What Do Guppies Eat? (15 Interesting Food Facts)

If you are planning to start keeping guppies (or you just fancy them), you will definitely want to know what they eat. In this article, we explore the subject of guppy feeding from all angles.

What do guppies eat? Being omnivores, guppies eat both animal and plant-based foods. Common foods for guppies include algae, mosquito larvae, brine shrimp, worms and various leaves. People who keep guppies typically feed them on a staple of commercial flakes and pellets, with other occasional treats.

Guppies can also eat various human foods. Those include vegetables like lettuce, spinach and carrots. Other human foods guppies can eat include egg yolk, pumpkin and zucchini.

On the whole, guppies are not fussy feeders. They eat almost anything that comes their way. Therefore figuring out what to feed guppies shouldn’t be too hard in most cases.

The only thing to note about all the foods guppies can eat is that they need to be in very small pieces (or in paste/powder form). Only then can the foods fit into the guppies’ small mouths and stomachs.

What Food Do Guppies Eat?

The fact that they are omnivores means that guppy diet has both plant and animal-based foods. That is the first thing we need to take note, when exploring the what do guppies eat question.

The animal components in the guppy diet include mosquito larvae (and larvae of other insects generally), brine shrimp and various worms – including bloodworms.

Another noteworthy animal component of the guppy diet is guppy fry. This is to say that adult guppies often feed on their young ones!

In the wild, guppies often also eat leftovers from other bigger fish. So this is yet another animal component of their omnivorous diet.

The plant components in the guppy diet include algae, leaves and other vegetable matter in the waters they inhabit. Guppies also feed on Spirulina.

There are commercial foods for tropical fish that guppies kept in aquariums can eat. Those include the various veggie pellets and fish flakes.

Therefore, in a nutshell, that is the answer to the what food do guppy fish eat question.

What Do Guppies Eat In The Wild?

This, in other words, is a question on what do guppies eat in their natural habitat?

So, indeed, what do guppies eat in the wild? The food that guppies eat in the wild falls into two categories.

The first category of guppy food in the wild is that of plant matter. In this category, we find the various leaves that guppies happen to come across in the waters they live in.

This is also where we find the algae that the guppies happen to come across in the waters they live in, as well as spirulina.

So guppies feed on various plant leaves/plant parts as well as algae and spirulina.

The second category of guppy food in the wild is that of animal matter. In this category, we find various insect larvae – with mosquito larvae being a favorite for guppies.

This is also where we find baby shrimp. It is another food that guppies commonly feed on in the wild.

Further on, there are worms – with, for instance, bloodworms being among those that are commonly eaten by guppies when they happen to find them in the wild.

So this is generally the answer to the what do guppy fish eat in the wild question. That also effectively answers the what do guppies eat in nature question.

Having dealt with what guppies eat in the wild, we can now turn to the what do guppies eat in aquariums question.

What Do Guppies Eat In Captivity?

In most cases, when in captivity, guppies are kept in tanks. So we can rephrase this question as: what do guppies eat in a tank?

But it is worth remembering that there also guppies that are kept in captivity in small ponds, rather than tanks. Most people though keep their guppies in tanks/aquariums.

So, what do guppies eat in captivity? Or rather, what do guppies eat fish tank options?

Most people who keep guppies buy commercial fish food for them. The commercial fish food usually comes in the form of flakes and pellets.

So fish flakes and veggie pellets are the staples for guppies in captivity.

For anyone who has the what do guppies eat fish food options question, that is the answer: namely fish flakes and veggie pellets.

That also answers the do guppies eat flakes question. They do. It is one of their staples in captivity.

In captivity, guppies are also fed treats such as mosquito larvae, baby shrimp and bloodworms.

Such treats may be in the category of best food for breeding guppies as well as for baby guppies: on account of their unique protein needs.

But they are still only supposed to be given as treats, once in a while.

At yet another level, guppies in captivity may get human vegetable foods – such as boiled and finely chopped lettuce, cucumber, carrots and zucchini.

Human animal food that guppies may be fed on while in captivity includes crushed (boiled) egg yolk and beef heart paste.

So that is generally how the guppy fish diet looks like in captivity.

And if you have been having the what should I feed my guppies question, that is the general answer to it.

What Type Of Fish Food Do Guppies Eat?

Often, while answering the what do guppies eat question comes up this one: on what kind of fish food do guppies eat?

As it turns out, one of the best types of fish food that guppies eat is that which comes in the form of fish flakes. This should ideally be fish flakes meant for tropical omnivorous fish.

Another type of fish food that guppies eat is that which comes in the form of veggie pellets.

We also have fish flakes that incorporate both animal matter and plant matter. Such flakes are nutritionally balanced, and it is generally considered to be a pretty good guppy food.

