21 Best Guppy Tank Mates for a Peaceful Community Tank

Last Updated: May 12, 2026

Guppies are one of the most popular fish in the hobby for good reason — they’re colorful, hardy, and breed readily. But there’s something most beginner articles won’t tell you upfront: male guppies, with those long, flowing tails, are a fin nipper’s dream target. Get the tank mates wrong and you won’t notice it all at once — you’ll notice it gradually, as ragged fins become the new normal and stressed males stop displaying entirely.

Choosing tank mates for guppies isn’t really about “peaceful vs. aggressive.” It’s about whether your other fish will leave those tails alone.

I’ve kept guppies for decades — from basic feeder strains to show-quality fancy varieties — and the tank mate question comes up constantly. After 25 years in the hobby and time running fish stores, I’ve seen what works and what absolutely doesn’t. Plan for two things: anything that nips fins, and anything large enough to eat an adult guppy whole. One thing to plan for upfront: if you keep males and females together, you’ll get fry. Constantly. Some tank mates naturally help manage this by eating fry, which can actually work in your favor. Here are 21 tank mates that check all the right boxes.

How To Choose Guppy Tank Mates

What People Get Wrong

The most common mistake I see is assuming that “peaceful community fish” automatically means safe for guppies. It doesn’t. There’s a big difference between a fish that ignores guppies and a fish that will nip at those long, flowing tails given the opportunity. Serpae tetras are labeled “peaceful” in some stores and are notorious fin nippers. I’ve sold serpae tetras to customers who came back a week later wondering why their fancy guppies looked ragged — the label doesn’t tell the whole story.

The second mistake is ignoring size. Male guppies top out around 1.5 inches (3.8 cm). Any fish that can fit a guppy in its mouth — angelfish, large gouramis, cichlids, even bigger mollies — is a predation risk. You won’t see it happen immediately. You’ll just notice your guppy count dropping.

The Biggest Mistake

Adding tiger barbs. I can’t count how many times a customer came back to the store saying their guppies had shredded fins. Tiger barbs are relentless fin nippers, and they target male guppies specifically because those tails are impossible to ignore. Within a week, your fancy males will look like they’ve been through a paper shredder. The damage stresses the fish, opens the door to infections, and the fins often don’t fully recover even after the barbs are removed. In the guppy tanks I’ve run over the years, keeping a single-species or all-livebearer setup was always the cleanest solution. I’ve put this to the test more times than I can count — and the tanks I kept guppy-only or livebearer-only were consistently the most stable and the best-looking long-term. Male bettas are the second most common mistake — they see male guppies as rivals and will harass them relentlessly.

Water Parameters

Guppies prefer relatively hard, alkaline water — conditions that don’t suit every community fish. Here’s what to match when choosing tank mates:

• Water Temperature: 64–82 °F (18–28 °C)
• pH: 7–8.5
• Hardness: 8–12 dGH
• Water flow: Low
• Tank size: 10 gallons (38 L) minimum

Soft, acidic water lovers — like cardinal tetras or most South American cichlids — aren’t a good fit, even if their temperament is peaceful. Chemistry compatibility matters.

Temperament

Guppies are peaceful and slow-moving, especially the males. That combination makes them vulnerable to aggressive fish and fin nippers like tiger barbs. You want fish that are genuinely non-aggressive — not just labeled peaceful on the store tag.

Size

Male guppies reach just 1.5 inches (3.8 cm). That’s bite-sized for a lot of common aquarium fish. Keep tank mates under 3.5 inches (9 cm) with small mouths. Guppies breed constantly, dropping live fry — most fish in a community tank will eat them, including the guppy parents. That’s the reality of keeping livebearers. Use a separate breeding tank if raising fry is the goal.

The Best 21 Guppy Tank Mates

Every species below passes the two-part test: it won’t nip guppy fins, and it won’t eat adult guppies. Each entry includes the key stats so you can match it to your tank. We cover the first 10 in the video below — give us a subscribe on our YouTube Channel if you find it helpful.

