Guppy Fish — Care Guide, Types & Price

Published: 2026-04-11 · FishyKart Blog

The Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) is the world’s most widely kept freshwater aquarium fish — and for good reason. Hardy, colourful, and easy to breed, guppies are perfect for beginners and experienced hobbyists alike. A livebearer native to Venezuela, Trinidad, and northern Brazil, the guppy has been selectively bred into hundreds of strains featuring fan-shaped tails, iridescent colouring, and exaggerated finnage. Males grow to 3–5 cm, females to 5–7 cm. They thrive at 22–28°C, pH 6.8–7.8, and require a minimum 10-gallon (40-litre) tank. In India, guppy prices start at ₹20 for common varieties and reach ₹500 for imported fancy bloodlines. Lifespan is 2–3 years.

Fancy male Guppy fish Poecilia reticulata in aquarium

Guppy Fish Price in India

  • Common / Mixed Colour Male Guppies: ₹20–₹50
  • Female Guppies: ₹20–₹40
  • Fancy Tail Guppies (Fantail, Veil Tail): ₹50–₹150
  • Cobra / Tuxedo Guppies: ₹80–₹200
  • Moscow / Platinum Guppies: ₹100–₹300
  • Dumbo Ear (Big Ear) Guppies: ₹150–₹400
  • Full Red Albino / Imported Thai Bloodlines: ₹200–₹500
  • Koi Guppies: ₹80–₹200

Buy Fancy Guppies online at FishyKart — live arrival guarantee, express delivery across India.

Types of Guppy Fish

Cobra green morph Guppy fish male Poecilia reticulata
  • Fancy Tail Guppy: Large, flowing fan or delta tail in red, blue, yellow, or multicolour. Most popular beginner variety in India.
  • Cobra Guppy: Vertical bar pattern on body resembling cobra skin, usually with a round or veil tail. Highly sought in India.
  • Tuxedo Guppy: Distinct two-tone body — front half one colour, rear half darker (black or blue). Elegant contrast pattern.
  • Moscow Guppy: Deep metallic body colour (blue, green, purple) covering the entire fish. Developed by Russian breeders. Premium variety.
  • Dumbo Ear (Big Ear) Guppy: Oversized pectoral fins resembling elephant ears. Unique appearance; slightly more delicate than standard guppies.
  • Full Red Albino Guppy: Brilliant all-red body and fins with red eyes. Selectively bred in Thailand; one of the most striking varieties.
  • Koi Guppy: Orange-and-black pattern mimicking Koi fish colouration. Very popular in the Indian hobby market.
  • Endler Guppy (Poecilia wingei): Smaller than standard guppies; wild-type colouration with neon spots. Easier to keep, prolific breeders.

Male vs Female Guppy

Male and female Guppy fish size comparison in aquarium
  • Males: Smaller (3–5 cm), intensely coloured, large ornate tail, pointed gonopodium (modified anal fin used for mating)
  • Females: Larger (5–7 cm), dull grey-silver body with small tail, rounded anal fin, visible dark gravid spot near vent when pregnant
  • Ratio: Keep 1 male to 2–3 females to reduce stress on females from constant male pursuit
  • Sexing age: Males show colour at 4–6 weeks; females show gravid spot at 6–8 weeks

Tank Requirements

  • Tank size: Minimum 10 gallons (40 litres) for a group of 6–10 guppies; 20 gallons for a colony with fry
  • Temperature: 22–28°C — guppies are tolerant but perform best at 24–26°C
  • pH: 6.8–7.8; hardness 8–20 dGH. A small amount of aquarium salt (1 tsp per 10 litres) optional but beneficial
  • Filtration: Sponge filter ideal — gentle flow prevents fry from being sucked in; rated for 2–3× tank volume
  • Plants: Dense planting — Java Moss, Guppy Grass (Najas guadalupensis), Hornwort — essential for fry survival and female refuge
  • Lighting: Moderate, 8–10 hours daily — enhances colour and supports plant growth
  • Water changes: 20–25% weekly. Guppies are sensitive to nitrate build-up above 20 ppm.

Feeding Guppy Fish

Guppies are omnivores with a small mouth. Use appropriately sized foods:

  • Micro pellets / flakes: Hikari Micro Pellets, Tetra Guppy flakes — staple diet, feed 2–3 times daily in small amounts
  • Baby brine shrimp: Best food for colour development and breeding conditioning; ideal for both adults and fry
  • Daphnia / Micro worms: Excellent live food for fry and adults; boosts immune function
  • Spirulina flakes: Enhances blue and green pigmentation in fancy strains
  • Bloodworms (frozen, small): Occasional treat, 1–2× weekly — improves colour and breeding activity

Feed only what fish consume in 60–90 seconds, 2–3 times daily. Overfeeding is the most common cause of water quality problems in guppy tanks.

Breeding Guppies

Yellow Guppy pair male and female breeding in aquarium

Guppies are the easiest fish to breed in captivity — in a healthy community tank, they will breed without any intervention:

  • Gestation: 21–35 days depending on temperature (shorter at higher temps)
  • Litter size: 20–80 live fry per birth. Larger females produce bigger litters.
  • Breeding frequency: Every 3–4 weeks. Sperm storage means a single mating produces multiple litters.
  • Fry care: Fry are born free-swimming at ~5–6 mm and immediately self-sufficient. Feed powdered fry food, micro worms, or baby brine shrimp 3–4× daily.
  • Prevent cannibalism: Adults will eat fry. Use a breeding box, separate fry tank, or dense Java Moss / floating plants as refuge.
  • Selective breeding: To maintain fancy strain quality, separate males and females at 3–4 weeks and introduce only selected males to chosen females.

Why Buy from FishyKart

FishyKart stocks one of the widest selections of fancy guppies in India — Cobra, Tuxedo, Moscow, Dumbo Ear, Full Red Albino, Koi, Endler, and more. Every fish is quarantined, health-checked, and oxygen-packed for safe transit. We deliver to Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Kolkata and all of India with a live arrival guarantee.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Guppy fish live?

Guppy fish live 2–3 years in captivity. With pristine water quality, a varied diet, and a low-stress environment, some individuals reach 3–4 years. Fancy strains with extreme finnage tend to have shorter lifespans.

How many babies do Guppies have?

Guppies give birth to 20–80 live fry per litter, every 3–4 weeks. Due to sperm storage, a single mating can produce multiple litters without a male present. Larger, older females produce the biggest litters.

Can Guppies live with Bettas?

Generally not recommended. Male Bettas are territorial and may attack fancy-tailed guppies, mistaking them for rival Bettas. If attempted, use a large tank (20+ gallons) with dense plants and monitor closely. Female Bettas are more compatible.

What is the price of Guppy fish in India?

Common guppies cost ₹20–₹50. Fancy varieties like Cobra and Tuxedo cost ₹80–₹200. Imported bloodlines like Full Red Albino and Moscow Guppies cost ₹200–₹500. Buy online at FishyKart with live delivery guarantee.

How often do Guppies breed?

Guppies breed every 3–4 weeks. In a community tank with both males and females, breeding is continuous and requires no special effort. Separate males and females to control population or maintain fancy strain purity.

What do Guppy fish eat?

Guppies eat micro pellets or flakes as their staple diet, supplemented with baby brine shrimp, daphnia, and micro worms. Feed 2–3 times daily in small amounts. Spirulina flakes enhance blue and green colouration in fancy strains.