Q&A for How to Feed Guppies

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  • Question
    How do you know when a guppy fish is hungry?
    Luke Leskovisek
    Aquarium Expert
    Luke Leskovisek is an Aquarium Expert and the Owner of The Coral Crib, based in Bloomington, Illinois. With over five years of professional experience, Luke specifically focuses on coral aquaculture and growing coral. He and his team offer fish, aquariums, live rock, aquarium decor and lighting, water testing, aquarium cleaning and maintenance, and more to their customers.
    Aquarium Expert
    Expert Answer
    If you follow a regular schedule, your fish shouldn't be hungry. They always might look like they're hungry, especially because they tend to stay up at the front of the tank, looking like they're wanting more food, but don't fall for that, as they can easily get overweight.
  • Question
    Do guppies eat biscuits?
    Dieyun Ding
    Top Answerer
    Bread is a generally a bad thing to feed pet fish. The crumbs most likely will expand inside the guppy's stomach, causing swimming problems such as swim bladder disease.
  • Question
    Should the guppies be let out after two or five months?
    Community Answer
    It depends. If you feed your fish very high protein and nutritional food, it will only take 2 months. If you just feed them normal fish food it can take 5 months or more.
  • Question
    Can adult guppies eat vegetable flakes?
    Community Answer
    Yes, but you will also have to provide regular live or frozen foods high in protein as treats.
  • Question
    If I don't need the baby guppies to survive because of limited space, can I just leave them all living in the same tank?
    Dieyun Ding
    Top Answerer
    Yes. The parents and other fish should be able to eat most of the fry, but there still might be a couple of residual babies that will grow up.
  • Question
    Can I put diferent types of only male guppies in a 10 gallon? How many male guppies I can put in 10 gallon?
    Dieyun Ding
    Top Answerer
    Yes, you can, as they are all generally peaceful toward each other and are all the same species (Poecilia reticulata). You should be able to get 4-6 of them with a little room to spare.
  • Question
    My guppies are not eating freeze-dried bloodworms or flakes. Any tips? I think they are eating the flakes, but definitely not the bloodworms.
    Community Answer
    Try crushing the bloodworms. They might be too big for your fish. Also, try other varieties of food until you find some that your guppies like and can eat - brine shrimp, vegetable matter, etc. You can find all the information you need in the article above. Also, to be sure of what they're eating, wait by the tank and observe after feeding them.
  • Question
    Can I mix red guppies with goldfish?
    Community Answer
    No. Guppies and goldfish need different water temperatures. Goldfish prefer cold water, while guppies prefer warmer water.
  • Question
    What is the average lifespan of guppies?
    Community Answer
    When treated well, guppies can live between 1 and 3 years.
  • Question
    Where can I purchase this food for guppies?
    Community Answer
    You can get it at any local pet shop.
  • Question
    Can guppies live in the same tank with goldfish?
    Community Answer
    No, they cannot live in the same tank together because guppies and goldfish require different water temperatures.
  • Question
    Can I leave my guppies in the same tank at all times even if one is pregnant?
    Community Answer
    Yes, but she may eat the fry unless he can get away. Adults will also try to eat the fry.
  • Question
    How much time should I wait before I feed them?
    Community Answer
    You should feed the babies right after they are born. Refer to the article about the time difference in feeding the adults.
  • Question
    What is the proper size of their food? Should I crush it into powder?
    Community Answer
    Normal flakes or pellets are already the good size to feed the guppies, but for the fry, you have to crush up the flakes by putting them into an air-tight plastic bag and then using your fingers to crush. Although the article says that pellets don't fit into guppies mouths, they are actually perfect for guppies.
  • Question
    Can I put guppies with other fish?
    Community Answer
    Yes, depending on what type of fish they are.
  • Question
    Can I feed guppies bottom-feeder shrimp pellets instead of fish flakes?
    Community Answer
    You can, but it will take a longer time for them to mature, since the food is meant for bottom feeders.
  • Question
    How many adult females can I put in a 10-gallon tank if I want them to still have room?
    Community Answer
    A general rule of thumb is 1" of fish per gallon, so 10 would allow for plenty of space.
  • Question
    Is it safe to feed soya, biscuits, cake and bread to my guppies while giving them fish food?
    Community Answer
    Best not to! Bread and cake will expand rapidly in their stomachs and may cause swim bladder diseases for bloating. Biscuits also expand.
  • Question
    Why do my guppies go into hiding?
    Brittney.B
    Community Answer
    They might feel outnumbered. You should have at least 2 guppies or a small group; otherwise, they might hide all of the time. You might also have aggressive fish that are picking on them.
  • Question
    Can guppies eat goldfish flakes?
    Caitlin123
    Community Answer
    They can, but it's best to buy them guppy flakes since they are designed to benefit guppies the most.
  • Question
    Can I feed guppies with finely chopped vegetables?
    Community Answer
    It is not recommended because they could choke on the vegetables.
  • Question
    Does pH matter? Should water be acid or alkaline?
    Caeiia
    Top Answerer
    pH should be about 6.8-7.2. But more importantly, pH should be kept constant. Sudden changes will harm your fish, so if you need to change a wildly out-of-range pH, do so slowly.
  • Question
    Can I house baby mollies with guppies?
    Community Answer
    It is not recommended, as your guppies will most likely eat the mollies.
  • Question
    After the guppie gives birth, will her tummy look thinner?
    Community Answer
    Yes, but this may take a couple of weeks due to stress and feeding patterns.
  • Question
    What should I feed my guppies?
    Community Answer
    You can feed them fish flakes from your local pet store, and also give them a treat every once in a while.
  • Question
    What are the best vegetables to give to guppies?
    Community Answer
    You can give them shucked peas, lettuce, and cucumbers if their fish flakes are high in protein but low in vegetable content.
  • Question
    Do guppies die after they give birth?
    Community Answer
    No, guppies don't typically die after giving birth, although it's a possibility.
  • Question
    How do I know if my guppies are breathing properly?
    Caeiia
    Top Answerer
    Their gills should not be rapidly making large movements. They should not be frequently going up to the surface to breathe. If you see red/purple gills with streaks, this is also not good (ammonia poisoning).
  • Question
    Can I feed cut shrimp to my guppies?
    Community Answer
    Yes, as long as they are baby brine shrimp.
  • Question
    What types of living foods can I feed my guppies?
    Brittney.B
    Community Answer
    You can feed them brine shrimp or daphnia. You can also try crushed bloodworms.
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