Guppies are so adorable that you just want to get almost all the guppies you see at a pet store. However, how many can you really fit safely in a typical tank?
Guppies, which are also known as million fishes and rainbowfishes, are popular freshwater aquarium fishes because they are low-maintenance. Many fish hobbyists surely have had, currently have, or plan to have guppies in their respective aquariums.
However, given a guppy’s small size, it is often a question, “how many guppies in a 10 gallon tank can I fit?” Before buying too many guppies, let us first find out how many of them can really fit and live comfortably in your aquarium. Of course, you would not want them to be overcrowded nor too lonely without much company.
Table of Contents
How Many Guppies In A 10 Gallon Tank
Let us start finding out the answer to this question
1. Size Matters
Male guppies are usually 0.60” to 1.40” long while their female counterparts are usually longer, measuring between 1.20” and 2.40”.
A 10-gallon tank can provide a comfortable dwelling for a specie measuring 10 inches in length.
2. Gender Matters
So, how many guppies in a 10 gallon tank can you fit then? If you are buying an all-male group of guppies with an average length of an inch, you can fit 10 of them in a 10-gallon tank. If you want an all-female group of guppies with an average length of 2”, you can only fit five of them in a tank of the same size.
But… how many guppies in a 10-gallon tank can you fit if you want to mix male and female guppies? Let us do the math together:
When combining male and female guppies in a tank, a ratio of 1:2 is highly recommended. Why? Male guppies have a more vibrant color than female guppies. They use this to their advantage as they attract female guppies to mate. This could be annoying and troublesome for female guppies, which is why it would be helpful to have a male guppy dividing his attention between two female guppies.
On average, this gives us a ratio of 1:4 in terms of length. Consequently, a set of male-and-female guppies measures 5” in length combined. If this is the case, and a 10-gallon tank can comfortably accommodate species measuring 10” long altogether, then you can fit two male guppies and four female guppies in it.
Of course, these figures are just rough estimates. The sizes of guppies vary. The important thing you need to keep in mind is that a 10 gallon tank can fit species measuring as much as 10” in length combined. You would not want to exceed this number as it would mean compromising the comfort and safety of your pets.
What If They Mate and Reproduce?
Mating and reproduction is a possibility when you combine male and female guppies in your aquarium. In fact, is this not your primary goal from the very moment you thought of combining them in a single tank?
If and when this happens, you have the following options:
1. Sell The Newborn Guppies
Of course, you cannot keep the newborn guppies in your aquarium that can only fit their parents. This will result to an awful environment for the fishes.
The best way to deal with this is to sell the newborn guppies to fellow hobbyists. However, before closing a deal, make sure that the buyer has a clean, safe, and spacious tank for the newborn guppies. It would also be better if he or she has the basic knowledge about taking care of fishes.
2. Buy A New Aquarium
If it is your goal to further the lineage of your existing guppies, then you can buy a new aquarium instead. You might need one or two more tanks. This will allow you to separate male and female guppies, should you desire to do so in the future to avoid mating.
Transfer the newborn guppies or the old guppies in a new tank. You can always buy a larger tank. The only downside of having too many guppies and tanks is the higher maintenance requirements. It is a commitment that you need to prepare yourself for.
I have had a number of fish tanks in the past. However, there is one that stands out— a personal favorite of mine, I may say. Let me share to you what I like the most about this aquarium:
Fluval Aquatics Spec V Aquarium Kit (5 gal.)
This fish tank is one of the latest models in the Fluval Aquatics Spec series of freshwater kits. It boasts with an innovative design, ensuring that you get the most out of what you pay for.
For starters, it has a 7, 000 K LED lighting system. It provides a 20% brighter illumination than old models. In turn, you will see the color of your guppies become bolder.
What I love the most about this LED lighting system is that it is energy efficient. If you are eco-friendly like me, this is important because it helps conserve energy. Of course, being able to save up on my electricity bill is just a plus. It is also convenient, thanks to its touch-start day and night illumination feature. With its sleek, aluminum, waterproof casing, your guppies are 100% safe and sound as well.
Then, the Fluval Aquatics Spec V Aquarium Kit features a built-in, three-stage water filtration system. If you do not want to buy a separate water filter for your fish tank, this should really be on top of your choices.
To make sure that no contaminants make it to the fish tank, it has three filtering media, which include the following:
- A biological filter in the form of BioMax;
- A chemical filter in the form of carbon; and
- A mechanical filter in the form of foam
This kit is complete with the following inclusions:
- A circulation pump with an output nozzle;
- A Fluval activated carbon insert; Fluval BioMax insert;
- A Fluval foam filter block with handle;
- A glass aquarium with cover; and
- A low-voltage transformer
Up to five all-male guppies can fit in this fish tank. For an all-female set of guppies, it can accommodate two to three. If you will combine male and female guppies in this tank, I suggest that you only place one pair.
Note: this item comes with a two-year limited warranty.
