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Guppy Water Temperature Guide 2024: Facts & FAQs

Lindsey Stanton Profile Picture

By Lindsey Stanton

fancy guppies

Guppies are definitely some pretty cool aquarium fish, but just like with all other fish, they require certain conditions to survive and thrive. One of the most important things to look out for is the water temperature. Let’s talk about guppies and what is the best temperature for guppies.

So before we dive into guppy temperature let’s take a quick look at the Guppy Fish itself and cover some basics but essential information.

About The Guppy Fish

The guppy is generally considered to be a warm water tropical fish as it resides in countries such as Venezuela and Trinidad. These guys are fairly friendly and do just fine in a community tank of 5 gallons to 10 gallons (more on how many guppies you can house in tanks on this article here).

They usually don’t get into fights. The guppy is a fairly small fish, usually never exceeding 2.5 inches in length. The male is a very colorful fish, with a deep yellow and green color scheme. There are also black, blue, red, and silver varieties, but those are fairly rare.

Guppies are also easy to take care of because they will eat pretty much anything that can fit into their mouths. They like the water to be of a medium hardness and fairly neutral in acidity with a pH level of 7.0. A good filtration system and lots of water changes are needed to keep these guys happy and healthy.

guppies in aquarium
Image Credit; Piqsels

So, What Is The Best Temperature For Guppies?

The temperature of the aquarium water is an important thing for most, if not all fish. Guppies require the water to be between 74 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit in the wild. Generally speaking, when it comes to guppies in your aquarium, they seem to do the best in waters ranging from 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Now, since they come from countries where temperatures and climates for vary, they can handle some variation here. Guppies can handle water temperatures as low as 63 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 87 degrees Fahrenheit.

What Temperature Should Guppies Be Kept At?

guppies in tank
Image Credit: Piqsels

That being said, keeping the water between 74 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit is probably your best bet when it comes to keeping your guppies happy and healthy. Anything colder than the minimum temperature will result in a slow metabolism, sluggish swimming, and odd behavior.

On the other hand, water that is too hot will also cause behavioral changes, can cause aggression, will increase metabolism way too far, create health issues, and essentially shorten the lifespan of the guppy.

If you are thinking about breeding guppies, getting a trap can really help. we have covered our favorite 5 here.

aquarium plant divider

FAQs

Do Guppies Need A Heater To Survive?

Guppies require the water temperature to be between 74 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit. They are tropical fish and they like their water to be fairly warm.

If you do not live in a tropical environment which can keep the water temperature well above 70 degrees without a heater, you will need to get a heater for your guppy tank.

The guppy water temperature should never drop below 70 degrees, because if it does, you will run into issues.

Do Baby Guppies Need A Heater Too?

Yes, absolutely do baby guppies require a heater. In fact, baby guppies, or otherwise known as the fry, actually need the water to be a bit warmer than the adults.

They have a hard time holding body heat due to their small size, and therefore require the water to make up the difference.

Baby guppies require the water temperature to be between 76 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, so if you need a heater for adult guppy fish, you definitely need one for the babies.

Can You Keep Guppies In Cold Water?

No, guppies are tropical fish, not cold water or ocean fish, and therefore they should never be in cold water.

As mentioned above, the ideal temp for guppies is between 74 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit, although they can do fine in waters as cold as 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

However, any colder than that and your guppies will be at risk of various illnesses, and of course, death.

silver and orange guppy
Image By: PxFuel

At What Temperature Do Guppies Die?

Generally speaking, any water temperature under 70 degrees Fahrenheit is going to put your guppies at serious risk of illness and death.

That said, some guppy keepers have been known to keep their guppies in waters as cold as 60 degrees Fahrenheit, although when the water temperature dips below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, guppies usually become sluggish, inactive, they eat less, and won’t breed either, and most of those problems can lead to more serious issues.

If the water is 60 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, you can be pretty sure that your guppies are not going to last long at all.

Can Guppies Live In 85 Degree Water?

The maximum water temperature which guppies can live in comfortably is 84 degrees Fahrenheit, but 85 degrees should be alright as well, although it is definitely on the threshold of being too hot.

Any hotter than 85 degrees and your guppies will start to overheat, suffer from overheating symptoms, and may die.

Final Thoughts

As mentioned above, as long as you keep the water within the specified temperature range, and pay attention to their other needs, your guppies will be just fine. We have also covered some good plant suggestions for Guppies on this article.


Featured Image Credit: panpilai paipa, Shutterstock

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