Guppy

The guppy is a small livebearing fish of the family Poeciliidae, native to fresh and brackish waters of northeastern South America but now introduced worldwide. Decades of selective breeding have produced countless strains with vivid tails and bodies; males are small and ornate while females are larger and plainer. It is a peaceful, active and highly social fish that does well in mixed-sex groups, though keeping more females than males reduces harassment. Guppies are famously hardy and beginner-friendly, thriving in neutral to hard, slightly alkaline water in a planted community tank. They are omnivores accepting flake, micro-pellets, and small live or frozen foods, and benefit from occasional vegetable matter. They breed prolifically, with females giving birth to live young every few weeks; floating plants provide cover for fry, which are otherwise eaten by adults.