Guppy fins are the first thing to suffer in the wrong community setup. Many fish don’t “mean” to be aggressive — they’re just fast, competitive, or curious. The trick is learning to predict fin nippers before you add them. Once fins are damaged, stress rises and secondary health issues become more likely. A simple checklist helps you avoid the most common mistakes.
Checklist: risk factors for fin nipping
- Fast, busy schooling fish: they chase movement and peck at fins.
- Fish known for “pecking” behaviour: even small ones can harass guppies.
- Competitive feeders: fish that dominate food often dominate guppies too.
- Territorial fish: stress rises in smaller tanks where territory overlaps.
Checklist: traits that usually work well with guppies
- peaceful temperament and similar size
- calm feeding behaviour
- fish that ignore fins and prefer their own space
How to reduce risk even with “safe” mates
- add cover to break line-of-sight
- feed lightly and in multiple locations
- introduce new fish after a water change (reduces territorial stress)
Choosing tank mates is about behaviour, not labels. If you screen for speed, feeding aggression, and pecking tendencies, you’ll avoid most fin issues before they start.
