The basic rule is 1 inch of fish per gallon of water. Full-grown adult guppies can get to 1.5 to 2 inches big, depending on gender and nutrition. After considering the space taken up by plants and decoration, you can add about 12 to 15 average-size guppies to your 29-gallon tank.
And if you plan on keeping their future offspring in the same tank, you should consider starting with a smaller number.
How Many Guppies in a 29-Gallon Tank: Male to Female Ratio
Since guppies have a high breeding ability, it’s advised that you should keep them at a ratio of 2–3 females to 1 male. So, for your 29-gallon fish tank, you can either have eight females and four males or nine females and three males.
- You can put a fewer number of guppies if you don’t want that many.
- Keep in mind that guppies are social and like to live in groups. Therefore, it’s best to have a group of at least three guppies in your tank.
How Much Do Guppies Breed?
Well, the truth is, guppies breed a lot!
- Female guppies can mature and be ready to reproduce at the age of 2 to 3 months old. And throughout their lifetime, they can give birth to about 20 litter.
- If you don’t separate them from male guppies, they can reproduce every 30 days.
- The amount of fry a female guppy can give birth to is really unpredictable. It can be anywhere between 20 to 50 fry per litter.
So, take into consideration that you might need to go for a larger tank and a higher filtration system if you plan on keeping these offspring.
Can You Keep an All-Male Group of Guppies?
Yes, you can.
If you don’t want to deal with guppies’ breeding and the added number of their offspring, it’s possible to keep them in a group of only males. But having an all-male group of guppies require some precautions to avoid aggressive behaviors.
While male guppies can survive without breeding, they’ll continue to have the urge to. And without any females in sight, they might start fighting and harassing each other.
So, here’s what to do to keep your male guppies as peaceful as you possibly can:
Keep your male guppies in a group of at least six:
If you only have two or three male guppies, it’s more likely that one of them will be bullied and harassed the most by the other one or two, especially if it’s smaller in size.
To avoid that, keep your male guppies in a larger group of at least six males. This way, if they start picking on each other or fighting for food, they won’t always target the same one.
Provide the tank with enough plants and decoration:
Keeping the tank well-planted is highly recommended to provide more safe spaces for your male guppies to hide whenever they’re being harassed by others.
This means that providing them with enough shelter will have a great impact on lowering their stress levels.
Choose similar sizes:
Male guppies like to show their dominance, whether it’s by fighting, fin nipping, or competing for food. These dominating behaviors could make the smaller males more prone to harassment.
So, when you’re choosing your male guppies, try to look for the ones that are similar in size so that the smaller ones aren’t constantly bullied by larger males.
Monitor their behavior:
It’s important to keep a close eye on your guppies, especially for an all-male group. This will help you form a better idea of their behaviors and to know whenever something looks different or not right.
Always look for any injuries, changes in behavior, or signs of aggression such as fighting and constant fin nipping. This will help you notice if any of your guppies start to lose their energy or appetite or if they start getting sick.
Can You Add Guppies to Other Fish in the Tank?
If you already have other breeds of fish in your tank, then before getting the guppies, you should check if these breeds can live alongside guppies without causing them any harm or creating conflicts.
Some breeds, such as Angelfish and Cichlids, tend to be aggressive or have predatory behaviors. And keeping them in the same tank with guppies will surely put your guppies at risk since predators won’t refrain from trying to eat them whenever there’s a chance.
But aside from that, guppies are friendly and social, and they can get along with many types of fish that share similar characteristics and environmental conditions.
Some of the best tank mates you can have living with your guppies are Swordtails, Mollies, Tetras, Platies, Harlequin Rasboras, and many others!
Setting up the Tank for Your Guppies
Guppies are hardy fish, and they don’t require that much effort to maintain a healthy life, which is why they’re known to be beginner-friendly. But before adding a group of guppies to your tank, you’ll need to make a few preparations beforehand.
Here’s how to set up the perfect tank for your guppies that will ensure they are always healthy and thriving:
Provide enough lighting:
Guppies need their time in the light, so try not to keep them in darker places. If you don’t have enough natural light, you can use artificial lights as well.
Install a good filtration system:
Dirty water is bad for your guppies’ health. A water filter will keep a healthier environment for the guppies and do most of the cleaning.
Keep the right water temperature:
An ideal water temperature for guppies should be between 74 to 82 degrees F. Installing a water heater is the most practical way to keep it at this level.
Make sure there’s enough oxygen:
Oxygen can be affected by the number of fish you have in one tank. So, make sure your tank isn’t overcrowded, especially if your fish are breeding.
Have Another Tank Size You’re Looking for?
How Many Guppies in a 3-Gallon Tank?
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How Many Guppies in a 10-Gallon Tank?
How Many Guppies in a 20-Gallon Tank?
Conclusion
Guppies are known to be a beginner-friendly choice for fishkeeping. They’re hardy, adaptive, and don’t need a lot of care.
And now that we’ve answered your question: “How many guppies in a 29-gallon tank?” and discussed all you need to know to keep your guppies healthy and thriving, we’re sure you’re ready to take good care of your guppy friends.