What Do Guppies Eat?

What Do Guppies Eat? Guppies are omnivorous fish, which means they eat both meat and vegetables. In the wild, their diet consists of small insects, crustaceans, and algae. 

In a home aquarium, guppies should be fed a combination of foods, including commercial fish food, fish flakes, freeze-dried foods, and homemade foods such as beef heart.

Key Takeaways on Guppy Diet

• Guppies are omnivores that eat both plant and animal matter. Provide them with a varied diet.
• Flake, frozen, and live foods are good staple foods for guppies.
• Vegetables like spinach and zucchini can supplement their diet.
• Feed guppies 2-3 small meals per day. Only feed what they can consume in 3 minutes.
• Overfeeding can pollute the water quality. Uneaten food should be removed.
• Provide a high-quality guppy pellet or flake as their staple diet. Supplement with treats.
• Fast guppies for 1 day per week to support their health.

What Do Guppies Eat in the Wild?

In their natural habitat, guppies feed on a diverse plant and animal matter diet. Their diet includes:

• Algae
• Decaying plant material
• Insect larvae
• Small crustaceans
• Mosquito larvae
• Bloodworms
• Copepods
• Zooplankton

This varied diet gives them protein, vitamins, and minerals to thrive.

Guppy Diet Types

Guppies are omnivorous, meaning they eat both plant and animal foods. In captivity, you should feed guppies:

• Staple foods: These make up the bulk of their diet. Staples include flake foods and pellets that contain all the required nutrients.
• Supplemental foods: These add variety and nutrients. Supplements include vegetables, live foods, and frozen foods.
• Treats: Offer treats like bloodworms in moderation, 1-2 times per week.

Feeding a mix provides balanced nutrition. Below are details on the types of food for guppies.

Flake Foods

Flake foods make an excellent staple diet. Choose a high-quality flake made for tropical fish. They contain:

• Protein for growth and repair
• Fats for energy
• Carbs for energy
• Vitamins and minerals for health

Look for flakes with a minimum of 40% protein. Feed 1-2 times per day as a staple food.

Pellets

Sinking pellets are another good staple choice. Select a pellet designed for guppies and tropical fish.

Pellets have benefits over flakes:

• Less mess as they sink before breaking apart
• Better nutrition analysis
• Less food wasted
• Can provide upgraded nutrition

Feed several pellets 1-2x daily as a dietary staple.

Live Foods

Live foods are excellent supplements to add 2-3 times per week. Live options include:

• Brine shrimp
• Daphnia
• Mosquito larvae
• Bloodworms
• Blackworms

Live foods mimic a natural diet. They stimulate feeding, provide protein, and help nutrition absorption. Guppies will readily accept live foods.

Frozen Foods

Frozen food alternatives are available for live foods. Look for frozen:

• Bloodworms
• Brine shrimp
• Daphnia
• Cyclops

Thaw small amounts and feed as treats 1-2x per week.

Vegetables

Some veggies make great supplements. Try:

• Shelled peas
• Zucchini slices
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Cucumber

Blanch vegetables by cooking briefly to soften. Cut into small bits. Feed 1-2 times per week.

How Often Should You Feed Guppies?

• Feed guppies 2-3 small meals daily. This mimics natural grazing.
• Only feed an amount they can consume within 2-3 minutes.
• Uneaten food pollutes water. Remove any excess food promptly.
• Overfeeding leads to obesity and water fouling. It can increase the bioload on the tank.
• Fast 1 day per week. Give their digestion system a rest.
• Adjust amounts based on fish size and appetite. Feed less for sedentary fish.

Sample Feeding Schedule

Here is a sample schedule for feeding guppies:

• Monday: Flake food morning and night
• Tuesday: Flake food morning, Bloodworms at night
• Wednesday: Fast
• Thursday: Soaked pellets morning, Brine shrimp at night
• Friday: Flake food in the morning, Spinach bits at night
• Saturday: Pellets morning and night
• Sunday: Daphnia in the morning, Flake food at night

Vary meals using combinations of staples, supplements, and treats.

Feeding Fry and Babies

Young guppies under 12 weeks old have different dietary needs. Feed fry:

• Infusoria for the first 3-4 weeks. These microorganisms occur naturally.
• Newly hatched brine shrimp are ideal for weeks 4-6.
• Small crushed flake bits can be fed after 6 weeks.
• Feed 3-5 small meals per day.
• Avoid overfeeding, which can foul water.

Once they can eat regular flakes, transition to a standard guppy diet.

Signs of Malnutrition in Guppies

Monitor your guppies for signs of malnutrition, including:

• Disinterest in feeding
• Failure to grow
• Lethargy
• Fading coloration
• Bent spines
• Skinny appearance

These indicate an improper diet. Review their foods and make adjustments.

Foods to Avoid for Guppies

Some foods are not recommended for the guppy diet:

• Large pellets for large fish
• Flakes with less than 40% protein
• Pure plant-based flake foods
• Dog or cat food
• Food designed for cold water fish
• Guppy fry food long-term

Avoid overfeeding meaty foods like bloodworms daily, which can cause digestive issues.

Proper Feeding Technique

Use proper technique when feeding guppies:

• Do not tap the container over the tank. This releases too much food.
• For flakes, pinch and sprinkle small amounts over the tank.
• For pellets, count and drop in a few at a time.
• Drop live or frozen foods into the tank with tweezers or pipette.
• Remove uneaten food within 5 minutes.
• Avoid feeding more than they can eat to prevent waste.

Proper feeding prevents overfeeding, water fouling, and obesity.

Summary of Guppy Diet and Feeding

To summarize, follow these tips for feeding guppies:

• Feed a high-quality staple flake or pellet 2x daily
• Supplement with live, frozen, or veggie foods 2-3x per week
• Feed only what guppies can consume in 2-3 minutes
• Remove uneaten food promptly
• Fast 1 day per week
• Adjust amounts based on fish size and appetite
• Feed fry small meals 3-5x daily
• Vary diet for balanced nutrition

Following these best practices for a guppy diet will lead to healthy, thriving fish. Monitor appetite and growth, making diet adjustments as needed.