Female Guppy 4cm – Poecilia reticulata

The Female Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) is a peaceful and active freshwater livebearer that works well in planted and community aquariums.

At approximately 4cm, these females are larger-bodied than male Guppies and may continue to grow as they mature. Female Guppies are generally less brightly coloured than males, although aquarium-bred females can still display attractive body colour, patterned tails and subtle metallic markings.

Female Guppies are a good choice for peaceful community aquariums, all-female Guppy groups or for creating a balanced breeding group with male Guppies.

Quick Care Guide

• Scientific Name: Poecilia reticulata
• Common Name: Guppy
• Sale Size: Approximately 4cm
• Sex: Female
• Adult Female Size: Approximately 5–6cm
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Care Level: Easy
• Temperature: 22–28°C
• pH: 7.0–8.2
• Water Hardness: Approximately 8–20 dGH
• Water Preference: Moderately hard to hard
• Diet: Omnivorous
• Breeding: Livebearer
• Origin: Aquarium-bred form of Poecilia reticulata

Female Guppy Appearance

Female Guppies are generally larger and fuller-bodied than males, with shorter fins and more subtle colouration.

Depending on the strains present in the group, individual females may display:

• silver, grey, gold or olive body colour
• coloured or patterned tails
• subtle blue, green or metallic markings
• black or darker markings around the tail
• different fin colours and patterns

Colour and pattern will vary between individual fish. Product photos should therefore be considered examples rather than a guarantee of the exact appearance of the fish supplied.

Keeping Female Guppies Together

Female Guppies can be kept successfully in female-only groups and do not require males for their wellbeing.

All-female groups are often calmer than mixed groups because the females are not constantly being courted by males.

However, it is important to understand that a female Guppy that has previously been housed with males may already be carrying stored sperm. Female Guppies can store sperm for several months and may produce multiple broods even when no male is currently present in the aquarium.

Keeping Male & Female Guppies

If male and female Guppies are kept together, breeding is highly likely.

A useful starting ratio is around one male to two or three females. Keeping several females for each male helps spread the male's attention and reduces persistent courtship toward a single female.

Remember that Guppies reproduce readily, so aquarium stocking levels can increase quickly when both sexes are present.

Aquarium Setup

Female Guppies appreciate a well-filtered aquarium with a mixture of open swimming space and plant cover.

A suitable setup can include:

• live aquarium plants
• floating plants
• open swimming areas
• gentle to moderate water movement
• reliable biological filtration
• good oxygenation

Plants are particularly useful in Guppy aquariums because they provide shelter, break up sight lines and offer hiding places for fry.

Browse our Live Aquarium Plants range if you are setting up a planted Guppy aquarium.

Water Conditions

Guppies are adaptable, but they generally perform best in moderately hard to hard water with a neutral to alkaline pH.

• Temperature: 22–28°C
• pH: 7.0–8.2
• General Hardness: Approximately 8–20 dGH

Very soft, acidic water is not ideal for long-term Guppy care.

Stable conditions are more important than continually adjusting the aquarium to achieve an exact number. Regular partial water changes, reliable filtration and sensible stocking levels help maintain good water quality.

Tank Mates

Female Guppies are peaceful and can live with many other community fish that prefer similar water conditions.

Possible tank mates include:

• other Guppies
• Platies
• Mollies
• Corydoras
• small peaceful Tetras
• Rasboras
• peaceful Gouramis
• Bristlenose Catfish

Avoid aggressive fish and known fin-nipping species.

Browse our Guppies range for males, females and selected colour varieties.

Feeding Female Guppies

Female Guppies are omnivorous and straightforward to feed.

A varied diet can include:

• quality tropical flakes
• micro pellets or small granules
• Guppy-specific foods
• spirulina and vegetable-based foods
• frozen brine shrimp
• daphnia
• suitable small live foods

Feed small portions that can be eaten readily rather than allowing excess food to accumulate in the aquarium.

Breeding Female Guppies

Guppies are livebearers, which means females give birth to free-swimming young rather than laying eggs.

A mature female develops a noticeably fuller abdomen when carrying fry, and the darker area toward the rear of the abdomen known as the gravid spot may become more obvious.

Dense aquarium plants, floating plants and fine-leaved species such as Java Moss can provide hiding places for newborn fry. Adult Guppies may eat young fish, so additional cover is useful if you want more fry to survive.

Females that have previously mated can continue producing fry after males have been removed because they are capable of storing sperm for future broods.

Arrive Alive Guarantee

We carefully pack our live fish for transport and back eligible orders with our Arrive Alive Guarantee.

If a fish arrives deceased, please contact us within 2 hours of delivery with your order details and clear photos of the affected fish. Once the claim has been verified, an applicable refund or store credit will be provided for the affected fish.

For full claim requirements, shipping conditions and exclusions, please read our Arrive Alive Guarantee & DOA Policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big do female Guppies grow?

Female Guppies generally grow to approximately 5–6cm and are normally larger and fuller-bodied than males.

Can I keep only female Guppies?

Yes. Female Guppies can be kept successfully in female-only groups and do not require males.

Can a female Guppy have babies without a male in the tank?

Yes. If the female has previously mated, she can store sperm for several months and may produce several broods after males have been removed.

What ratio of male to female Guppies should I keep?

When keeping both sexes, around one male for every two or three females is a useful starting point. This helps spread the attention of males across several females.

What pH is best for female Guppies?

Female Guppies generally do well around pH 7.0–8.2 and prefer moderately hard to hard water rather than very soft, acidic conditions.

Are female Guppies peaceful?

Yes. Female Guppies are generally peaceful and work well in suitable freshwater community aquariums.

Are female Guppies suitable for beginners?

Yes. They are easy to feed, peaceful and adaptable, making them suitable for newer fishkeepers when kept in a properly cycled aquarium with appropriate water conditions.

Colours, patterns and size vary naturally between individual fish. Product images are examples only. The stated 4cm sale size is approximate. Female Guppies may have previously been exposed to males and may therefore produce fry after purchase.