New Male Guppies

Hey! So I have a new 10 gallon tank ready (still has to be cycled and everything but you get the point) for some new fish! I was going to get 10 fancy guppies but I don't want them to breed so I was thinking of getting all male guppies. I just wanted to know if they'll attack each other. There's some controversy on whether they're schooling fish or not, but I do believe that they are schooling. I wanted all males instead of all females because I heard that the males were more colorful and more active, which would be great. I'd just like to hear some input on if this is okay as far as if they'll attack each other or not.

Thanks!

 

They're not exactly schooling fish, they sometimes tend to hang out together but they don't stick together the way schooling fish do. As far as I've heard they shouldn't be aggressive towards each other, though I don't know if 10 in a 10 gallon is best but I'm not terribly familiar with guppies. I seem to remember seeing somewhere that 5-6 males in a 10 gallon is good?

 

I would say 10 in a 10 gallon is pushing it. They will likely fight each other in a 10 gallon because there isn't enough room for them all. They are typically a peaceful fish though and you can keep males together.

 

Guppies are not really recommended in a 10 gallon since they are active fish, but you could probably do 4-5 males and they'd be okay. As stated above, 10 is way too much, and you don't need that many since they are NOT schooling fish.

You will probably not have aggression, but you never know with livebearers. You might have a jerk, or you might get lucky and have saint fish that would never hurt a fly

 

I thought that there could be 1 inch per gallon. Is this wrong? I know that it's not always necessarily true, for example, say you get a 55 gallon tank and a 55 inch fish for it, the fish wouldn't even fit, I know, but if it was multiple one inch fish, I thought it would work. Is there some other rule that I am unaware of?

 

The 1 inch rule is really out dated. Another reason that it doesn't work is it doesn't take into account the activity levels of the fish or the territorial aspect of fish into account. The territory part doesn't really apply to guppies as they are pretty laid back most times but they are pretty active.

 

1 inch per gallon is incorrect on many levels.

The rules of a fish are determined by their adult size, how much they poop (goldfish good example) whether they're schooling (in which case usually you have to multiply that one fish you want by 6) and their activity levels, which is how much they like to explore (Cory cats are small fish but love to explore so need a lot of ground to cover. They're good in long tanks instead of tall tanks)

You get the idea. The only way to know what fish is good, is to research that specific fish.

 

1 inch per gallon is incorrect on many levels.

The rules of a fish are determined by their adult size, how much they poop (goldfish good example) whether they're schooling (in which case usually you have to multiply that one fish you want by 6) and their activity levels, which is how much they like to explore (Cory cats are small fish but love to explore so need a lot of ground to cover. They're good in long tanks instead of tall tanks)

You get the idea. The only way to know what fish is good, is to research that specific fish.

I did read that the female guppies would grow to an absolute max of 3 in and the males would only grow to a max of 1 inch.

So what's the absolute max amount of guppies I can have? (Note: there will be several plants and hiding spots for them)

 

Probably 5-6 would be MAX as people recommend doing 4-5

 

I did read that the female guppies would grow to an absolute max of 3 in and the males would only grow to a max of 1 inch.

Males can grow to 1.5 in pretty easily. 5 is your max, and that still needs good filtration.

BTW, just due to inbreeding and breeding small fish with huge tails, if your tank hasn't gone through a fish-less cycle, you will probably have some loss. Do you know about the nitrogen cycle that your tank must go through before being safe for your fish?

 

Males can grow to 1.5 in pretty easily. 5 is your max, and that still needs good filtration.

BTW, just due to inbreeding and breeding small fish with huge tails, if your tank hasn't gone through a fish-less cycle, you will probably have some loss. Do you know about the nitrogen cycle that your tank must go through before being safe for your fish?

Sorry for the late response, I had to do something. \

I know about the nitrogen cycle and everything, I've done much research on that. It's one of the most important things and yet so many people skip it. Yes, I'll be doing a fishless cycle, I don't want to spend my money on dead fish .

Alright, thanks for the info.

 

I have 2 male guppies in my tank (I know it's much less fish than you're suggesting) but I've never seen them fight. In fact, they act like best friends. They always swim together and go off on their own for a bit, but they always come back to each other and hang out. I'd say go for it.

 

I have 2 male guppies in my tank (I know it's much less fish than you're suggesting) but I've never seen them fight. In fact, they act like best friends. They always swim together and go off on their own for a bit, but they always come back to each other and hang out. I'd say go for it.

Thanks!

 

Fancy guppy like in your pic grow to 2 inches.
Endler guppies (original short tail and fins, wild guppy) usually about 1 inch.
The only recommended time you'll see a tank stock full of only males is because they're siblings or tank mates from a very young age.
If you add even 2 non-acquainted males their might be a chance they will fight which means damaged tails and fins.
If you keep the water always in top condition you could "temporarily" keep 10 in there if you bought them in the same store and from the same tank which usually means they are siblings.

Recommendations: keep them well fed which would make the water foul faster which follows to the second point, do 25-50% water change every week and gravel vac fish poop out, also aerate water well with air pump and air stones "do not create a fast current as it will exhaust the fancy guppies with big tails" and use a water filter with charcoal and they should do well.

(Most here probably don't want to tell you to do 10 in 10 gallon because it sounds like 1 gallon per fish and a restriction for the fish but each fish does have 10 gallons to swim in, its just shared and they will get enough exercise but must stress the water should be kept in top condition as it will foul faster the more fish you have in it)

Don't let them see a female guppy "not even a picture of one" because that will begin a fight for dominance.