Product Details

Albino Red Lace Guppy – Poecilia reticulata

Overview:

The Albino Red Lace Guppy is a highly decorative fancy guppy with soft albino body tones, red colour and lace-patterned finnage. As a selectively bred form of Poecilia reticulata, it is peaceful, active and ideal for planted community aquariums with stable, mineral-rich water. Fancy guppies are hardy when kept correctly, but albino and long-finned strains should be protected from rough tank mates, fin-nippers and poor water quality.

Key Identification:

Common Name: Albino Red Lace Guppy
Other Names: Red Lace Albino Guppy, Albino Lace Guppy, Fancy Guppy, Millions Fish, Guppy
Scientific Name: Poecilia reticulata
Fish Type: Livebearer / Guppy
Water Type: Freshwater, with tolerance of slightly brackish conditions

Natural Range & Habitat:

Wild Poecilia reticulata is native to northern South America and nearby Caribbean islands, although it has been introduced widely around the world. It naturally uses quiet, vegetated waters and has a broad salinity tolerance, but it still requires warm conditions for long-term survival.

The Albino Red Lace Guppy is an aquarium-bred ornamental strain, so it should be treated as a captive-bred colour and fin form rather than a wild-type fish.

Appearance & Adult Size:

Albino Red Lace Guppies usually show a pale cream, pinkish or translucent albino body with red colour through the tail, fins or body. The lace pattern may appear as fine darker or red reticulation across the tail and dorsal fin, depending on the breeding line. Males are smaller, slimmer and much more colourful, while females are larger and fuller-bodied, usually with more subdued patterning.

Adults usually reach around 3–5 cm, with females often larger than males. FishBase records female guppies reaching around 5 cm standard length, while males are generally smaller and mature quickly.

Aquarium Suitability:

This strain is best suited to peaceful planted aquariums, livebearer displays and gentle community tanks. Albino Red Lace Guppies appreciate open swimming space, floating plants, fine-leaved cover and gentle to moderate filtration. Because albino fish and long-finned males can be more visible and vulnerable, avoid sharp décor, strong currents and nippy tank mates.

They are not suitable for very soft acidic aquariums, aggressive cichlid tanks, rough communities or aquariums with fish large enough to eat them.

Recommended Aquarium Size:

A practical minimum is 45–60 litres for a small group, with 60–90 litres or more preferred for mixed-sex groups or community aquariums. FishBase recommends keeping guppies in groups of five or more and gives a minimum aquarium size of around 60 cm.

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 22–26°C
pH: 7.0–8.0
Hardness: Moderately hard to hard preferred
Additional Notes: Guppies are hard-water livebearers and do best in mineral-rich, stable aquariums rather than soft acidic conditions. Fishkeeper notes that fancy guppies need well-maintained aquaria with high carbonate hardness to thrive. Avoid ammonia, nitrite, sudden temperature drops and unstable water chemistry.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Community Fish

Albino Red Lace Guppies are peaceful, active community fish. Suitable tank mates include platies, small peaceful rainbowfish, Endler-type livebearers if hybridisation is not a concern, bristlenose plecs, Cory-type catfish in suitable water, small rasboras and calm tetras that tolerate harder water.

Avoid Tiger Barbs, Serpae Tetras, large cichlids, aggressive gouramis, fin-nipping danios in cramped tanks and any fish large enough to swallow adult guppies. If keeping mixed sexes, use one male to two or more females to reduce female harassment. Male-only groups work well for display aquariums and prevent unwanted fry.

Feeding:

Albino Red Lace Guppies are easy-feeding omnivores. Offer quality flakes, micro pellets and livebearer granules as the staple diet. Supplement with frozen or live foods such as daphnia, brineshrimp, cyclops, mosquito larvae and finely chopped bloodworm. Include vegetable matter such as spirulina flakes, algae-based foods or blanched greens. FishBase records wild guppies feeding on zooplankton, small insects and detritus, so variety is useful.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:

Guppies are lively upper and midwater fish that spend much of the day swimming, grazing and displaying. Males show off constantly to females and rival males, using colour, tail spread and body posture. Females give birth to free-swimming fry rather than laying eggs, and FishBase notes that males can mature at around two months and females at around three months, so breeding can start quickly in mixed-sex groups.

Care Notes:

Keep Albino Red Lace Guppies in a mature aquarium with stable hard water, regular water changes and gentle tank mates. Protect fancy tails from fin-nippers and avoid strong currents that force males to struggle. A secure lid is recommended, as guppies can jump. If breeding is not wanted, keep males only or plan ahead for fry. Do not mix with Endler’s Livebearers or other guppy strains if you want to preserve the Albino Red Lace line.

Recommended For:

Beginner to intermediate

Availability:

Common to occasional / Captive-bred fancy strain

Image Disclaimer:

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Natural variation in size, red intensity, albino tone, lace pattern, tail shape, fin length and markings can occur between individual fish.