Guppies are popular freshwater aquarium fish that are well-known for their vibrant colors and flowing fins. Many aquarists wonder if they can keep two female guppies together in the same tank. The quick answer is yes, you typically can keep multiple female guppies together without major issues.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about keeping two or more female guppies together. We’ll discuss ideal tank conditions, potential aggression and bullying, reproductive considerations, ideal group sizes, tank mates to avoid, and more.
Ideal Habitat Conditions for Female Guppies
Tank Size Requirements
Female guppies need a minimum tank size of 10 gallons, but a 20-30 gallon tank is ideal. This gives them plenty of horizontal swimming space which they utilize often. A long, rectangular shaped tank is better than a tall, vertically oriented one.
Make sure any tank you choose has a securely fitting lid, as guppies are excellent jumpers.
You’ll want to avoid overcrowding the tank. A good general rule is 1 gallon of water per guppy, with no more than 15 guppies in a 10 gallon tank. Overcrowding causes stress, aggression, and poor water quality.
Water Parameters
Guppies do best in water between 74-82°F with a pH between 7.0-8.4. They prefer soft to moderately hard water (5-20 dGH). Use a quality heater and thermometer to maintain a stable temperature. Perform regular partial water changes of 25-30% weekly to replenish minerals and dilute nitrates.
Test the water weekly with a liquid test kit. Keep ammonia and nitrites at 0 ppm, and nitrates under 40 ppm. Aim for 0 ppm on ammonia and nitrites, as these are highly toxic. Use water conditioner like Seachem Prime at water changes to detoxify any ammonia or nitrites present.
Tank Setup and Decor
Female guppies appreciate a natural looking tank with plenty of live or silk plants. Java fern, java moss, anubias, and amazon sword plants are great options. Arrange decor to break up lines of sight and create some shaded spots.
Use a fine gravel or sand substrate to avoid injuring delicate fins. River rock, driftwood, and cave decorations give them places to explore and hide. Maintain open swimming areas as well. Go easy on tankmates, as guppies may be bullied by aggressive fish.
Aggression Between Females
Bullying and Nipping
Female guppies can exhibit aggressive behaviors like bullying and nipping when kept together, especially in crowded tanks. The dominant guppy may chase, nip fins of, or even kill less dominant females (The Spruce Pets).
This establishes a hierarchy and reduces competition for resources like food and prime habitat areas in the tank. Frequent water changes, an adequate tank size (at least 10 gallons for two females), and breaking lines of sight with decor can help curb aggression.
Reproductive Competition
Female guppies also compete for male attention during mating. The more vibrant and larger female guppies tend to attract males more often. This can spark fighting between females. Providing a higher male to female ratio (at least 1 male per 2-3 females) helps reduce reproductive aggression in the tank.
Pregnant females or those with newly dropped fry may also become more aggressive. Isolating them in a separate tank until the babies are grown can be prudent.
Reproduction and Population Control
Keeping Males is an Option
While female guppies can reproduce without males through a process called parthenogenesis, keeping some males can be beneficial for managing population growth. The ideal male to female ratio is around 1:2. This allows for breeding while avoiding an explosion in fry numbers.
Males will help control reproduction rates through the mating process. Pregnant females store sperm and can have multiple broods over several months. By managing the number of males, hobbyists can better regulate fry output. Regularly removing fry is also key.
All-female groups will still reproduce, just at slower rates without males.
All-Female Groups Still Reproduce
Interestingly, even in all-female guppy groups kept without any males, reproduction can still occur through parthenogenesis. This is when females self-fertilize eggs without a male, producing clones of themselves. However, fry numbers tend to be lower, with each pregnancy yielding under 30 offspring.
To prevent rapid population growth, all-female groups should be monitored for signs of pregnancy like darkened gravid spots. Fry can be removed regularly or females separated before giving birth. Culling some fry humanely can also control numbers.
Aquarists should research ethical culling methods like clove oil euthanasia. With some effort, all-female groups can be sustainable.
Ideal Group Size and Tank Mates
Minimum Group Size
Guppies are schooling fish, so it’s recommended to keep them in groups of at least 6-8. Having several female guppies together reduces aggressive behavior and makes them feel more secure. Though it’s possible to keep a pair of female guppies, they will likely chase and nip at each other constantly due to lack of numbers.
To ensure your guppies are healthy and thriving, purchase multiple females at once.
Maximum Density
When housing female guppies, each fish needs adequate swimming room, so overcrowding should be avoided. As a general rule, plan for 2-3 gallons of water per guppy in the aquarium. For example, a 10-gallon tank has room for 4-5 female guppies maximum.
Going above the maximum density threshold can cause dangerous water conditions. Test water parameters frequently and be prepared to transfer extra fish to additional tanks if needed.
Compatible Tank Mates
Many peaceful community fish make great tank mates for female guppies, such as:
- Small tetras
- Corydoras catfish
- Dwarf gouramis
- Hatchetfish
- Snails and shrimp
Avoid housing guppies with aggressive fish that may attack them, like cichlids, goldfish, or large angel fish. Also avoid known fin-nippers such as tiger barbs. Stick to docile community species 3 inches or smaller.
| Good Tank Mates | Bad Tank Mates |
|---|---|
| Neon Tetras | Oscar Fish |
| Zebra Danios | Jack Dempsey |
| Ghost Shrimp | Tiger Barbs |
For more examples of guppy-friendly tank mates, check sites like FishLab and Fishkeeping Advice.
Conclusion
In conclusion, keeping two or more female guppies together can work very well. Pay special attention to providing an adequately sized tank with plenty of hiding spots and broken sight lines. Introduce guppies properly, overcrowd cautiously, and remove bullying fish if needed.
With some basic precautions, your female guppies will likely coexist smoothly.