Each species of fish will include the following stats:

• Scientific Name
• Adult Size
• pH
• Water Temperature
• Minimum Tank Size
• Safe With Guppy Fry?
• Recommended School Size

Expert Take

After 25+ years in the hobby and time running aquarium retail, guppy communities were some of the most successful tanks I’d see customers pull off — and some of the most frustrating failures when the wrong fish got added. Guppies are ideal community fish on paper — peaceful, colorful, and adaptable. The problem is their fins. Long-finned males are irresistible to fin nippers, and male-heavy tanks create internal aggression issues too. Choose tank mates that are genuinely non-aggressive, not just ‘peaceful.’ There’s a big difference between a fish that ignores guppies and a fish that will eventually nip at those tails. At the stores I managed, guppy community tanks were some of the most successful displays we ran — the key was always keeping male-to-female ratios right and steering customers away from anything remotely fin-nippy. — Mark Valderrama, AquariumStoreDepot

Quick-Reference Comparison Table

Species	Adult Size	Min Tank	Ease	Compatibility
Octocinclus Catfish	2 inches	10 gallons	7/10	High
Cherry Shrimp	1 inch	5 gallons	7/10	High
Pygmy Cory Catfish	1.4 inches	10 gallons	7/10	High
Kuhli Loach	4 inches	15 gallons	7/10	High
Swordtail Fish	5 – 6 inches	20 gallons	7/10	High
Endler’s Livebearers	1 – 1.8 inches	10 gallons	7/10	High
Platy Fish	2 – 3 inches	15 gallons	7/10	High
Black Neon Tetra	1.5 inches	20 gallons	7/10	High
Ember Tetra	0.75 inches	10 gallons	7/10	High
Chili Rasbora	0.75 inches	5 gallons	7/10	High
Galaxy Rasbora (Celestial Pearl Danio)	0.75 inches	10 gallons	7/10	High
Harlequin Rasbora	1.5 – 1.75 inches	15 gallon	7/10	High
White Cloud Minnows	1.5 inches	15 gallons	7/10	High
Cherry Barbs	2 inches	15 gallons	7/10	High
Honey Gourami	2 inches	15 gallons	7/10	High
Peacock Gudgeon	3 inches	10 gallons	7/10	High
Bristlenose Pleco	5 inches	30 gallons	7/10	High
Molly Fish	4 – 6 inches	30 gallons	7/10	High
Female Betta	2.5 inches	5 gallons	7/10	High
Shell Dwelling Dwarf Cichlids	1.5 inches	10 gallons	7/10	High

1. Other Types

Before we get started with other tank mates, take a moment to consider adding more guppies. These fish come in a wonderful array of different colors and fin types, and they all do great in the same conditions!

I wouldn’t recommend mixing fancy guppy strains if you plan on breeding specific types, but if you don’t mind mixing your breeds, why not pick up a variety of different guppies?

2. Octocinclus Catfish

Ease: 7/10 — Good choice with a few conditions to watch.

• Scientific Name: Otocinclus spp.
• Adult Size: 2 inches
• pH: 6.8 – 7.5
• Water Temperature: 74-79 °F
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Safe With Guppy Fry?: Yes
• Recommended School Size: 2 +

Otocinclus catfish (or just otos) are one of the most peaceful fish in the aquarium hobby. These nano catfish stay small and only eat algae, so they are a safe choice for guppy breeders.

Otos can be kept in tanks as small as 10 gallons, but they can be tricky to feed in such a small space because they are prolific algae eaters and can run out of food. Supplement their diet with zucchini and algae wafers if necessary.

3. Cherry Shrimp

Ease: 7/10 — Good choice with a few conditions to watch.

• Scientific Name: Neocaridina denticulata sinensis
• Adult Size: 1 inch
• pH: 6.5 – 7
• Water Temperature: 60 – 80 °F
• Minimum Tank Size: 5 gallons
• Safe With Guppy Fry?: Yes
• Recommended School Size: Any

Freshwater shrimp are fascinating tank mates for guppies, and you don’t have to worry about them eating your fry. Some guppies will snack on small shrimp, so make sure you have plenty of plants and caves where they can hide. Fine-leaved plants like Java moss are ideal for this.

