tranquil tank mates are preferable, as aggressive counterparts may induce stress in guppies.
3. Water Parameters: Endeavor to find aquatic companions with congruous water requirements.

Now, let’s take a closer look at each fish species that I consider the best tank mates for guppies.

1. Platy Fish

• Compatibility: 5/5
• Min. Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Diet & Feeding: Omnivore, feed flakes or pellets
• Max. Size: 3 inches

The Platy fish takes first place on my list because it gets along exceptionally well with Guppies. They seem to be made for each other, thriving in the same water conditions, and both being livebearers.

Additionally, both species come in a wide range of color varieties. Platy fish are compatible with most other species that Guppies are, making them an excellent choice for beginners.

2. Molly Fish

• Compatibility: 5/5
• Min. Tank Size: 20 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Diet & Feeding: Omnivore, feed flakes or pellets
• Max. Size: 4 inches

Molly fish are another great livebearer companion for Guppies. They are often recommended for beginners due to their hardiness and easy care.

Mollies share a peaceful nature and water condition preferences with Guppies, making them a great match. They can be fed the same foods as Guppies, as both are omnivores.

Mollies allow you to create a diverse community aquarium without worrying too much about compatibility.

3. Swordtail Fish

• Compatibility: 4/5
• Min. Tank Size: 15 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Diet & Feeding: Omnivore, feed flakes or pellets
• Max. Size: 4 inches

If you want something out of the ordinary, consider Swordtail fish. Despite their long, spiky tails, which may suggest aggression, they are peaceful and get along well with Guppies.

Swordtails come in various colors, and like Guppies, they might jump out of the tank. Solve this problem by placing a lid on the tank. Keep Swordtails in a school of 5-6 and watch the male-female ratio, as they are avid breeders.

4. Neon Tetras

• Compatibility: 5/5
• Min. Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Diet & Feeding: Omnivore, feed small granules or flakes
• Max. Size: 1.5 inches

Neon Tetras are a popular choice for Guppy tank mates. However, if you plan to breed Guppies, be cautious, as Tetras may eat the fry.

Separate them quickly for safety, or provide plants and decorations as hiding places for the fry. Neon Tetras are generally peaceful and should be kept in a school, meaning you need a large enough tank for 5-6 of them.

5. Cory Catfish

• Compatibility: 5/5
• Min. Tank Size: 20 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Diet & Feeding: Omnivore, feed sinking pellets or wafers
• Max. Size: 2-3 inches

Cory Catfish make a great match for many fish species because they dwell at the bottom of the tank, searching for leftover food.

They are peaceful and won’t bother Guppies or other fish in the aquarium. Corys require sinking food but have no other special needs, making them ideal for beginner fishkeepers.

Use a sand substrate to avoid damaging their barbels.

6. Bristlenose Pleco

• Compatibility: 4/5
• Min. Tank Size: 30 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Diet & Feeding: Herbivore, feed algae wafers and vegetables
• Max. Size: 4-5 inches

The Bristlenose Pleco is a unique bottom dweller compatible with Guppies. This peaceful fish won’t cause tension in the aquarium.

They occupy different tank levels from Guppies, efficiently consuming algae and leftover food. If you want to keep a Bristlenose Pleco, you’ll need a slightly larger tank than one recommended for Guppies.

7. Dwarf Gourami

• Compatibility: 4/5
• Min. Tank Size: 15 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Diet & Feeding: Omnivore, feed flakes or pellets
• Max. Size: 2 inches

Dwarf Gouramis are a slightly more demanding Guppy tank mate. Although challenging for beginners, they are worth the effort, displaying stunning colors and patterns.

Keep them in a group of 4-6 and provide a well-planted tank with hiding places like rocks, caves, or driftwood. The more hiding places, the better for your Dwarf Gourami.

8. Harlequin Rasboras

• Compatibility: 5/5
• Min. Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Diet & Feeding: Omnivore, feed small granules or flakes
• Max. Size: 2 inches

Harlequin Rasboras, with their copper base color and black triangle markings, are small, beautiful fish compatible with Guppies.

Ideal for beginners, keep them in a group of 5-6. They usually mind their own business and don’t interact much with Guppies.

