Guppies: Flow Rate Tolerance

Guppies are sensitive to strong currents due to their long fins, which hinder their movement and can get damaged. While some amount of current is essential in an aquarium to flush away waste materials and maintain water temperature and oxygen levels, excessive current can harm guppies. They are naturally found in slow-moving waters with a mild current and struggle to swim and feed when the current is too strong. Guppies prefer a peaceful environment with quiet zones and hiding spaces, and strong currents can lead to stress, illness, and exhaustion. To reduce the current, aquarium owners can use live plants, the right filter, airstones, submersible pumps, or manifold systems.

Guppies' natural habitat

Guppies are native to certain countries and islands in South America, including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Brazil, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. They are highly adaptable and can be found in a variety of habitats, from freshwater streams to brackish water environments, such as estuaries, irrigation channels, lagoons, lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Guppies tend to favour smaller streams and pools over large, deep, or fast-flowing rivers. They are also capable of surviving in full saltwater conditions.

In the wild, guppies are typically found near the surface of the water, feeding on small floating particles of food, such as algae, insect larvae, and plankton. They are known to be social fish, living in schools that vary in size depending on the population's predator presence. Guppies will school in larger numbers when there are more predators around. Their small size makes them easy prey for larger fish and birds, so they often stick together to improve their chances of avoiding predation.

Guppies are highly prolific livebearers, with females giving birth to live young instead of laying eggs. The gestation period can range from 20 to 60 days, and the number of offspring can vary from 1 to 100, with an average of 20 to 40. Guppies have a short lifespan in the wild, typically living for around two years.

Guppies have become an invasive species in many parts of the world due to their ability to adapt to different environments. They have been introduced to various regions outside of their native range, often for mosquito control, but have ended up causing a decline in native fish populations. They are known to prey on the eggs and larvae of other fish species and can also carry diseases and parasites that can harm local populations.

Guppies' swimming behaviour

Guppies are not strong swimmers and do not like strong currents because of their long fins, which hinder movement or get damaged. They are found in shallow waters where the current is slow or non-existent, such as riverbeds, basins and edges.

In aquariums, guppies prefer a peaceful environment with quiet zones where they can move and feed with ease. A strong current can cause them to become stressed, exhausted, and sick. They may also struggle to find food as they are unable to swim against the flow.

Guppies can be seen to be struggling with the current if they are sitting at the bottom of the tank, have stopped moving, or are only swimming in one direction. If the current is too strong, it can cause them to flip over horizontally or vertically.

To reduce the current in an aquarium, you can add live plants to block and reduce the water flow, or use an adjustable air pump with airstones to minimise the push of water. It is also important to choose the right filter for your aquarium, ensuring it is not oversized and that the flow can be set as low as possible.

Guppies' feeding behaviour

Guppies are not fussy eaters and will probably eat anything offered to them. However, it is important to be careful about what they are fed. Tropical fish flakes and fish foods formulated specifically for guppies are suitable components of a guppy diet. They also enjoy munching on plants, such as water sprite and hornwort, as well as tubifex worms, zucchini, algae, brine shrimp and bloodworms. Guppies are omnivores, so they also eat a combination of animal and plant-based meals. They are especially fond of crustaceans and small bugs.

Guppies should be fed either once or twice a day, and at least one meal should consist of live food. Guppies in aquariums flourish when allowed to eat several times each day. Tiny pinches of food between two and three times daily are generally effective. It is important not to give guppies more food than they can eat within a few minutes. Guppies like most fish, will eat until they burst, so it is important not to overfeed them.

Baby guppies need to be fed more often—between five and eight times each day. This is because their bodies are rapidly changing and constantly growing. As they can only eat so much in a single serving, they need lots of small meals. It is important not to give them too much food at once, as this will dirty the tank. Inadequate feeding can stunt growth and affect a guppy's health as an adult. Water temperature has a significant impact on a guppy's appetite, especially for baby guppies. Cool temperatures make the fish sluggish, and they will consume less food. Warmer temperatures increase activity and appetite. Ideally, a tank should be kept between 76 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit for baby guppies.

