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Compatibility Report

Can Freshwater Butterflyfish Live With Guppy?

GuideMyTank compatibility analysis for Freshwater Butterflyfish and Guppy.

Planning verdict

incompatible

Not recommended

Do not plan a shared aquarium for this pair. Choose a different tank mate or maintain separate aquariums.

Data confidence
high
Assessment source
Structured data model
Data completeness
100%

Blocking risks

  • Size and diet create a predation risk.

Conditions and cautions

  • pH ranges have limited overlap.
  • One species may be semi-aggressive and require planning.
  • One species should be maintained in a proper school or group.
  • Tank size requirements differ moderately.
  • Water hardness preferences conflict.
  • GH or KH ranges do not overlap well.
  • Specialist tank style requirements need careful matching.

Supporting factors

  • Temperature ranges overlap well.
Freshwater Butterflyfish profileGuppy profileMethodology and limitations

Why This Pair Received Its Verdict

Freshwater Butterflyfish and Guppy receive a not recommended verdict from the current structured assessment. Freshwater Butterflyfish is recorded as semi-aggressive with an aggression level of 4/10; Guppy is recorded as peaceful with an aggression level of 1/10. The recommendation is based on the combined water, space, behavior, grouping, and predation checks below rather than on species names alone.

  • Temperature ranges overlap well.
  • pH ranges have limited overlap.
  • One species may be semi-aggressive and require planning.
  • One species should be maintained in a proper school or group.

Helpful Links

Use the Compatibility CheckerRead the Compatibility Disclaimer

Water Parameter Overlap

Freshwater Butterflyfish has a recorded temperature range of 73–86°F and pH range of 6.5–7.2. Guppy is recorded at 72–82°F and pH 7–8. Their shared planning window is 73–82°F for temperature and 7–7.2 for pH. A shared aquarium must stay inside the overlap rather than merely touching each species’ outer tolerance.

Aquarium Space and Adult Size

Freshwater Butterflyfish sets the larger listed base aquarium requirement at 30 gallons; the other listed minimum is 10 gallons. Freshwater Butterflyfish is the larger adult by the recorded maximum, reaching 5 inches, compared with 2 inches. These figures are starting constraints, not a stocking-capacity calculation, because the complete group sizes and bioload still matter.

Behavior and Social Requirements

Freshwater Butterflyfish is a moderate species associated with the top zone and low flow. Guppy is moderate, uses the top zone, and has a moderate flow preference. Freshwater Butterflyfish does not have a recorded minimum school larger than one, while guppy should be planned as a group of at least 3. The aquarium must support both social structures without forcing either species into insufficient space.

Husbandry Fit

Freshwater Butterflyfish is recorded as a carnivore with advanced care, while Guppy is a omnivore with easy care. Their listed preferred tank styles are blackwater and planted. Feeding access, cover, open swimming room, filtration, and observation should be planned around the more demanding requirement rather than averaged between the two species.

What Would Change the Decision?

Use these pair-specific boundaries before treating the verdict as an acceptable stocking plan.

  • Do not proceed unless one stable temperature and pH range can be maintained for both Freshwater Butterflyfish and Guppy; acclimation does not correct an incompatible long-term range.
  • Treat size, predation, and fin-damage warnings as stop conditions. Extra plants cannot reliably make an unsafe predator-to-prey or fin-target pairing safe.
  • Use broken sight lines and multiple retreats, then separate the pair if either species shows persistent chasing, hiding, clamped fins, or loss of feeding access.
  • Recalculate space using the full adult group sizes—not one specimen of each species—and reject the plan if either species must be understocked socially to fit.
  • A different tank mate is the preferred decision for this pair. Attempting the combination transfers the identified risk to the animals rather than resolving it.

Aquarium Planning Checklist

  • Keep temperature within 73–82°F.
  • Keep pH within 7–7.2.
  • Use at least the larger 30-gallon base requirement before accounting for the complete stocking plan.
  • Freshwater Butterflyfish does not have a recorded minimum school larger than one; guppy should be planned as a group of at least 3.
  • Choose separate aquariums or a different tank mate instead of attempting to manage a known blocking risk.

Final Recommendation

Do not plan a shared aquarium for this pair. Choose a different tank mate or maintain separate aquariums.

Sources and Data Provenance

These references support the underlying species records used by this assessment. They do not necessarily evaluate this exact pair together.

  • fishbase.secare · medium confidence
  • fishbase.secare · medium confidence
  • seriouslyfish.comcare · medium confidence
  • en.wikipedia.orgtaxonomy · medium confidence
  • es.wikipedia.orgtaxonomy · medium confidence
Read the full methodology and limitations
Report quality
supported
Analysis version
2026.09.1
Species data updated
Jul 2, 2026
Review status
Structured automated assessment

Related Resources

Continue with the most relevant care and compatibility resources for Freshwater Butterflyfish and Guppy.

  • Guppy Care GuideThe Common Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) is a small, colorful freshwater fish known for its bright colors, active personality, and ease of care. Native to northeastern South America and parts of the Caribbean, guppies are highly adaptable and have become one of the most popular aquarium fish worldwide. They are peaceful, social livebearers that thrive in groups and work well in many community aquariums. Their hardiness and relatively simple care requirements make them an excellent choice for beginner aquarists.
  • Plan These Species in Aquarium BuilderAdd livestock and validate tank size, stocking, and compatibility.
  • Amano Shrimp and Freshwater Butterflyfish CompatibilityCompatibility report for Amano Shrimp and Freshwater Butterflyfish.
  • Amano Shrimp and Guppy CompatibilityCompatibility report for Amano Shrimp and Guppy.
  • American Flagfish and Freshwater Butterflyfish CompatibilityCompatibility report for American Flagfish and Freshwater Butterflyfish.