Livebearers - Guppys

Very fast. A single pregnant female can deliver 20–60 fry every 4–6 weeks, and fry reach maturity in about 10–12 weeks. Expect exponential population growth if you keep mixed sexes — many keepers run male-only tanks to enjoy the colours without the explosion.

Yes. Guppies are tropical fish that prefer 22–26°C. While they survive at room temperature in heated UK homes, a heater provides stability which is critical to health and colour. Fluctuating temperatures weaken their immune systems and shorten lifespans.

A 60L suits 8–10 guppies, ideally 1 male to 2–3 females to reduce harassment. Male-only groups of 6–8 avoid breeding and work well in smaller community tanks. Always check the adult size of fancy strains — some grow larger than wild-type guppies.

Yes — they are hardy, colourful, active and forgiving of beginner mistakes. They tolerate the moderately hard UK tap water found across most of Britain and adapt to a range of temperatures. They are one of the best gateway species into tropical fishkeeping.

Peaceful community fish: Corydoras, Otocinclus, Endlers, Platies, Harlequin Rasboras and small Tetras. Avoid fin-nippers (Tiger Barbs) and anything aggressive. Shrimp and snails also cohabit well, though small shrimp fry may be eaten.