So in those fish flakes and veggie pellets, we are basically looking at commercial fish food.

You can also give live fish food to your guppies. Options in this regard include baby shrimp, mosquito larvae and bloodworms. Ideally though, those should be given only once in a while – as treats for guppies.

You can obtain the same foods in frozen (rather than live) form, and give them to your guppies.

The fish food that guppies eat should be very finely ground. Otherwise if you give it in too big pieces, it may not fit into the guppies’ (usually small) mouths.

At this point, one may ask, can guppies eat Betta food? And the answer would be yes. But that is not the best food for guppies.

Remember, Betta food is designed with carnivores rather than omnivores in mind. Therefore if you feed your guppies on it exclusively, they may miss out on some of the things they need.

All in all, that is how best we can answer the what kind of fish food do guppies eat question.

What Do Guppies Eat Besides Fish Food?

Besides fish food, guppies can eat human vegetables – such as lettuce, carrots and cucumber.

For most of these vegetables though, you have to first boil them. That makes them soft enough for the guppies to eat.

After boiling them, you need to cut them into very small pieces. You can thereafter proceed to spread them in the aquarium for the guppies to feed on.

So, for instance, that is how to feed guppies cucumber.

Besides the human vegetables, guppies can eat egg yolk. Again, you have to first hard-boil the egg. Then get the yolk out, and slice it into very small pieces. Thereafter, spread those pieces on the aquarium, for the guppies to eat.

With egg yolk, you have to take care and ensure that you only give it to the guppies once in a while. Otherwise it will foul the aquarium water too much.

Beef heart too is another human food that guppies can eat. Again, you first have to boil it, then crush it into a paste, before giving it to your guppies in the tank.

Zucchini and pumpkin are also suitable for guppies, as is sweet potato. The key thing is to boil it first, then slice it into very very small pieces that can fit into the guppies’ small mouths.

What Plants Do Guppies Eat?

Some of the plants that guppies can eat include the various types of moss – including Flame Moss, Christmas Moss and Java Moss. Others are ferns, including Java Fern, as well as Water Sprite.

Water wisteria is also good for guppies, as is Hornwort.

On the whole, guppies like eating various forms of algae. But if you have algae in your aquarium, it is not enough food for the guppies. You will still need to give them fish flakes, veggie pellets and so on.

Nonetheless, if you have been having the do guppies eat algae question, now you know the answer. They do. But algae on its own may not be enough food for the guppies.

Neither will the guppies be in a position to rid your aquarium of all algae.

In terms of vegetable plants that guppies eat, we are looking at the likes of lettuce, cucumber, spinach, carrot, kale, cabbage and cauliflower.

One needs to boil those vegetables, and slice them into very small bits, for the guppies to eat them.

What Animals Do Guppies Eat?

Some of the animals that guppies eat include bloodworms, earthworms, brine shrimp and mosquito larvae.

In the wild, guppies will also feed on remains of the various animal foods eaten by bigger fish.

They of course also feed on their own young ones (guppy fry) as well as on other dead guppies.

Remember, while answering the what kind of food do guppy fish eat question, we said that they are omnivorous. So they eat both animal and plant manner.

And with respect to animal matter, that is where we find things like bloodworms, earthworms, baby shrimp and mosquito larvae.

Those are things you can safely feed your guppies on. But ideally, you should use them as treats, rather than staples.

What Fish Do Guppies Eat?

Guppies do feed on their own young ones (guppy fry). That is why you shouldn’t leave young guppies with their parents.

Further, guppies do eat other dead guppies. So if a guppy dies, its tank-mates may proceed to feast on it.

Brine shrimp – if we may refer to it as fish – is another one that is commonly eaten by guppies.

In the wild, guppies have been seen eating leftovers of bigger fish: which are usually other smaller fish.

What Kind Of Vegetables Do Guppies Eat?

There are many types of vegetables that guppies eat: including cucumber, broccoli, cauliflower, kales, cabbage, carrots and spinach leaves.

In answering the what vegetables do guppies eat question, we have to put up a couple of caveats.

Firstly, in answering the what vegetables can guppies eat question, we need to point out that the vegetables often require boiling. They require boiling so they can be soft enough for eating by guppies.

Secondly, we need to point out that the vegetables often require cutting into very small pieces, before they can be suitable for eating by guppies.

Remember, guppy mouths are rather small. So if you don’t cut the vegetables into very small pieces, they won’t fit into their mouths.

Vegetables for guppies are essential, and you should ensure that the guppies are getting them at least once in a while.

That you can do through guppy fish food that incorporates veggies – for instance, the veggie pellets.

Or, better still, you can do it by buying the veggies, boiling them, cutting them into small pieces, then spreading them over the aquarium for the guppies to eat.

