Colourful, hardy, and endlessly active, guppies are one of the most popular fish for beginners, and they belong to a wider family of livebearers that includes mollies, platies, and swordtails. If you are keeping guppies in Singapore, the good news is that these fish are well suited to a home aquarium when you get the basics right. This guide covers tank setup, water quality, feeding, and the quirks of fish that give birth to live young rather than laying eggs. Livebearers are rewarding, but they are living animals that depend entirely on you for a stable, clean environment.
Before buying any fish, resist the temptation to fill a tank on the same day you set it up. The single biggest cause of beginner failure is skipping the nitrogen cycle, which we will come to below. A little patience at the start saves a lot of heartache later.
Cycle your tank first
A new aquarium needs to establish beneficial bacteria that convert the ammonia from fish waste into less harmful compounds. This process, called the nitrogen cycle, typically takes several weeks and must happen before you add fish, not after. Set up your tank, filter, and heater, then cycle it and test the water until ammonia and nitrite read zero and nitrate is low. Our guide to setting up and cycling your first aquarium walks through the process step by step, and it is essential reading before you buy livebearers.
Choose a tank that gives your fish room to swim. While guppies are small, they are active and often kept in groups, and a larger volume of water is far more stable and forgiving than a tiny bowl. A proper filter and, in most cases, a heater help keep conditions steady.
Water quality and ongoing care
Once cycled, your tank still needs regular upkeep. Test the water periodically and perform routine partial water changes to keep waste in check, as good water quality is the foundation of healthy fish. Use a dechlorinator to make tap water safe, and try to match temperature when topping up so you do not shock the fish. Livebearers generally appreciate stable, moderately hard water, so learn what comes out of your tap and keep conditions consistent rather than chasing perfect numbers. For a deeper look, see keeping fish and aquariums.
Feed small amounts once or twice a day, offering only what the fish finish in a couple of minutes. Overfeeding is a common mistake that fouls the water and harms the fish, so err on the side of less. A varied diet of good-quality flakes or small pellets, with occasional treats, keeps livebearers in good colour and condition.
Understanding livebearers and breeding
The defining feature of guppies, mollies, platies, and swordtails is that they give birth to live, free-swimming young rather than laying eggs. This also means they breed readily. If you keep males and females together, expect babies, and expect a lot of them, as a single female can produce many fry and can stay pregnant from earlier matings. Adult fish, including the parents, will often eat the fry, so plan ahead if you want to raise them, using dense planting or a separate space for the young.
Because they multiply so quickly, think about numbers before you start. A tank can become overcrowded fast, which stresses fish and pollutes water. Keeping a single sex, or planning what you will do with offspring, prevents an overwhelming population. Never release unwanted fish into local drains, canals, or reservoirs, as this is harmful to the environment and illegal. Rehome responsibly instead.
Compatible tankmates and the law
Guppies and other small livebearers are peaceful and mix well with many gentle community species, though very large or nippy fish are poor companions. If you plan a mixed tank, research compatibility so everyone has the right temperature, temperament, and space. Our guide to setting up a community fish tank covers how to combine species sensibly.
Stick to commonly kept aquarium fish and check the AVS (Animal & Veterinary Service, under NParks) approved species list before buying anything unusual, as some non-standard or exotic species are not permitted in Singapore. Buy from reputable sources, and quarantine or observe new fish before adding them to an established tank.
Enjoying your livebearers
Guppies and their livebearer cousins are a brilliant introduction to the hobby, offering colour, movement, and fascinating behaviour for modest effort. Cycle your tank first, keep the water clean and stable, feed sparingly, and plan for breeding, and you will have a lively, healthy aquarium. If a fish looks unwell, isolate stress factors and seek advice, and remember that responsible fishkeeping means never releasing pets into the wild. Enjoy the rewarding, ever-changing little world you have created.