Can Zebra Danios Live With Guppies? (Complete Information)

Zebra danios are calm fishes that do not like aggression in the tank, making them an ideal option for your community tank.

While placing your zebra danios with other fish, you must ensure that they have similar temperaments and tank requirements, as adding unsuitable tankmates can lead to significant health problems in your fish.

So, can your zebra danios live with guppies? Let us find out.

Zebra danios can live with guppies as they have similar temperaments and dietary needs. However, placing them under inadequate housing conditions can make your fish aggressive towards each other. Provide ample space and good water conditions in the tank to make your zebra danios and guppies live together.

The article below discusses the necessary parameters you should consider when placing zebra danios and guppies together.

Can zebra danios and guppy live together?

Particular	Zebra Danios	Guppies
Water Temperature	64-74 °F	72-85°F
Ph Level	6.5-7.0	6.8-7.8
Ammonia level	0ppm	0ppm
Nitrite	0 ppm	0ppm
Nitrate	Below 20ppm	Below 20ppm
Water Hardness	5-12 dgh	8-12dgh
Food	Red meat and green veggies	Red meat and green veggies
Behavior	Non-aggressive	Non-aggressive
Average size	1-2 inches	0.8-2.5 inches

Water Temperature

Zebra danios require a water temperature between 64-74°F, whereas guppies prefer a temperature between 72-85°F.

But as zebra danios and guppies are hardy fishes, they can adapt to a wide range of water temperatures, making them ideal tankmates.

However, you should not keep your zebra danios and guppies in two hot or too cold temperatures as it can lead to health problems in your fish.

So, we advise you to settle the water temperature at 70°F, making it convenient for both the fishes.

Water Ph level

1. The water Ph level of your zebra danios should be between 6.5-7.0
2. The water Ph level of your guppies should be between 6.8-7.8

Zebra danios and guppies require the same pH level making them an ideal tankmate.

In addition, the ammonia, and nitrite level should be at 0ppm in your zebra danios and guppies tank.

Personality

Zebra danios and guppies are non-aggressive species that prefer to interact with their tankmates making them an ideal tankmates.

Therefore, by looking at the above factors, we can say that zebra danios and guppies can live together in the same tank.

Zebra danios and guppies natural behavior

Zebra danios natural behavior

Zebra danios are freshwater schooling fish that do not prefer aggression in their tank.

However, inadequate housing conditions can make your zebra danios become fin nippers, eventually leading to physical injuries to the other fish in the tank.

Zebra danios are egg layer species and usually mate during monsoon.

In addition, zebrafish are omnivore species that prefer red meat and green veggies for their proper development.

Therefore, you should always maintain a stress-free environment in your zebra danios tank for your fish’s adequate growth and development.

Guppy fish’s natural behavior

Guppy fish are non-aggressive species making them an ideal option for your community tank.

They are omnivore species and prefer a diet mix of red meat and green veggies for adequate development and a longer lifespan.

Your guppy fish can turn aggressive if you keep more male guppies and fewer females in the tank, as male guppies can indulge in a fight with the other males to mate with the female guppies.

We recommend keeping your guppies in the ratio of 2:1, which is two female guppies for one male guppy.

Therefore, you should provide adequate housing conditions to your guppy fish to ensure their longer lifespan.

So, as zebra danios and guppies are both calm species, they can be placed together.

Zebra danios and guppies tank requirements

Enough space in the tank

Zebra danios are schooling fishes that need to be placed at least in a group of 5.

So, you should place them in a good size tank to ensure their adequate growth and development.

We recommend following the one-inch-one-gallon rule to ensure enough space in your zebra danios tank.

The one-inch-one-gallon rule refers to one gallon of water per inch of your fish.

The average size of your zebra danios is between1- 2 inches. So, by following the above rule, you will require at least a 10-gallon tank for your zebra danios.

Likewise, zebra danios, even guppies, are schooling fishes that need to get placed in a group of at least five.

The average size of guppy is between 1-2 inches, and even they require at least a 10-gallon tank for their adequate growth and development.

So, you require at least a 20-gallon tank to place your zebra danios and guppies together.

Avoid overcrowding your fish tank as it can affect your fish’s growth and lead to extreme stress and other health problems in your fish.

You should always provide ample space in your fish tank for their adequate development.

Also, read: How Many Zebra Danios In A 10 Gallon Tank?

Adequate water conditions

Zebra danios require good water conditions to thrive as contaminated water can lead to significant health issues in your fish, eventually making them weak and prone to various diseases.

You should do a 30% weekly water change and add a good water filter to your zebra danios to keep the tank’s water clean. 

Zebra danios do not have a particular demand in terms of filter, so you can add any filter you want to their tank. 

We recommend adding a Fluval High Performance water filter to your zebrafish as it helps eliminate the toxins from the water and maintain the tank’s water quality. 

You can buy it from Amazon   Fluval High Performance Aquarium Filter

Also, read: Do Zebra Danios Need A Filter?

Likewise, zebra danios and even guppies require good water conditions in their aquarium to ensure adequate development and a longer lifespan.

Not adding a water filter to your guppy’s aquarium can lead to a spike in the tank’s ammonia level making your fish suffer from ammonia poisoning.

So, you should add a sound filtration system to your guppies tank to ensure the adequate development of your fish.

In addition, you should also keep checking the tank’s ammonia level to prevent health problems in your fish.

We advise using an API ammonia test kit for your fish tank to provide accurate results. 

You can buy it from Amazon API TEST KIT.

So, from the above discussion, we can say that both fishes require good water conditions for their longer lifespan.

Also, read: Why Are My Zebra Danios Dying?