There are loads of different freshwater shrimp species and breeds, which come in beautiful colors too. If you’re just starting out with inverts, choose cheaper beginner breeds like cherry shrimp to see if they get along with your fish.

4. Pygmy Cory Catfish

Ease: 7/10 — Good choice with a few conditions to watch.

• Scientific Name: Corydoras pygmaeus
• Adult Size: 1.4 inches
• pH: 6.2 – 7.2
• Water Temperature: 72 – 79 °F
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Safe With Guppy Fry?: Possibly
• Recommended School Size: 6+

Pygmy cory catfish are excellent tank mates for guppies. These tiny schooling fish prefer to hang out in the mid-water levels of the tank, unlike their larger bottom-dwelling relatives.

Pygmy cory catfish are super peaceful, so they are usually a safe bet with shrimp, and they probably won’t snack on your guppy fry either.

There are many other species of cory catfish in the aquarium hobby, and most of them make great guppy tank mates. However, the larger species will work better in a tank of at least 30 gallons.

5. Kuhli Loach

Ease: 7/10 — Good choice with a few conditions to watch.

• Scientific Name: Pangio kuhlii
• Adult Size: 4 inches
• pH: 6 – 7
• Water Temperature: 77 – 82 °F
• Minimum Tank Size: 15 gallons
• Safe With Guppy Fry?: No
• Recommended School Size: 3+

Kuhli Loaches are excellent tank mates for guppies if you have water right around neutral on the scale. These strange, stripey eel-like fish are super entertaining to watch as they search the bottom of the tank for morsels.

These scaleless fish can be pretty shy because they are nocturnal, but you will love seeing them when they come out. Kuhli loaches are also very peaceful, so they won’t ever bother your guppies.

Hard Rule: Keep at least 2 females per male guppy, and never add any fin-nipping species. Male guppies that are constantly harassed — from inside the school or from tank mates — develop clamped fins, stop displaying, and die faster. The ratio and the company matter more than tank size.

6. Swordtail Fish

Ease: 7/10 — Good choice with a few conditions to watch.

• Scientific Name: Xiphophorus hellerii
• Adult Size: 5 – 6 inches
• pH: 7 – 8
• Water Temperature: 61 – 82 °F
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
• Safe With Guppy Fry?: No
• Recommended School Size: 5+

Swordtail fish are livebearers, just like your guppies. You’ll see the resemblance when you look at these fish, although swordtails actually grow a lot larger.

Male swordtails grow long, pointed tail fins which are where they get their name. Swordtails usually make great tankmates for guppies, but the males can sometimes get a little aggressive. I recommend having a backup plan in case things don’t work out between these two popular tropical fish species.

7. Endler’s Livebearers

Ease: 7/10 — Good choice with a few conditions to watch.

• Scientific Name: Poecilia wingei
• Adult Size: 1 – 1.8 inches
• pH: 7 – 8.5
• Water Temperature: 75 – 86 °F
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Safe With Guppy Fry?: No
• Recommended School Size: 4+

Endler’s are very similar to guppies and will get along perfectly. In fact, these fish are so closely related that they can breed together to create hybrids. The results are beautiful little fish, but I would not recommend mixing Endler’s and fancy guppies if you are planning on breeding your fish.

8. Platy Fish

Ease: 7/10 — Good choice with a few conditions to watch.

• Scientific Name: Xiphophorus maculatus
• Adult Size: 2 – 3 inches
• pH: 7 – 8.2
• Water Temperature: 68 – 79 °F
• Minimum Tank Size: 15 gallons
• Safe With Guppy Fry?: No
• Recommended School Size: 5+

Platies are yet another awesome livebearer fish. These colorful fish grow just a little larger than guppies, but they enjoy the same water conditions, making them great guppy tank mates!