Maintenance Requirements
Since we have already discussed how many guppies in a 10-gallon tank we can fit and mentioned maintenance, let us have a glimpse of what it is like to take care of guppies.
Truthfully, we like fishes in general because they do not really require that much attention compared to other pets. Here are a few reminders:
- Keep the temperature of every aquarium between 72 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Accordingly, an environment with a temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal as it efficiently boosts the metabolism of fishes.
- Feed your guppies regularly with a balanced diet. Brine shrimp, daphnia, and guppy flakes are some food items they will surely enjoy. Younger guppies need to eat more to sustain their growth; so, it is highly recommended to feed them at least four times a day. When they grow older, feeding them at least once a day will do.
- When your tank filter begins turning brown in color, it is a sign that you need to replace it.
The responsibilities only become greater as the number of our guppies increases. When deciding on the number of guppies you will keep, make sure that you will be able to meet their needs at all times. There is no point in keeping too many fishes in several aquariums when you cannot take care of them properly.
As freshwater fishes, guppies need a well-maintained environment surrounding them. Needless to say, it is a must to have a quality water filtration system. Nowadays, one of the most trusted systems for aquariums is the Liquagen 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis (RO)/Deionization (DI) Water Filtration System. Here is everything you need to know about it:
Liquagen 5-Stage RO/DI Water Filtration System
First of all, this system is designed for all kinds of applications requiring 100% pure water. So, be it for fish tanks, laboratory testing procedures, among others, this is a great choice.
It is the perfect water filtration system for beginners, too. Why? It is already pre-assembled; all you have to do is to connect the tubing to the incoming water supply, and you are good to go. So, if you have not experienced using an RO/DI water filtration system before, it is best that you start off with this one.
There is no need for you to rush to the nearest pet store just to buy clean water for your pets in cases of emergency. Should there be a sudden leak in your aquarium, it will be easy to replace the water. Similarly, if it is necessary to conduct massive water replacements, you would not have to worry.
Another great thing about it is that it is cost-efficient. When you buy water by the gallon, it is more expensive. At least, when you have your own water filter at home, there is no need to spend every time you need pure water. With it, you can just produce what you need, when you need it.
Now, let us talk about its five-stage filtration. It is composed of the following filtering media, each serving their respective purpose:
1. Coconut Carbon
This removes free chlorine, odor, organic chemical, taste, and everything that makes water impure. It has a uniform block design, enhancing the absorption of impurities. Surely, no element will bypass the coconut carbon due to the uniformity of its core.
2. Color Changing DI Cartridge
The color-changing DI cartridge removes almost all mineral ions, including cations such as calcium and iron; and anions such as chloride and sulfate. It marks the last stage of the filtration system as it removes even the slightest totally dissolved solids (TDS).
3. Polypropylene Sediment
- This component gets rid of the following impurities:
- Chemical resistance;
- Dirt;
- Rust;
- Sand; and
- Scale particles
4. RO Membrane
The RO membrane gets rid of about 100% of all TDS. Also, it removes contaminants such as the following:
- Arsenic;
- Bacteria;
- Chromium;
- Fluoride;
- Lead;
- Radium;
- Among others
5. UDF Activated Carbon
This part of the system is responsible for removing the following elements:
- Chlorine;
- Odor;
- Organic chemical;
- Taste;
- Volatile organic compound (VOC); and
- Other tap water impurities
The Liquagen 5-Stage RO/DI Water Filtration System has a lot of great features. Also, it does not require frequent replacement or high maintenance. Should you even need to replace the filters, it is also made a lot easier. You can quickly tell that they need to be replaced, thanks to the clear canisters.
Not only is it suitable for freshwater fish tanks, but also for reef tanks and saltwater aquariums. It has an operating pressure range of 50 to 100 psi and an operating temperature range of 39 °F to 113 °F.
With tight fittings, you can be confident that it is leak-free. It is durable, lead-free, and BPA-free. This means that you do not have to worry about compromising your pet’s safety.
This system comes with a one-year manufacturer warranty. Further, you can also count on lifetime customer support. Should you have any problem with it, you can easily ask for help.
However, if you cannot reach out to the customer service hotlines, you can also ask for help from people online. That is the beauty of this product— since a lot of hobbyists have it, there is a broad community on whom you can rely.
Summary – How Many Guppies in a 10 Gallon Tank?
To summarize our answer to the question, here is a quick recap:
If you are buying all-male guppies, you can fit about 10 of them. If you are buying all-female guppies, you can fit about five of them. If you are combining them, you can fit two male guppies and four female guppies. It all depends on the size of the guppies you will get, but these are good estimates.
Are there any questions similar to, “how many guppies in a 10-gallon tank can I fit?” that bothers you? What other aquarium fishes do you want us to discuss next? Comment your suggestions below!
Thanks for reading! Have a great day!
Fish And Aquariums
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REFERENCES
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guppy
http://pets.thenest.com/care-guppies-10-gallon-tank-3789.html
http://www.fluvalaquatics.com/ca/lifestyle/aquariums/series/spec