As a proud owner of guppy fish, you may have asked yourself the question, “What do guppies eat?”

One option for feeding your guppies is live fish food, which is often preferred by hobbyists due to its high nutritional value. But for many aquarists, preparing homemade food or buying commercially available guppy fish food may be a more convenient and cost-effective option.

In this article, we’ll explore the different types of food available for guppies, from homemade to store-bought options, and help you determine the perfect meal plan for your finned friends.

Homemade Guppy Food

Making homemade guppy food is a great way to provide your fish with a nutritious and cost-effective diet. From veggies and protein-rich sources to live food cultures, there are many options to consider.

In this table, we’ll explore the pros and cons of various homemade guppy food options, as well as some helpful notes to keep in mind.

Food Name	Description	Nutritional Content	Preparation	Suitable for
Brine Shrimp	Number one food for guppies, especially live.	60% protein, 25% fat and carbohydrates	Cultured at home using brine shrimp hatchery kit	Fry and adult guppies
Egg Yolk	Provides a lot of fat, good source of protein, sodium, potassium, Vitamins A, C, D, B-12, and minerals such as calcium, iron and magnesium.	High in fat	Crushed into paste and feed in low quantities	Fry guppies
Beef Heart	Super-food, high in fat, good source of protein. Chopped into small pieces and mixed with other ingredients.	High in fat	Cleaned of fat and chopped into small pieces	Fry guppies
Daphnia	Relatively easy to culture at home, requires 6-8 hours of light, good source of protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins A and D.	Freeze-dried or live culture	Cultured indoors, but may produce a strong smell.	Fry and adult guppies
Vinegar Eels	Good source of protein and fat, cultured at home.	High in protein and fat	Cultured at home, but may produce a strong smell.	Fry guppies
Micro-Worms	Good source of protein and easy to harvest.	High in protein	Cultured at home	Fry guppies

Emergency Fish Food: How to Make Homemade Flake Food When You Run Out

Running out of fish food can be a nightmare for any aquarium owner. However, you don’t need to panic if you find yourself in this situation. With a few simple steps, you can make your own homemade flake food using frozen or fresh vegetables that you have in your kitchen.

Step-by-step guide to making emergency guppy fish food out of vegetables:

1. Take a selection of frozen or fresh vegetables, such as cucumber, zucchini, spinach, carrots, peas, green beans, and broccoli.

2. Chop the vegetables into small pieces and put them in a blender or food processor.

3. Blend the vegetables until they form a smooth paste. Then spread the vegetable paste onto a sheet of baking paper.

4. Preheat the oven to 250°F (120°C). Place the baking sheet with the vegetable paste into the oven and bake the vegetable paste until it has dried out completely.

5. Remove the dried vegetable paste from the oven and let it cool. Once the paste is cool, break it up into small flakes or pieces.

6. Store the flakes or pieces in an airtight container or resealable bag. When you run out of fish food or need emergency food, take a small amount of the homemade vegetable flake food and feed it to your guppies.

Best Commercial Guppy Food

While some guppies fish owners may prefer to make their own guppy fish food, many find it more convenient to purchase commercially available options.

We have compiled a list of the best commercially available guppy foods to help you provide your fish with the essential vitamins and minerals they need.

Here’s a table summarizing the commercially of fish food recommended for guppies:

Type of Fish Food	Description	Benefits
Flake Food	Commonly used by hobbyists for guppies	Rich in essential vitamins and minerals, high in protein
Veggie Pellets	Contains algae, plankton, and spirulina	High in vitamins B, C, D, and E, iron, and calcium, promotes healthy fins and tails, enhances fish color
Spirulina Tablets	Contains spirulina	Helps guppies resist skin infections, promotes healthy fins and tails
Freeze-dried Brine Shrimp	Shrimp in freeze-dried form	Excellent source of protein
Freeze-dried Blood Worms	Worms in freeze-dried form	Great source of fat, improves growth rate for fry
Freeze-dried Tubifex Worms	Worms in freeze-dried form	Acts as an excellent fish conditioner, should not be fed live due to potential harmful bacteria

Recommended Flake Food for Guppies

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If you’re looking for food for guppies, you may look at Tetra 16106 Min Tropical Flakes! This nutritionally balanced fish food is specially formulated to meet the dietary needs of guppies and other tropical fish.

With a 7.06-ounce container, it’s the perfect size for your regular fish feedings. It’s also economical and has essential vitamins and minerals to keep your guppies happy and healthy!

Homemade vs Commercial Guppy Food

In this section, we’ll explore the pros and cons of each so you can make an informed decision about what’s best for your guppies.