Plants and other aquarium decors in zebra danios and guppy tank

You should also add live aquatic plants in your zebra danios and guppy tank as it helps keep the tank well-oxygenated and acts as a hiding spot for your fish.

Here are some best live aquatic plants for your zebra danios and guppy tank

1. Java Fern 
2. Java Moss
3. Ancharis

You should also add a lot of other hiding spots in your zebra danios and guppy tank, as it helps reduce stress in your fish.

Here are some best hiding spots for your zebra danios and guppy fish tank

1. Aquarium Rocks
2. Driftwood
3. Terra Cotta Pots
4. Aquarium Ornaments 
5. Aquarium Rocks

Also, read: How Do I Know If My Zebra Danios Are Stressed?

Zebra danios and guppy’s dietary requirements

Zebra Danio and Guppy Diet	Amount to serve	No. of times
Brine Shrimp	One small pinch	1-2 times a week
Mosquito Larvae	12-15 pieces	1-2 times a week
Green Veggies (Cucumber, peas, spinach)	One small slice	3-4 times a week
Tubifex Worms	One small pinch	1 time a week
Veggie Pellets	One small pinch	1-2 times a day
Bloodworms	One small pinch	1-2 times a week
Egg Yolk	One small pinch	2-3 times a week

Also, read: Why Is My Zebra Danio Not Eating?

Zebra danio and guppy are omnivore species that require a meat and plant matter diet to ensure adequate development and a longer lifespan.

You should always provide highly nutritious food in a moderate quantity for your fish’s well-being.

Avoid overfeeding your fish as it can lead to major health problems like loss of appetite and constipation.

You should neither overfeed nor underfeed your zebra danios and guppy to maintain the proper health of your fish.

Therefore, we recommend you provide the amount your fish can consume in under two minutes to avoid overfeeding and underfeeding your fish and ensure their adequate development.

Also, read: Why Is My Zebra Danio Getting Thin?

Can zebra danios attack guppies?

Zebra danios are calm species that do not prefer aggression in their tank.

However, many factors like an overcrowded tank, degraded water quality, or lack of food can make zebra danios aggressive and nip the fins of your guppies.

The above factors can also lead to stress and various health issues in your zebrafish and guppies, eventually leading to their passing away.

So, you should ensure adequate housing conditions for your fish to prevent such issues.

Also, read: Are Zebra Danios Aggressive?

Will zebra danios eat guppy fry?

Zebra danios can eat your guppy fry as they will look upon the fry as a perfect meal for them.

We advise you to place your pregnant guppy in a breeding tank to protect their fry.

But, once your guppy gives birth, you should place your adult guppy back in the home aquarium as even guppy lack parental instinct and can be a threat to their fry.

Similarly, even guppies can eat the eggs of your zebra danios. However, it is not usual as zebra danios lay eggs on the substrate, and guppies rarely reach that tank area.

But still, there are chances of guppies eating the eggs of zebra danios.

So, it will be advisable to place the fertilized eggs of zebra danios in a separate tank to protect them from adult fishes.

Therefore, both the fishes lack parental instinct and can be a threat to their babies as well as each other’s babies.

Also, read: Do Zebra Danios Eat Their Babies?

Necessary measures you should take while placing zebra danios and guppies together

Here are the necessary measures you should take while zebra danios and guppies together

1.  Provide ample space in the tank as lack of space can make your fish aggressive and become aggressive towards each other. According to the one-inch-one-gallon rule, you must have a 20-gallon tank for five zebra danios and five guppies.
2. Add lots of hiding spots in the aquarium as it helps to eliminate stress in your fish.
3. Maintain adequate water conditions in your zebra danios and guppies tank, as contaminated water can lead to major health problems in your fish.
4. Provide adequate water parameters in your zebra danios and guppy tank to ensure the well-being of your fish. You should maintain an ideal water temperature of 70°F.
5. Provide high-grade nutritious food in a moderate amount to your zebra danios and guppies as low-quality food or underfeeding can stress your fish and make them turn aggressive with each other.
6. Provide a stress-free environment in your zebra danios and guppy tank for your fish’s well-being and adequate development.

The above are the necessary measures you should take while zebra danios and guppies together.

Best tankmates for zebra danios and guppies

Zebra danios are peaceful species that prefer the company of other non-aggressive species. 

Pairing your zebra danios with unsuitable tankmates can lead to extreme stress and physical injuries in your fish. 

So, we recommend placing your zebra danios with compatible tankmates for your fish’s well-being.

Here are some ideal tankmates options for your zebra danios

1. Rosy Barbs
2. Loaches
3. Gourami 
4. Swordtails

Likewise, zebra danios, even guppies, are peaceful species and do not like aggression in their aquarium. 

Placing your guppies with aggressive fishes can lead to extreme stress, eventually making them pass away. 

So, you should always pair your guppy with compatible tankmates to ensure the well-being of your fish. 

Here are some best tankmates options for guppy fish.

1. Gourami 
2. Tetra
3. Platies
4. Mollies

Therefore, you should always place your fish with compatible tankmates to ensure their good health and a longer lifespan. 

Conclusion:

1. Zebra danios and guppies can live together as they have the same temperaments and dietary needs. 
2. Zebra danios and guppies are non-aggressive species that prefer to interact with their tankmates making them an ideal tankmates.
3. Zebra danios and guppies are hardy fishes and can adapt to a wide range of water temperatures, making them ideal tankmates. However, we advise you to settle the water temperature at 70°F, making it convenient for both the fishes.
4. Provide adequate water conditions in your zebra danios and guppies tank, as poor water can lead to major health problems in your fish.
5. Ensure a stress-free environment in your zebra danios and guppy tank for your fish’s well-being and adequate growth.

---

Reference: NCBI