A small freshwater fish from north-east South America that gives birth to live young. Males are smaller and splashed with bright colours; females are grey. Released on every continent except Antarctica, it is one of the most widespread tropical fish and a very popular aquarium fish.
Quick answers
What is it?Fish
Carnivore?Omnivore
Dangerous?No
Domesticated?Yes
Breeders have produced many fancy strains, bigger and more colourful than wild guppies.
Awake when?Daytime
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?Commonly
One of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish.
Do people eat it?No
At a glance
Found inSouth America, Worldwide
HabitatRivers & lakes
ColoursOrange, Blue, Green
SizeTiny
LengthMales 1.5–4 cm; females 3–7 cm
LegsNone
Covered inScales
Lives ingroups
Lives for2–3 years
Can swim
In the wild
- Where it lives
- Native to Venezuela, Guyana, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Antigua; introduced to countries on every continent except Antarctica.
- What it eats
- Algae, diatoms, small invertebrates, insect larvae, plant bits and detritus. Algae are usually the biggest part.
Did you know
Gives birth to live young, and has been released worldwide to eat mosquito larvae, often harming native fish.
Females can first give birth at just 10–20 weeks old.
Guppies from streams with many predators school more than those from safe streams.
Often confused with
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