Homemade	Commercial
Pros	Pros
Allows for more control over ingredients	Convenient and readily available
Can be tailored to the specific needs of your guppies	Nutritional content is guaranteed
Can be less expensive	May offer a wider variety of flavors and textures
May be more natural and less processed	Easier to measure and portion
Cons	Cons
May require more time and effort to prepare	May contain fillers and preservatives
Nutritional content may be inconsistent	May be more expensive
May be more difficult to achieve a balanced diet	Limited control over ingredients
May not be as palatable to guppies	May not cater to specific dietary needs

How to Feed Guppies

How Often to Feed Guppies?

If you’re a guppy owner, one of the most important things you need to know is how often to feed your fish. Feeding your guppies the right amount of food at the right frequency is crucial for their health and growth.

Here is a table summarizing the feeding schedule for guppies:

Stage of Guppies	Feeding Frequency	Type of Food	Additional Notes
Adult	Once every day or every other day	Good quality food containing all nutrients needed for optimal growth and health	Overfeeding increases the chances of health problems
Baby (newly born to 1 month old)	3-4 times per day	Newly hatched brine shrimp, artemia, vinegar eels, micro-worm, or high-quality flake food	Feed them anything that floats past them
Baby (1 month old to 3 months old)	2-3 times per day	High-quality flake food, newly hatched brine shrimp, moina, tubifex worm, blood worm, or spirulina algae flakes	Overfeeding may cause swim bladder problems
3 months old and above	Once every other day or every third day (depending on how much they are eating)	Same quality as you would feed to adult guppies	Feed the right amount of food to ensure proper growth

How Long Can Guppies Go Without Food?

💡Guppies can survive without food for 7 to 10 days. However, healthy adult guppies can survive up to two weeks without food, whereas guppy fry can only survive for up to 3 days without food.

It’s essential to note that while guppies can survive without food for some time, it’s not recommended to starve them intentionally, as it can lead to malnourishment and health problems in the long run.

Rapid Guppy Growth with These Proven Feeding Tips by Fish4Ever

In this video, Fish Forever is showing us what she feeds her guppies to help them grow quickly and develop bright colors. She feeds them vegetables like spinach, which she microwaves in a plastic cup for five to six minutes to make them soft and easier to eat.

She feeds her fish vegetables three days a week and also feeds them omega-1 color mini pellets and occasionally super color flakes, which help enhance their colors. These pellets are also small and compact, so they don’t cloud the water. Fish Forever also gives her fish frozen food as a treat about once a week.

She reminds us that genetics play a role in how quickly the fish grow, but a high-quality protein-based diet and regular water changes can help speed up their development.

FAQS

Can guppies eat goldfish food?

💡Yes, guppies can eat goldfish food, but it is not the best option for them. Goldfish food typically contains higher levels of protein and lower levels of vegetable matter, which may not meet the nutritional needs of guppies.

However, if you do choose to feed your guppies goldfish food, it is important to crush the flakes into smaller pieces to make it easier for them to consume and digest. Guppies have smaller mouths and prefer smaller food particles, so crushing the flakes is essential.

Can Guppy Eat Rice?

💡Yes, it is true that guppies can consume rice, it is not recommended to feed them this food because it lacks nutritional value.

Although rice does contain starch, which can be difficult for fish to digest, it does not contain the necessary minerals and vitamins to keep guppies healthy.

Therefore, it is not a suitable dietary choice for them. While adult guppy fish can survive on rice, they may not thrive on a rice-based diet due to its low nutrient content. As a result, fish keepers tend to avoid feeding rice to their fish as it does not provide sufficient nutrition.

How to Feed Guppies on Vacation?

💡If you’re going on vacation, it’s important to ensure that your guppies are fed while you’re away. An automatic fish feeder is a great option that allows you to feed your fish at regular intervals, even when you’re not around.

Choose a feeder that’s specifically designed for aquarium use and program it to dispense the appropriate amount of food for your guppies.

To set up the feeder, fill it with your guppies’ preferred pellets or flakes, and choose a feeding schedule that aligns with your usual feeding routine.

It’s important to avoid overfeeding, as excess food can lead to water quality issues. Consider testing the feeder for a few days before your trip to make sure that the schedule is appropriate and the feeder is functioning correctly.

With an automatic fish feeder, you can relax and enjoy your vacation knowing that your guppies are getting the nutrition they need.

Final Words

In conclusion, whether you choose to make homemade guppy fish food or purchase a commercial brand, it’s important to provide your fish with a well-balanced and nutritious diet.

While homemade food offers the flexibility to tailor ingredients to your fish’s needs, commercial food offers convenience and a wide range of options. Ultimately, the best guppy fish food is the one that meets the nutritional needs of your fish and keeps them healthy and vibrant.

Be sure to do your research and choose a high-quality brand or recipe to ensure the health and happiness of your guppies.

Reference

1. Scirp.org | The Effect of Live Food on the Coloration and Growth in Guppy Fish, Poecilia reticulata
2. Academia.edu | Behavior of Feeding in Guppy: Poecilia reticulata
3. Iopscience.iop.org | Dried acetes as growth promoter for guppy