Platies come in many different color varieties, including gold wagtails, neon blues, and even black. Platy fish are easy to feed and easy to care for, so they are a great choice for beginners setting up a community tank.

9. Black Neon Tetra

Ease: 7/10 — Good choice with a few conditions to watch.

• Scientific Name: Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
• Adult Size: 1.5 inches
• pH: 5 – 7.5
• Water Temperature: 68 – 82 °F
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
• Safe With Guppy Fry?: No
• Recommended School Size: 6+

The black neon tetra is a beautiful freshwater fish from South America. These peaceful schooling fish get along great with many other freshwater fish, including guppies!

These fish grow to a similar size and will thrive on the same diet. Just be sure to pick up a school of at least six black neons. You will love the way they swim together!

10. Ember Tetra

Ease: 7/10 — Good choice with a few conditions to watch.

• Scientific Name: Hyphessobrycon amandae
• Adult Size: 0.75 inches
• pH: 5 – 7
• Water Temperature: 68 – 82 °F
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Safe With Guppy Fry?: No
• Recommended School Size: 8+

Ember tetras are true nano fish and they make great tank mates for guppies. These golden orange fish have a very peaceful nature and they are the perfect choice for a heavily planted tank.

Ember tetras prefer slightly acidic to neutral water pH. They will work with guppies if you have a pH of about 7.

11. Chili Rasbora

Ease: 7/10 — Good choice with a few conditions to watch.

• Scientific Name: Boraras brigittae
• Adult Size: 0.75 inches
• pH: 5 – 7
• Water Temperature: 68 – 82 °F
• Minimum Tank Size: 5 gallons
• Safe With Guppy Fry?: No
• Recommended School Size: 6+

Chili rasboras are tiny freshwater fish from Southeast Asia. These peaceful fish make great guppy tank mates.

Chili rasbora fish can be a little shy, which is understandable because they are so small. Keep them in a big school in a well-planted aquarium to really enjoy their beautiful colors and patterns.

12. Galaxy Rasbora (Celestial Pearl Danio)

• Scientific Name: Celestichthys margaritatus
• Adult Size: 0.75 inches
• pH: 6.5 – 7.5
• Water Temperature: 68 – 78 °F
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Safe With Guppy Fry?: No
• Recommended School Size: 5 +

Galaxy rasbora fish are a great species for your guppy fish tank. These peaceful freshwater fish stay really small at less than an inch, so you can comfortably keep a small school with some guppies in a 15-gallon aquarium.

Galaxy rasboras are also known as celestial pearl danios, and both names suit them well. They have bright orange fins, and the pearly spots on their sides look just like a starry night sky!

13. Harlequin Rasbora

Ease: 7/10 — Good choice with a few conditions to watch.

• Scientific Name: Trigonostigma heteromorpha
• Adult Size: 1.5 – 1.75 inches
• pH: 5 – 7.5
• Water Temperature: 70 – 82 °F
• Minimum Tank Size: 15 gallon
• Safe With Guppy Fry?: No
• Recommended School Size: 8+

Harlequin Rasbora fish are a go-to community fish in the aquarium hobby and one of my favorite guppy tank mates. These schooling fish have great colors and personalities and won’t fight with your guppies.

Harlequin Rasboras do best in fish tanks with plenty of live plants. They will definitely snack on your guppy fry if they can, so consider a separate breeding tank if you want your baby fish to grow out safely.

14. White Cloud Minnows

Ease: 7/10 — Good choice with a few conditions to watch.

• Scientific Name: Tanichthys albonubes
• Adult Size: 1.5 inches
• pH: 6 – 8.5
• Water Temperature: 57 – 71 °F
• Minimum Tank Size: 15 gallons
• Safe With Guppy Fry?: No
• Recommended School Size: 6 +

White cloud minnows are peaceful shoaling fish from China. These small fish have beautiful red fins and a neon stripe down their sides.

White cloud minnows make awesome guppy tank mates in lower water temperatures. These two freshwater aquarium fish can be kept together in water temperatures between about 66 and 70°F

15. Cherry Barbs

Ease: 7/10 — Good choice with a few conditions to watch.