9. Zebra Danio

• Compatibility: 4/5
• Min. Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Diet & Feeding: Omnivore, feed flakes or pellets
• Max. Size: 2 inches

Zebra Danios are excellent tank mates for Guppies, as they thrive in the same water conditions and have peaceful temperaments.

However, since they are fast swimmers and avid eaters, ensure your Guppy gets enough food during feeding time.

Use a random food distribution method, and consider adding scavenger fish to take care of leftovers.

10. Siamese Algae Eater

• Compatibility: 3/5
• Min. Tank Size: 30 gallons
• Care Level: Moderate
• Diet & Feeding: Herbivore, feed algae wafers
• Max. Size: 6 inches

Siamese Algae Eaters primarily focus on eating algae, making them excellent tank mates for Guppies and many other species.

They are fast swimmers and peacefully explore the lower layer of the tank, sometimes venturing upwards.

With a Siamese Algae Eater in your tank, algae levels will be kept under control.

11. Otocinclus Catfish

• Compatibility: 5/5
• Min. Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Care Level: Moderate
• Diet & Feeding: Herbivore, feed algae wafers
• Max. Size: 2 inches

The Otocinclus Catfish is another algae-eating option. With its elongated body and innocent-looking eyes, this catfish is always eager to consume algae.

They are fast and hungry but sensitive to water parameters. If you keep Otocinclus Catfish with Guppies, pay close attention to water changes and overall parameters.

12. Kuhli Loach

• Compatibility: 4/5
• Min. Tank Size: 20 gallons
• Care Level: Moderate
• Diet & Feeding: Omnivore, feed sinking pellets or wafers
• Max. Size: 4 inches

Resembling a snake, the Kuhli Loach is a nocturnal species best kept in a group of five individuals. During the day, they prefer hiding behind plants, driftwood, or other decorations.

Kuhli Loaches are scaleless and can easily injure themselves, so use sand substrate instead of a rougher one.

13. Ram Cichlids

• Compatibility: 3/5
• Min. Tank Size: 20 gallons
• Care Level: Moderate
• Diet & Feeding: Omnivore, feed flakes, pellets, or frozen foods
• Max. Size: 3 inches

While cichlids are generally known for being aggressive, Ram cichlids are an exception.

These colorful, small fish are relatively peaceful compared to other cichlids in the aquarium trade.

As small cichlids, they make suitable tank mates for Guppies and thrive in the same water conditions.

14. African Dwarf Frog

• Compatibility: 4/5
• Min. Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Diet & Feeding: Carnivore, feed sinking pellets or frozen foods
• Max. Size: 2.5 inches

Consider adding an African Dwarf Frog to your Guppy tank for an exciting community setup. They are compatible with various fish species and spend most of their time moving on the substrate while other fish swim above.

However, they are slow eaters compared to Guppies, so ensure they receive enough food by providing sinking food that reaches the bottom.

15. Discus Fish

• Compatibility: 2/5
• Min. Tank Size: 55 gallons
• Care Level: Advanced
• Diet & Feeding: Carnivore, feed high-quality pellets, flakes, or frozen foods
• Max. Size: 6 inches

The Discus Fish is a more decorative species suitable as a Guppy tank mate. They require a well-planted tank with plenty of shade and shelter. As carnivores, Discus fish need a protein-rich, meat-based diet.

Keep in mind that Guppies thrive at lower water temperatures than Discus fish, so finding the right balance and maintaining consistency is crucial.

Tank Mates to Avoid Keeping with Guppies

Beware of some tank mates that may not be congruous with your guppies:

1. Aggressive Species: Avoid belligerent fish like bettas, cichlids, and tiger barbs.
2. Large Predators: Shun colossal carnivores such as oscars, arowanas, or large catfish.
3. Goldfish: Goldfish necessitate distinct water parameters and temperatures, making them unsuitable companions.

Wrap Up

The Guppy is not the type of fish that has problems getting along with other fish in the tank. On the contrary, it is one of the most social and peaceful species you can find. On top of that, Guppies are quite hardy fish which makes them completely beginner-friendly.

Although there are far more species that are compatible with Guppies, these are the best tank mates in my opinion. Most of them are beginner-friendly but if you are looking for a bit of a challenge, then you can choose one of the more demanding ones as well.