So, in essence, this is the answer to the what veggies do guppies eat question.

What Are The Best Treats For Guppies?

The best treats for guppies are those that are nutritionally rich and apparently tasty to the guppies.

Examples include bloodworms, baby shrimp and tubifex worms. Mosquito larvae can also be a good treat for guppies.

So if you have been having the do guppies eat bloodworms questions, now you know the answer. They do: but ideally, as treats rather than as a staple food.

In exploring the what do guppies eat food options, these treats are also essential. The key thing is to ensure that you only give them once in a while, and not on a daily basis.

What Do Baby Guppies Eat?

One option for feeding baby guppies is on flake food that is in powder form. So you get hold of the fish flake you buy for adult guppies. Then you crush it into a very fine powder.

Thereafter, you spread the powder over the aquarium, for the baby guppies to eat.

So if you have been wondering, what flakes do guppies eat when they are babies, now you have the answer. It is the normal flake food, but you grind it into a fine powder.

If you give it in normal size bits, it won’t fit into the baby guppies’ small mouths.

But if you grind it into a fine powder, it will turn into a very decent small guppy fish food.

Besides fish flake powder, baby guppies can eat brine shrimp, egg yolk, mosquito larvae, daphnia and bloodworms.

The baby guppies need these foods that are rich in protein for their growth. But you need to ensure that you don’t overfeed the baby guppies on them.

Do Guppies Eat Their Babies?

In the course of answering the what do guppies eat question, this one – on whether guppies eat their own babies – tends to come up.

The true position is that, indeed, guppies do eat their babies. This is why the babies require separation from their parents after hatching. Otherwise at least some of them become food for the parents!

How Often Should I Feed My Guppies?

Closely related to the what do guppies eat question is this one: on how often do you feed guppies?

So, indeed, how often do you feed guppy fish? Or, to put it differently, how many times to feed guppies?

Now in answering the how often to feed guppies question, we have to consider the age of the guppies.

That is because how many times to feed guppy fish when they are babies is different from how many times to feed guppy fish when they are adults.

So then, how often should guppies be fed when they are babies? The answer is that baby guppies should be fed 2-4 times per day.

On the other hand, how often should you feed guppies when they are adults? The answer is that adult guppies require feeding 1-2 times a day.

Ideally, there should be a 12-hour period between the feeding sessions for adult guppies.

How Much To Feed Guppies?

Also closely related to the what do guppies eat question is this one: on how much should you feed guppies?

Most experts are of the view that you should give each guppy 20 mg of food per feeding session, with 1-2 feedings per day. That is for adult guppies.

For baby guppies, the ideal amount may be 15 mg of food (per single guppy) per feeding, with 2-4 feedings per day.

What To Feed Guppies When Out Of Food?

When answering the what food do guppies eat question, we saw that flakes and pellets are usually their staples.

That is specifically the answer we gave to the what fish food do guppies eat question (with reference to commercial fish foods).

But what if you run out of commercial fish food? What can guppy fish eat in the meantime, as you order for more commercial fish food?

One good option is that of feeding the guppies on egg yolk. So you boil an egg first. Then you get hold of the yolk. You crush the yolk and disperse it into the aquarium, for the guppies to eat.

This, of course, should only be once in a while. It is not something the guppies should eat two days in a row, really.

Another good option is to get vegetables, such as lettuce, cucumber, kales, cabbage or spinach leaves and first boil them. Then cut them into very small pieces. Disperse them into the aquarium for the guppies to eat.

Guppies can also eat bread, as well as pumpkin and zucchini. All these are only good for the short term though.

You should ensure that you have proper guppy food, as soon as possible, so that they can continue getting the nutrients they need.

Final Verdict – What Do Guppies Eat

Guppies eat both animal and plant-based foods. On a day to day basis, you may choose to be feeding your guppies on commercial fish food, which typically comes in the form of flakes and pellets.

You should also consider giving the guppies vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage, spinach leaves, kales and cucumber at least occasionally. Ensure you boil the veggies fully, then cut them into very small pieces.

Further, you should consider giving your guppies treats such as mosquito larvae, brine shrimp, egg yolk and bloodworms at least once in a while.

20 mg of food per guppy per feeding (with 1-2 feedings per day) should be adequate for most adult guppies.

And knowing that guppies often do feed on their young ones, you should separate the young ones from the older guppies promptly after they hatch.

As a pet lover, make sure to learn about pet more and give your pet fish a good and comfortable life!

Rajkumar Ravichandran

Welcome to Learn About Pet. My name is Rajkumar Ravichandran and I love all pets, travel, and amazing food. I write about my passion and personal experience caring for multiple pets in this blog! ❤️