• Scientific Name: Puntius titteya
• Adult Size: 2 inches
• pH: 6 – 8
• Water Temperature: 74 – 79°F
• Minimum Tank Size: 15 gallons
• Safe With Guppy Fry?: No
• Recommended School Size: 6+

Cherry barbs are another peaceful species of small, schooling fish that you can keep with guppies. These fish usually thrive in the same water conditions as your guppies, and the two species won’t fight if you keep them in schools.

Cherry barbs are social fish and need to have a few of their own kind around to be comfortable. Pick up at least six of these beautiful reddish fish, but go for more if you have a big enough tank.

16. Honey Gourami

Ease: 7/10 — Good choice with a few conditions to watch.

• Scientific Name: Trichogaster chuna
• Adult Size: 2 inches
• pH: 6 – 7.5
• Water Temperature: 72 – 80°F
• Minimum Tank Size: 15 gallons
• Safe With Guppy Fry?: No
• Recommended School Size: 1+

Honey gouramis are small, peaceful relatives of the betta fish. They can be kept on their own as a small centerpiece fish, but are more comfortable in a small group.

These colorful fish usually have a very peaceful nature, but you can expect males to become a little territorial during the breeding season. At this time they will develop a dark throat and belly that contrasts with their bright yellow or orange body color.

17. Peacock Gudgeon

Ease: 7/10 — Good choice with a few conditions to watch.

• Scientific Name: Tateurndina ocellicauda
• Adult Size: 3 inches
• pH: 6.5 – 7.5
• Water Temperature: 72 – 79°F
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Safe With Guppy Fry?: No
• Recommended School Size: 6 +

Peacock gudgeons are unique and colorful fish from Papua New Guinea. These peaceful carnivores will not harm your guppies, although they will snack on their fry.

Peacock gudgeons are easy to care for, and you can even breed them in your home aquarium. They will feel most at home in a tank with plenty of rocks, driftwood, caves, and live plants.

18. Bristlenose Pleco

Ease: 7/10 — Good choice with a few conditions to watch.

• Scientific Name: Ancistrus sp.
• Adult Size: 5 inches
• pH: 6.5 – 7.4
• Water Temperature: 72 – 82 °F
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
• Safe With Guppy Fry?: Yes
• Recommended School Size: 1

Like the otocinclus catfish, bristlenose plecos help to keep your tank clean because they are great algae eaters. These unique fish are hardy and easy to keep, so they are great for beginners. Plecos hang out at the bottom of the tank, and they need a small cave and plenty of driftwood to really thrive.

Bristlenose plecos are territorial fish, so keep just one in your guppy community tank to avoid any conflict. Fortunately, these fish won’t bother your guppies, and they are unlikely to eat your baby guppies.

19. Molly Fish

Ease: 7/10 — Good choice with a few conditions to watch.

• Scientific Name: Poecilia sphenops / P. latipinna
• Adult Size: 4 – 6 inches
• pH: 7 – 8
• Water Temperature: 68 – 82 °F
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
• Safe With Guppy Fry?: No
• Recommended School Size: 4+

Molly fish are very similar to guppies in many ways, and they can live together in the same tank. However, mollies grow much larger than guppies, and they can sometimes be a little mean towards their smaller relatives.

You can certainly try mixing the two species in a 30-gallon or larger community setup. Maintaining excellent water quality and growing plenty of live plants will give you the best chance at success, but have a backup plan ready, just in case.

20. Female Betta

Ease: 7/10 — Good choice with a few conditions to watch.

• Scientific Name: Betta splendens
• Adult Size: 2.5 inches
• pH: 6 – 8
• Water Temperature: 72 – 86 °F
• Minimum Tank Size: 5 gallons
• Safe With Guppy Fry?: No
• Recommended School Size: 1

Betta fish are extremely popular in the aquarium hobby, and many fish keepers wonder if they can live with guppies. However, there are no guarantees because each betta fish has their own personality.

