Guppies are a very popular species of fish to keep and although their popularity did fade for years, guppies are starting to make a comeback.
This is partly due to how popular the fish keeping hobby is in general right now and guppies being an excellent entry level fish but also due to some new, rare color guppies being bred by various breeders getting people’s attention back on guppies again.
As many people know, guppies can be prolific breeders and a single pair of guppies can quickly cause an entry level tank to be overstocked with their children and grandchildren.
Due to this, we always see people asking for advice on how they are able to control the guppy population in their aquarium so we wanted to publish this dedicated article on the topic to help as many of our readers as possible.
How To Control Guppy Population!
We have a short list of the various ways that you are able to control the guppy population in your tanks below and then we will take a more detailed look at each option.
- Keep A Male Only Tank!
- Add Tank Mates That Will Eat The Guppies!
- Add Tank Mates That Will Eat Guppy Fry!
- Have Less Hiding Spots In The Tank!
- Reduce The Water Temperature Of The Tank!
- Give Half Your Guppies Away!
- Use The Babies As Feeder Fish!
Keep A Male Only Tank!
This is probably the most common and simplest method that people use to control their guppy population as a male only tank is not able to produce fry.
We have a dedicated article going over keeping a male guppy tank but if you are worried about having problems with guppies breeding in your tank rapidly then it really is a no brainer.
Just remember that it can be common for people to misidentify the fish so a single female making it into your tank by accident can still quickly cause problems with overpopulation.
Add Tank Mates That Will Eat The Guppies!
This is a method that we do not recommend as it can quickly lead to issues with aggression and tank mates killing off your entire guppy population but some people do like to add fish that will eat guppies in their aquarium.
Just be sure to do plenty of research first and make sure that the fish you are thinking about adding are not going to pose a threat to your other fish as well.
We have this article going over some of the more common tank mates that will eat guppy fry that you may find helpful.
More experienced fish keepers are able to plan out their guppy breeding rates and potentially add a single fish that will eat guppies at a rate that will allow the guppies to replenish their numbers consistently.
Add Tank Mates That Will Eat Guppy Fry!
This is a similar method to the one above but instead of adding fish that will eat adult guppies, you are looking at adding fish that will target and eat the fry as they are born.
This can be an effective way to control the population as it means that fewer guppies will mature into adults and start breeding themselves.
Just remember that adult guppies will eat guppy fry and in some cases, even the guppy fries’ own parents will eat them too.
Still, some people do choose to add tank mates to their guppy tank that will eat as any guppy fry as possible without eating any of the adult guppies so this is another way to control the population of guppies in your tank.
Have Less Hiding Spots In The Tank!
This is a method that can be used in conjunction with others on this list or as a standalone method and it simply involves having fewer hiding spots in the tank for the guppies to breed in.
Guppies will often breed in areas where they feel safe and hidden away from any predators so by removing some of these hiding spots, you can reduce the rate at which they breed.
Of course, this will not stop them from breeding altogether but it can help to slow down the process and give you more time to remove any fry that are born before they have a chance to mature and start breeding themselves.
Reduce The Water Temperature Of The Tank!
Guppies are able to breed in a wide range of water temperatures but they do prefer water that is on the warmer side.
By reducing the water temperature of your tank, you can make it less hospitable for them to breed and this can help to slow down the process.
Just be careful not to reduce the temperature too much as this can cause stress to your fish and lead to other problems.
Give Half Your Guppies Away!
If you find that you have too many guppies and you are struggling to control the population, then one option is to simply give half of them away.
This can be a good way to get rid of some of the fish while also helping out a friend or fellow fish keeper who may be looking for more guppies for their own tank.
Just be sure to give them away to someone who is able to properly care for them and provide them with a good home.
Sell Them!
Another option is to sell your guppies either online or at a local fish store.
This can be a good way to get rid of them while also making a little bit of money in the process.
Just be sure to do your research and find a reputable buyer who is willing to pay a fair price for your fish.
Use Them As Feeder Fish For Your Other Tanks!
If you have other tanks with fish that eat guppies, then you can use them as feeder fish to help control the population.
This is not an option for everyone but it can be a good way to get rid of some of the guppies while also providing food for your other fish.
Just be sure to only use healthy guppies as feeder fish and be sure not to overfeed your other fish as this can lead to health problems.
Euthanize Them!
This is an option that should only be used as a last resort but if you find that you have too many guppies and you are unable to control the population, then you may need to euthanize some of them.
This is not a decision that should be made lightly but sometimes it is the only option available.
If you do decide to euthanize your guppies, then there are a few different methods that you can use.
