Tuxedo Guppy

Looks how to spot one

scales

The tuxedo guppy has a sleek, streamlined body typical of guppies. Its most striking feature is the two-tone colour pattern: the front half of the body is light, while the rear half is solid dark (black, navy blue or purple), resembling a formal dinner jacket. The tail fin can be red, blue, yellow or multicoloured, and males have larger, more colourful fins than females.23

Personality what they are like

Tuxedo guppies are peaceful, active and social fish. They swim constantly in the upper and middle parts of the tank and are curious about their surroundings. Males may chase each other and females as part of mating behaviour, but serious aggression is rare. They should never be kept alone.26

Daily activity how busy a day looks

High. They are very active swimmers and need plenty of open water to explore, along with dense plants to break line of sight and provide refuge.2

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Easy. Weekly 25-30% water changes are essential to keep water quality high and prevent fin rot. A mature filter is needed. The tank must be heavily planted, especially with floating plants, to give females and fry hiding places.2

Home where they are happiest

Minimum 40 litres (10 gallons) for a small group. Water temperature 24-28°C (75-82°F), pH 7.0-8.0, hardness GH 8-15. They need moderately hard, slightly alkaline water. Dense planting with tall stem plants and floating plants is mandatory. They are freshwater fish but can tolerate some salinity.267

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Omnivore. Feed a varied diet of high-quality micro-pellets or crushed flakes, plus live or frozen foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworms. Include vegetable matter like spirulina for best health and colour.24

Company who they like around

Must be kept in a shoal of at least 6 individuals. A ratio of at least 2-3 females per male is essential to prevent females from being stressed by constant chasing. They are peaceful with other community fish but may nip long-finned tankmates.26

The story where it all began

The tuxedo guppy is a selectively bred ornamental strain of the common guppy (Poecilia reticulata). It was first created by breeders in Germany, who selected for the distinctive two-tone body pattern that resembles a tuxedo suit. Unlike wild guppies, which have a more uniform colour, the tuxedo variety has a dark rear half and a lighter front half. This variety does not occur in nature and is the result of many generations of careful captive breeding.12