A single female betta is your best chance at success. They may not be as colorful as the males, but they are still amazing fish and tend to be less aggressive. However, I still recommend having a backup plan, just in case your fish don’t get along.

21. Shell Dwelling Dwarf Cichlids

Ease: 7/10 — Good choice with a few conditions to watch.

• Scientific Name: Neolamprologus multifasciatus
• Adult Size: 1.5 inches
• pH: 7.5 – 9
• Water Temperature: 75 – 81 °F
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Safe With Guppy Fry?: No
• Recommended School Size: 2+

Most Cichlids will not go well with guppies, but the African shell dwellers are an awesome exception. A few species are available in the hobby, but Multis (Neolamprologus multifasciatus) are usually the easiest to find.

These tiny fish have a fascinating lifestyle. They live in empty snail shells at the bottom of the tank.

Multis are not very aggressive fish, but they are pretty territorial around their shells, so you’ll find that your guppies tend to hang out at the top. However, shell-dwelling cichlids will eat baby guppies. In fact, guppy fish fry are a great food source for them!

Planning Your Community Aquarium

If you already have a healthy guppy tank set up, you might already have everything you need to start a guppy community with other freshwater species. If you’re starting a new tank, here’s what you’ll need:

• 10+ gallon tank with hood
• Filter, heater, lighting
• Gravel or sand substrate
• Driftwood, rocks, and decorations
• Live plants (optional)
• Water test kit and thermometer
• Gravel vacuum and algae scraper
• Water conditioner

Tank Size

You don’t need a large tank to set up an amazing guppy community aquarium. In fact, many of the fish in this list can be kept in a tank as small as 10 gallons!

However, there are limits to how many fish you can fit in a nano aquarium. I recommend starting with at least a 15-gallon setup if you want to mix two or more fish species.

Heating And Filtration

Guppies are tropical freshwater fish. You will need a heater to keep the water in its preferred range. Choose a heater that is designed to fit your fish tank size.

Filtration is essential for guppies and their tank mates. There are many different types to choose from, so choose a model that suits your needs. Guppies prefer a low water flow, so sponge filters are a great choice.

Look at a canister filter designed for your fish tank size for superior filtration. These filters produce little water flow while holding a large amount of filter media for biological and mechanical filtration.

Choosing Companions

You won’t be able to keep all the great tankmates in this post in the same tank, so how do you choose? One great way to plan a community tank is to think about where the different fish will hang out in your tank.

Bottom Dwellers

Guppies are mid-to-top swimmers. That leaves the bottom half of your tank completely unused — which is a waste of space and bio-load capacity. Adding bottom dwellers fills that zone and gives you cleanup crew benefits too. These are the best options:

• Cory catfish
• Kuhli loach
• Bristlenose pleco

Schooling Fish

Guppies are not really schooling fish. They tend to spread out all over the tank when they feel comfortable. A group of schooling fish will make an awesome feature in your guppy community tank. The following species are ideal:

• Cherry barbs
• Black neon tetras
• Chili rasboras
• Neon Rainbowfish

Invertebrates

Invertebrates are an underrated addition to a guppy tank. They occupy completely different space, add visual interest, and won’t touch your guppies’ fins. Just know that guppies will pick at small shrimp, so give shrimp dense planting to hide in.

• Cherry shrimp
• Amano shrimp
• Nerite snails

Feeding Your Fish

One or two feedings per day is plenty for most guppy community setups. The bigger issue isn’t frequency — it’s quantity. Overfeeding is the fastest way to crash a tank’s water quality. Uneaten food breaks down, drives up ammonia, and suddenly your guppies are gasping at the surface. That’s not a filtration problem. That’s a feeding problem.

Feed only what they can finish in about a minute. If anything is hitting the bottom uneaten, you’re feeding too much. Scale back, not up.

Watch your fish during feeding to make sure everyone is getting a share — faster, more aggressive eaters can hog surface flakes while slower fish go hungry. Bottom feeders like corydoras and kuhli loaches need sinking wafers, not just the scraps that drift down.

