Product Details

Red Mosaic Guppy – Poecilia reticulata

Overview:

The Red Mosaic Guppy is a colourful fancy guppy strain, selected for rich red tones and mosaic-style patterning across the tail and body. As a domesticated form of Poecilia reticulata, it is peaceful, active and well suited to planted community aquariums with stable, mineral-rich water. Guppies are often considered beginner fish, but fancy strains still need clean water, gentle tank mates and protection from fin-nipping species.

Key Identification:

Common Name: Red Mosaic Guppy
Other Names: Mosaic Guppy, Red Tail Mosaic 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, with introduced populations now found widely around the world. FishBase records guppies from quiet, vegetated waters and notes their wide salinity tolerance, although they require warm conditions for long-term health.

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

Appearance & Adult Size:

Red Mosaic Guppies usually show bright red, orange-red or crimson colour in the tail and body, often combined with a mosaic or lace-like pattern of darker markings. Males are typically smaller, slimmer and more colourful, with larger decorative tails. Females are larger and fuller-bodied, usually with more subdued colour, although some lines show attractive female patterning too.

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

Aquarium Suitability:

This is a good fish for peaceful planted communities, livebearer aquariums and beginner setups with suitable water. Red Mosaic Guppies appreciate open swimming space, plant cover, floating plants and gentle to moderate filtration. Fancy-tailed males should not be kept with persistent fin-nippers or rough tank mates.

They are not suitable for very soft acidic aquariums, aggressive cichlid tanks, boisterous fin-nipping communities or tanks 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 P. reticulata 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 conditions rather than soft acidic water. FishBase lists their preferred aquarium pH around 7–8, with warm, quiet vegetated water for survival. Avoid ammonia, nitrite, sudden temperature drops and unstable water chemistry.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Community Fish

Red Mosaic 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, peaceful 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 a ratio of one male to two or more females to reduce female harassment. Male-only groups are a good option for display tanks and help prevent unwanted fry.

Feeding:

Red Mosaic 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, social fish that spend much of their time in the upper and middle levels. Males display frequently to females and rival males, showing off their colour and tail pattern. Females give birth to free-swimming fry rather than laying eggs; FishBase notes that males can mature at around two months and females at around three months, so breeding can begin quickly in mixed-sex groups.

Care Notes:

Keep Red Mosaic Guppies in stable, mature water with regular water changes. Avoid sudden chills, poor water quality and very soft acidic conditions. Use a secure lid, as guppies can jump. Fancy males with large tails should be protected from fin-nippers and strong currents. 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 Red Mosaic line, as related livebearers and guppy strains can interbreed in captivity.

Recommended For:

Beginner

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, mosaic pattern, body colour, tail shape, fin length and markings can occur between individual fish.