How Hardy Are Guppies?

[benjoey]

Hi I was just wondering how hardy guppies are I'm sure I've read that they're not very hardy, what are people opinions on this?
How many should you keep together?

Edited to add poll

 

[angelfishguy]

Alot of people say that they v hardy but ive never had good luck with them. There are only 2 things i dont have any luck with guppies and vallis

 

[fishnovice]

Alot of people say that they v hardy but ive never had good luck with them. There are only 2 things i dont have any luck with guppies and vallis

Oh I thought it was just me, I've lost half my guppies for no apparent reason. Yet non livebearers in the same tank are doing fine.Strange as when I was a kid guppies were easy beginner fish and bred like rabbits.
I would recommend getting endlers or endler crosses instead. Got a pair of tiger endlers about a year ago and now have over 30 with few or no losses. Parents don't eat their fry either and babies can be left in the same tank with adults.

 

[angelfishguy]

Alot of people say that they v hardy but ive never had good luck with them. There are only 2 things i dont have any luck with guppies and vallis

Oh I thought it was just me, I've lost half my guppies for no apparent reason. Yet non livebearers in the same tank are doing fine.Strange as when I was a kid guppies were easy beginner fish and bred like rabbits.
I would recommend getting endlers or endler crosses instead. Got a pair of tiger endlers about a year ago and now have over 30 with few or no losses. Parents don't eat their fry either and babies can be left in the same tank with adults.

I think ive heard that through so much inbreeding they are not as hardy as they used to be

 

[mattshez]

P@H advise not selling guppies into anything less than a 6 month old tank, 4 months to experienced owners, possibly one of the more fragile fish they stock

 

[benjoey]

ahh so possibly not very hardy then, Do you know if any particular strains are hardier than others?

I know they should be kept at least one male to two females do you think it would be fair to keep just 1 male and 2 females in a community tank, or should there be more?

 

[Gilli]

Never had any luck keeping any long term either and my tank stats are good. the longest ive ever kept one was for about 6 months then it keeled over for no reason! I dont buy them any more.

You can keep them in a community tank in that number and they will breed like rabbits so you will probably have an endless supply providing you have lots of cover and hiding places for the fry

 

[james_fish]

The people who have been in the hobby longer than myself will tell you they have gotten less hardy over the years. As a result they are now very fragile but can be kept with ease in mature tanks with good maintenance

James.

 

[Joshwainwright]

Guppys seem to be invincible when I get them - I suppose that's a good thing!

 

[Ashley1991]

i have also read many times that years and years of inter breeding has weakened them tbh i have had pretty good luck with them

 

[symon_say]

I lost the 6 guppy i bought in the mini cycle my tank goes when i introduce then, ammonia was something like 0.25, they were the only ones that die, all the other fish were ok. But i'll get then again, but when my tank have more fish and is more mature.

 

[Joshwainwright]

i have also read many times that years and years of inter breeding has weakened them tbh i have had pretty good luck with them

Same, I can just leave a tank with a few guppies and a few places for fry to hide and I end up overstocked!

 

[fish48]

guppies are hardier then most people think someone mentioned they have got very fragile over the years.

if any guppy can live and breed longterm in a temp of between of 68f-72f well then they cant be fragile

 

[Ludwig Venter]

Cannot believe only 1 vote for "very Hardy" (being mine)..... Geeze!!..... These fish are invincible and an absolute nuiscance to control their numbers...... I have (conservatively) around 10/15 thousand of the blighters, and I started off with 2 Males and 5 females in 1995..... I am so tired of breeding Guppies atm.... I've offered them (all) for sale on a local fish forum for approximately 10 for 1 Cent...... Hope to get rid of all of ém. (they are good quality stuff though)

 

[fish48]

we have very Hardy and good quality guppies in the uk. they are the easiest of all livebearers to keep