Flake food or micro-pellets are ideal for most schooling guppy tank mates, but supplement their diet with brine shrimp and other live or frozen foods from time to time. Bottom feeders like kuhli loaches and cory catfish will eat leftover food, but they should also be fed sinking foods for bottom feeders.

Water Quality And Tank Maintenance

A guppy community tank isn’t high-maintenance, but it’s not zero-maintenance either. With multiple species producing waste, water quality degrades faster than a single-species setup. Budget an hour every week or two — test, vacuum, water change — and this tank will run cleanly for years.

Cycling

Cycle your fish tank before adding any fish. This involves setting up your fish tank and filter and allowing the nitrogen cycle to get started for a few weeks before adding your fish. You can skip this step if you already have a cycled tank with guppies.

Add new fish in small numbers over a few days or weeks. This will allow your tank to adjust and build stronger colonies of beneficial bacteria.

Testing

Test your water quality regularly to monitor the health of your aquarium. You should test your water before adding any fish to know your pH and water hardness levels.

You’ll also want to test for ammonia and nitrites when cycling your tank. A tank that reads zero parts ammonia and zero parts nitrite is cycled and ready to be stocked.

Nitrates build up in your water over time. They increase as the beneficial bacteria in your filter break down fish poop and uneaten food. Nitrates are not highly toxic, but you’ll want to keep their levels below about 20 parts per million by performing regular maintenance.

Water Changes

Change your water regularly depending on your water test results. You might need to do this once, twice, or four times per month, depending on the size of your tank, your filtration, and how many fish you keep.

Start by switching off your heater and filter. Remove the water from your tank with your gravel vacuum, taking care to suck up as much waste from the bottom of the tank as possible. Replace the old water with dechlorinated water of the same temperature as your aquarium. Lastly, don’t forget to switch your heater and filter back on!

Where To Buy

You will find many of the guppy tank mates in this post at your local fish store. However, some of the less common species, like shell-dwelling cichlids and peacock gudgeons, might be easier to find online. Only buy from trusted retailers that take great care of their livestock.

Mark’s Pick: Corydoras catfish. They complement guppies perfectly — different water column zones, no aggression toward fins, and similar hardwater preferences. A guppy and corydoras combination is as classic as it gets in community fishkeeping.

FAQs

Who Is This Setup Right For?

After keeping guppies across dozens of setups over the years, my honest recommendation is this: if you want a mixed community, stick to other livebearers or genuinely non-nippy small tetras. The simpler the stocking, the better the tank looks.

Good Fit If:

• You want a colorful, active community tank with peaceful mid-water and bottom species
• You keep other livebearers — platies, mollies — that share the same water preferences
• Your water is moderately hard and alkaline, which guppies prefer
• You accept and plan for fry production — guppies breed constantly

Avoid If:

• You want to add tiger barbs, serpae tetras, or any fin-nipping species
• You only have males and are concerned about fin health — male competition is real even without nippers
• You keep large cichlids or any predatory species that will see guppies as food
• You have soft, acidic water — guppies do poorly in South American biotope conditions

Final Thoughts

Guppies are easy to keep. Keeping their fins intact — and keeping the rest of the tank from treating them as a snack — is where the real work happens. The fish on this list work because they share the same water preferences, stay small enough to pose no predation threat, and won’t spend their time targeting those tails. That’s the actual filter for guppy tank mates — not just a “peaceful” label.

My go-to guppy community: corydoras on the bottom, cherry barbs or ember tetras for mid-water schooling color, and a sponge filter to keep flow low. Simple, proven, and genuinely hard to beat for a beginner setup. If you’re ever in doubt about a species, ask yourself one question: will it leave those tails alone? If you can’t answer that confidently, don’t add it.

Which tank mate is working best in your guppy setup? Drop a comment below — I’d love to hear what’s working for you.

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📘 Want to learn more? This article is part of our complete Freshwater Fish Guide. your ultimate resource for freshwater species, care tips, tank setup, and more.