Guppy Info for Newbie

I have enjoyed my goldfish aquarium so much that I started looking at some of the tropical fish and the ones I like the most have been the male guppies. I was looking at a 16 gallon bow front tank but wanted some additional info before I go ahead and purchase it.

First I don't want to deal with all those babies so I would want to do all males. Is that okay? The pet store said 1.5 gallon per inch of fish. The males grow to about two inches so I was figuring 4 or 5 guppies. Does that sound right? And finally my last question is about the tank interior. I think I read somewhere to use 1/4 inch of gravel. Do they like tank decorations that they can hide in and would they prefer real plant as opposed to silk plants?

Thanks for your help,
Lisa

 

I have enjoyed my goldfish aquarium so much that I started looking at some of the tropical fish and the ones I like the most have been the male guppies.  I was looking at a 16 gallon bow front tank but wanted some additional info before I go ahead and purchase it. 

First I don't want to deal with all those babies so I would want to do all males.  Is that okay?  The pet store said 1.5 gallon per inch of fish.  The males grow to about two inches so I was figuring 4 or 5 guppies.  Does that sound right?  And finally my last question is about the tank interior.  I think I read somewhere to use 1/4 inch of gravel.  Do they like tank decorations that they can hide in and would they prefer real plant as opposed to silk plants? 

Thanks for your help,
Lisa

One inch per gallon is what most people go by. I believe all males should be fine, after all, that's how they keep them in the pet-stores! I would use 1/2+ inches of gravel. You need to be able to put any plants/tank decorations in there. I don't think the guppies will care if they have plastic/silk or real plants. Real plants require more maintainence. They would like a few hide-a-way decorations. Hope this helps!

 

Thanks, I would prefer silk plants to live ones. I haven't tried live plants yet. I wasn't sure how you kept them in the gravel. Today while shopping I saw them in pots with the instruction to leave the plant in the pot and bury the pot in the gravel. I thought it would take a lot of gravel to cover those pots. I saw some beautiful guppies today too, but I need to get the tank up and cycled before I look to closely at the fish.

Thanks again,
Lisa

 

An all male guppy tank is very pretty, while live plants are good for your tank the guppys don't really care as long as they have places to hide and rest. Other than that you can decorate the tnk however you would like.
As for keeping live plants in pots, yes it would take a lot of gravel to cover them and they would die pretty soon as they would outgrow the pots fast.
Carol

 

I agree-I don't think the guppies prefer any plant over the other. I have fake plants (plastic and silk), and they love to nip at all the plants, so it doesn't make a difference. Males will be neat to have-all those beautiful tails and colors all together. If you don't want to deal with the babies, don't worry. The guppies will devour their own young after they are born, and maybe a few will survive if they are lucky. Depends on the guppy though whether or not they will eat them-most will though.