Guppies' health

Guppies are small tropical fish that are popular among aquarium owners due to their brilliant colours, lively personalities, and ease of breeding. They are hardy and adaptable, but also require basic care and attention to stay healthy and avoid diseases. Here are some tips to ensure the health and well-being of your guppies:

Choose the Right Aquarium

The size, shape, and equipment of your aquarium are crucial for the health and comfort of your guppies. Guppies are small fish that need enough space to swim freely and avoid overcrowding. As a rule of thumb, provide 1 gallon of water for every inch of guppy fish. For a pair of adult guppies, a 5-gallon tank is the minimum, but a 10-gallon tank is recommended. If you plan to keep more guppies or breed them, opt for a bigger tank. Rectangular tanks are ideal as they offer more surface area.

Maintain Optimal Water Quality and Temperature

Guppies require clean and warm water to thrive. Poor water quality and temperature can lead to stress, disease, and even death. Maintain a pH level between 6.5 and 7.5, and a water temperature between 74°F and 82°F. Regularly test and adjust water parameters such as hardness, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and dissolved oxygen levels. Cycling your tank before adding fish is essential to establish beneficial bacteria that break down waste.

Provide a Balanced and Varied Diet

Guppies are omnivores and will eat almost anything offered to them. However, a balanced and varied diet is key to their health. Feed adult guppies a pinch of flake food made for tropical fish once or twice a day. Supplement their diet with live, frozen, or freeze-dried food, and fresh or dried vegetables occasionally. Remove any leftover food after a few minutes to prevent water pollution.

Prevent Common Health Issues

Guppies are prone to parasitic, bacterial, and viral infections. Symptoms to watch for include white spots, rapid breathing, loss of appetite, redness or inflammation, and behavioural changes. To prevent infections, maintain optimal water conditions, avoid overcrowding, and quarantine new fish. Treat infections with appropriate medications and isolate infected fish.

Manage Aggression and Stress

Guppies are generally peaceful but can display aggression due to factors such as male-female ratios, space constraints, incompatible tank mates, and poor water quality. To reduce aggression and stress, maintain a balanced sex ratio, provide ample space, choose compatible tank mates, and keep the water clean. Feed them a varied diet and isolate aggressive individuals if necessary.

Other Considerations

• Buy guppies from reputable sources to avoid genetic issues and hidden diseases.
• Use a good water filter to oxygenate the water and reduce harmful substances.
• Regularly change water and vacuum the substrate to maintain water quality.
• Maintain and clean the filter to ensure optimal performance.
• Provide a natural aquarium with plants, rocks, and decorations to mimic their natural habitat.
• Act quickly to address any signs of illness and quarantine sick fish.

Adjusting flow rate

Guppies are not strong swimmers and can struggle with turbulent water. They are found in the wild in ponds, lakes, and rivers with slow-moving waters and a mild current.

There are several ways to reduce the current in a tank to make it more suitable for guppies:

• Live plants: Strategically place live plants to block and reduce water flow. This will help to slow down the force of the filtered water. However, ensure the water from the filter is not entirely blocked as filtered water is essential for guppies' good health.
• Right filter: Choose an internal, hang-on, or canister filter that allows you to set the flow of water to be as low as possible. Ensure the filter is not oversized, or it may be difficult to reduce the flow.
• Airstones and submersible pumps: Place airstones near the surface of the water with a small, adjustable air pump to minimize the push of water and reduce the current. You can also use an air control valve to control the flow of water. Alternatively, use a submersible pump with an adjustable flow rate and turn it down manually.
• Manifold systems: If you have a strong canister filter with a single water outlet, the water flow will be concentrated in one spot, leading to a strong current. Use a flexible or ridged plastic pipe to distribute the water flow throughout the aquarium and reduce the current.
• Rocks or pebbles: Adding rocks or pebbles to the aquarium can help to create a more gentle flow.
• DC water pumps: Use these to precisely regulate the strength of the water current.

It is important to observe the behaviour of your guppies to determine if the current is too strong for them. Signs of a strong current include struggling to swim freely, changes in swimming patterns, sitting at the bottom of the tank, and a lack of body movement.

Frequently asked questions