Guppies are hardy compared to many aquarium fish, which is why myths spread so easily — people get away with bad advice for a while. Then one day the tank tips over: fins clamp, algae explodes, or fish start dying “for no reason”. Most of the time, the cause is a handful of repeated myths. Fixing them makes guppies genuinely easy.
Myth 1: “Guppies don’t need a heater in Australia”
Room temperature can swing more than people notice, especially overnight. Guppies tolerate cooler water, but they do best with stable warmth. A heater isn’t about making the tank hot; it’s about preventing daily swings that stress fish and reduce immune strength.
Myth 2: “Big water changes are always better”
Big changes can be fine in stable systems, but for many home tanks they create shocks in temperature, pH, and mineral balance. Smaller, consistent changes usually keep guppies calmer and colour brighter. Consistency beats intensity.
Myth 3: “Clear water means safe water”
A tank can look crystal clear and still have ammonia or nitrite during a cycle or after a filter disruption. Test kits exist for a reason. If fish are clamping fins, gasping, or acting strange, test first — don’t guess.
Myth 4: “More food makes better colour”
Overfeeding is one of the fastest ways to degrade water quality. Colour comes from consistent, balanced nutrition and stable water. A lighter, reliable feeding routine almost always produces better long-term results than heavy feeding “to push growth”.
Myth 5: “All peaceful community fish are safe with guppies”
Some “peaceful” fish still nip fins, especially when bored or underfed. If you’re keeping premium tails, choose tank mates carefully and give fish cover. One fin nipper can ruin an entire display.
What to do instead (simple rules)
- keep temperature stable (24–26°C is a comfortable range)
- do consistent 20–30% weekly changes
- test ammonia/nitrite when anything looks off
- feed small portions and keep water clean
- choose tank mates that respect finnage
Once these myths are replaced with stable routines, guppy keeping becomes predictable. Fish settle faster, fins stay intact, and colours remain strong — which is exactly what you want from a display tank.
