Best Food For Guppies and Platies

Known scientifically as the Poecilia reticulata, guppies are quite popular among beginners in raising fish or fishkeeping.

They come in a variety of colors and subspecies and what most people like about them is that they can be quite active. However, with their immensely-growing population, you may need to feed them properly.

This is why you may be looking for the best food for guppies out there in the market. You’re in luck because, in this article, we will be reviewing some great suggestions for guppy food, as well as tips on how to choose one.

After all, you can’t just compromise your fish nutrition and expect them to live long! You do have to invest in quality food to ensure that they have a healthy life.

TOP 5 Best Food For Guppies and Platies

Here are our top picks for the best food for guppies:

TetraMin Plus Tropical Flakes

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Made with a clear water formula, this pack of flakes won’t cloud your water, unlike pellets.

It also has shrimp so that your fish can taste natural flavors that are also nutritious.

The flakes come in a container that makes it easy to deploy to your aquarium without spilling.

Each container is at 2.2 ounces but you can also order other sizes that are available.

The flakes are individually strong and resilient so that they get to your fish in one piece. For picky eaters, they may like the aroma and flavor of real shrimp in each of the flakes.

Things We Liked

• Include real shrimp
• Has a natural aroma
• The container is easy to use
• Resilient flake design
• Good for picky eaters

Things We Didn’t Like

• The packaging may have some damage (depending on the batch you receive)

AF Tropical Fish Flakes

As tropical flakes that come in a 1/2-lb. bag, this one is ideal for most tropical fish like the guppies.

It comes in a bubble pack and is shipped in a hard box so it gets protected during the shipping process (although some small flakes may still settle).

It is filled with vitamins and probiotics to make your guppies healthy. Along with that, it also has 43% protein and it includes various veggies such as the spirulina and kelp.

Since some flakes can be a bit large, it can be easily crushed if you want to feed smaller fish in the process.

Things We Liked

• Smartly shipped in a bag
• Comes with probiotics and vitamins
• Includes veggies like spirulina and kelp
• Can be crushed for smaller fish

Things We Didn’t Like

• You do need to crush the larger flakes

Hikari First Bites

Great for guppy fry, this one can be used in a nursery with livebearers as well as egg layers.

It is made with krill, dried seaweed, and various other healthy ingredients. It packs 48% protein and also vitamins A, D3, E, and ascorbic acid for healthy fish. Each pack is at 10 grams or 0.35 ounces.

Since it has low heat protection, it can keep the vitamins and minerals intact even in higher temperatures.

The fish food can be fed to your baby guppies in about 1/2 gram in about 2 to 3 times a day, depending on how many guppies you have.

Things We Liked

• Great for baby guppies
• Comes in a good packaging
• Has vitamins and nutrients
• Has protein
• Ideal for nurseries

Things We Didn’t Like

• May be hard to feed at first due to the powdery texture

Aquatic Foods Freeze Dried Brine Shrimp Cubes

Made with high protein content, this one uses brine shrimp as its main ingredient to make your fish healthier, especially breeder guppies.

It contains no additives, no chemicals, and no preservatives, so your fish can be safe. It is available in sizes of 1/4 lbs., 1/8 lbs., 1/2 lbs. and 1 lb.

Since it has a cube design, it can be great for bottom dwellers and bigger fish. The guppy food contains vitamins A, D3, E, and C as well as 50% protein so it can be a great energy booster for them.

You can also crush the cubes in your fingers to make them easy to digest in general.

Things We Liked

• Comes in various sizes
• Packed with vitamins
• Uses brine shrimp as the main ingredient
• High in protein
• Can be crushed for smaller fish

Things We Didn’t Like

• May sometimes become powder when crushed

Cobalt Aquatics Tropical Fish Food

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This fish food is for tropical species like the guppy and it is in the form of flakes.

At 5 ounces per container (there are also 1.2 ounces and 16 ounces), it can help your fishes’ gut health due to the inclusion of probiotics in the form of bacillus sp. Bacteria.

It has a formula that will not cloud the water so it can be safe for your aquarium filter in general.

Because the fish flakes are big, they won’t easily clog your filter. Among the ingredients of the fish, flakes are crude protein, fish meal, shrimp meal, krill, kelp, and the like.

Things We Liked

• Comes in various sizes
• Has probiotics
• Won’t clog your filter
• Has a variety of ingredients
• Sealed during shipping

Things We Didn’t Like

• Could be in a smaller container for easier dispensing

Things to Consider Before You Buy

In choosing the best food for guppies, here are things you may need to know first:

What are the types of guppy fish food that I can buy?

Fish food, in general, has two types, such as the following:

1. Fish pellets. These are usually very heavy in terms of size and quality so they could be an ideal source of nutrition for bottom dwellers.

The advantage of fish pellets is that they can be store-bought since they are widely available. They may be best for those with larger fish tanks and those with a lot of fish inside. They are typically packed with a lot of nutrients. Think of it as wet dog food vs. dry dog food.

The disadvantage of fish pellets is that it cannot be easily broken down. If you have small fish then this could be a problem since they can take a lot of time in swallowing and digesting it. They may also sometimes block the filter so they may not be ideal if your filter is not too strong or meant for heavy-duty use.

2. Fish flakes. Often coming in different colors, fish flakes are great for top swimmers and they don’t easily clog your system. They have more colorful designs and can be easily identified among other pet food.

The advantage of fish flakes is that they can be bought anywhere. They are ideal for fish that swim at the top and also for babies and breeding fish, or the little ones. Fish flakes can be crushed as opposed to solid pellets. Most of them also do not easily block or dirty your aquarium filter, so less hassle in cleaning can be achieved.

The disadvantage of fish flakes is that your fish may tend to swallow air. They are also not very ideal for fish who are too slow to see what’s up there on the surface. On some occasions, they may also become powdery and settle during shipping, so be careful when buying them.

How do I make sure I order the right food for guppies?

Here are things you should look for in choosing the best food for guppies:

1. How many guppies do you have? More guppies mean more mouths to feed with fish food.

 

2. What’s the breed of the guppies? Some species of guppies have a voracious appetite so you may want to feed them something special.

 

3. Are your guppies babies or adults? There is special food for guppy fry that is easily digestible.

 

4. What’s your tank size? Smaller tanks may require food that can be easily digested and dissolved by the fish.

 

5. What’s your tank filter like? Make sure that your food doesn’t clog up your tank filter, especially if it’s a not-so-powerful one.

How do I feed the food for guppies?

To feed them, you just take a pinch of either flakes or pellets and then feed them about 2 to 3 times a day. Be careful not to overfeed them. The sign is when you see that there are still many foods lurking around the aquarium. Be observant and make sure that your fish has finished the food and don’t give them too much to avoid clouding the aquarium water.

Conclusion

To wrap it up, our top pick for the best food for guppies is the TetraMin Plus Tropical Flakes because it includes real shrimp, has a natural aroma, and the container is easy to use. It’s also worth noting that it has a resilient flake design.

The flavor is good for picky eaters in general. Although the packaging may have some damage (depending on the batch you receive), it is a minor con and is a case-to-case basis.