When searching for fish compatible with guppies, you may find that freshwater angelfish are often suggested. However, you may wonder, “Can you put guppies and angelfish together safely?” or “Will angelfish eat guppies?”
Figuring out whether angelfish and guppies can live together without stress or injury is a crucial step to take before adding any new fish to the community aquarium.
Water Parameters
The first step when searching for fish compatible with guppies is to choose fish with similar water parameter needs.
Guppies prefer water that is between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Colder temperatures slow their growth but lengthen their lives, while warmer temperatures promote faster growth but generally lead to a shorter lifespan.
Guppies also prefer water containing a high amount of essential minerals, with a pH hovering around 7.0.
Angelfish and guppies do have similar water needs. Angelfish are tropical and prefer warmer water, somewhere between 78 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Angelfish also like the water’s pH level to be between 6.8 and 7.8.
Guppy and Angelfish Temperaments
Guppies are peaceful, calm fish that don’t generally bother other tank mates or nip at fins. Fish compatible with guppies usually share a similar temperament. Angelfish, however, can sometimes become quite territorial.
Generally, this territorial behavior isn’t too much of a problem when keeping angelfish and guppies together. Angelfish are only semi-aggressive, and guppies will often simply swim away from any territorial behavior. Offering a large enough aquarium can make it easier for guppies to find their own space and will also reduce the territorial aggression of angelfish.
Angelfish are schooling fish, so it’s often best to keep them in small groups of between two and six fish. Six angelfish require an aquarium of 60 gallons or more, and each additional fish should have an extra 10 gallons of space.
Guppies are not schooling fish but are often kept in groups of three or more. Three guppies will also require a minimum of 10 gallons each, so this should be kept in mind when choosing an appropriately sized aquarium.
Angelfish are often stressed or injured by other fish that nip at their long fins, but because the non-aggressive guppies don’t do this, they are more likely to get along well with angelfish.
In addition, guppies are easy to care for. Their gentle temperament means that they usually get along well with other fish compatible with angelfish, such as plecos, mollies, and swordtails.
Reduce Opportunistic Feeding
The biggest problem when it comes to angelfish and guppy compatibility is the fact that angelfish will eat other fish as they are opportunistic feeders.
Angelfish eat guppies occasionally, not because of aggression, but because they view smaller fish as potential food.
The answer to “Can angelfish live with guppies?” often comes down to whether the guppies will become an angelfish snack.
When considering whether angelfish and guppies can co-exist, it’s important to consider the relative sizes of the fish. It’s usually suggested that you keep angelfish, which can grow to about six inches, only with fish of a similar size. On the other hand, guppies only grow to about two inches, which can put them in danger.
However, offering plenty of food can often reduce the risk of opportunistic feeding and may increase angelfish and guppy compatibility. Angelfish that are well-fed may be less likely to attempt to hunt down an extra meal. Feeding twice a day can also be helpful.
Guppies breed readily in the home aquarium, and angelfish may also attempt to eat the fry. If your guppies breed, moving the baby guppies to a different aquarium is often a good idea.
Provide Hiding Places
Creating a safe, comfortable environment for angelfish and guppies includes providing plenty of hiding places. Fish compatible with guppies, including angelfish, may still occasionally display territorial or aggressive behavior, and when this happens, the guppies should have somewhere to hide.
Hiding places can be anything from a pre-made cave to plants with large or dense leaves. You can also carefully and securely stack rocks to form caves or crevices. These small spaces are ideal for smaller fish, as larger fish can’t fit into them.
The Best Way to Introduce Guppies and Angelfish
- Introduce both the guppies and the angelfish to the aquarium when they’re all young
- Provide an aquarium large enough to house all of the fish comfortably
- Provide plenty of food and consider feeding twice a day
- Provide good hiding places for the guppies.
When considering a community tank that includes angelfish, it’s often best to introduce all of the fish when they’re young. This is especially important when it comes to angelfish and guppies.
At a young age, angelfish and guppies are about the same size. Because they were introduced together and raised together, angelfish often view the guppies as tank mates. This reduces the risk of territorial aggression and also often means that the angelfish view the guppies are friendly fish and not potential meals.
Can angelfish live with guppies? The answer is that, when care is taken, angelfish and guppies can often make good tank mates. Guppies are peaceful fish that won’t nip at the angelfish’s fins, and because they share similar water parameter requirements, they can comfortably share an aquarium without reducing the angelfish’s lifespan.
When pairing angelfish and guppies, it’s crucial to ensure that the aquarium is large enough and that there are plenty of hiding places to reduce territorial aggression. It’s also a good idea to introduce all fish at a young age and offer plenty of food to reduce the risk of opportunistic feeding.
Do you have a question about keeping angelfish and guppies together? Comment below and let us know.
