Can an angelfish live with guppies?
Edited by Marin Hale · last reviewed October 29, 2026
Sometimes, with care.
Adult angelfish may eat small guppies.
Plan on a tank of at least 30 gallons for both.
By tank size
| 5 gal | 10 gal | 20 gal | 29 gal | 40 gal | 55 gal | 75 gal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | No | No | No | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe |
Below 30 gallons there isn’t enough room for both, so the answer is no.
How to try it
Use a 30-gallon tank or larger with dense plants (tall stems and floating plants) so small guppies can break line of sight with the angelfish. Keep a group of at least 3 guppies, with several females to each male, and a single angelfish. Choose the largest guppies you can find, since size is the main risk here.
- Set the tank up and let the plants settle in before any fish go in. Check that the temperature sits in the 75–82°F range both species handle.
- Add the guppies first and let them settle for a week or two, so they know the tank and its hiding spots.
- Feed the angelfish a good meal just before you add it, so it is less likely to go hunting.
- Add the angelfish last, ideally while the lights are dim, and rearrange some plants or decor to break up any territory.
- Watch closely for the first few hours. Brief flaring or a few chases is normal. Keep watching daily through the first weeks.
Warning signs in the first weeks
- Guppies disappearing. Adult angelfish may eat small guppies, and a missing fish may mean it was eaten.
- Any injury on a guppy or the angelfish: torn or split fins, wounds, missing scales or bite marks. Separate the fish immediately.
- One fish repeatedly chased, cornered or pinned, especially a guppy stuck in a corner or hiding all the time. Separate immediately.
- Guppies staying packed at the top or in plants and not eating or showing normal color, which suggests they are stressed by the angelfish.
Backup plan: If a guppy is hurt, keeps getting chased or cornered, or guppies keep vanishing, move the affected fish into a separate tank or a secure tank divider right away. Then rehome the guppies or the angelfish, since this pairing is a caution match and not every angelfish will tolerate guppies.
How we reached this verdict
| Pass | Water temperature | Both are comfortable at 75–82°F. |
|---|---|---|
| Pass | pH | Both are comfortable at pH 7.0–7.5. |
| Pass | Water hardness | Both handle water hardness of 9–15 dGH. |
| Watch | Size and appetite | Adult angelfish may eat small guppies. |
| Pass | Fins | No fin-nipping risk. |
| Pass | Temperament | Temperaments are compatible. |
Side by side
Better tank mates for an angelfish
More angelfish pairings
Verdicts come from cross-checked species data and our compatibility rules. How verdicts work · Guppy care