Assorted Moscow Guppies (Poecilia reticulata) – Tank Bred
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Species Overview
Assorted Moscow Guppies (Poecilia reticulata) are among the most striking freshwater livebearers in the aquarium hobby, celebrated for their rich metallic coloration, flowing finnage, and active personalities. This assortment showcases the beauty and diversity of the Moscow strain, with each fish displaying its own unique combination of deep blues, blacks, greens, purples, and other metallic hues. Whether you choose a vibrant male, a graceful female, or a breeding pair, Assorted Moscow Guppies bring constant movement, brilliant color, and endless interest to planted community aquariums.
Our Assorted Moscow Guppies are tank bred, with many sourced from experienced local breeders who share our commitment to producing healthy, high quality aquarium fish. Captive breeding produces hardy, adaptable fish that transition well to home aquariums while helping reduce collection pressure on wild populations. Because these guppies are offered as an assorted selection, every fish is unique, making each order a one of a kind addition to your aquarium. Males develop the most intense metallic coloration and flowing finnage, while females display more subtle beauty and are an excellent choice for breeding projects or balanced community aquariums.
At Aquatic Arts, we recommend Assorted Moscow Guppies for hobbyists of every experience level. Their peaceful temperament, ease of care, and compatibility with live plants, freshwater shrimp, snails, and other community fish make them one of the most versatile freshwater fish available. Whether you're setting up your first planted aquarium, adding vibrant new genetics to an established guppy colony, or creating a thriving community aquarium, Assorted Moscow Guppies are a rewarding choice that will continue to impress as they mature.
What We Love About This Fish
- Unique Metallic Coloration – Every Assorted Moscow Guppy displays its own blend of rich metallic colors, making each fish truly one of a kind.
- Hardy and Adaptable – Tank bred for excellent health, these guppies adapt quickly to established home aquariums.
- Peaceful Community Fish – A fantastic choice for planted aquariums alongside other peaceful fish, freshwater shrimp, and snails.
- Male, Female, or Pair Options – Choose the perfect option for display, breeding, or growing your existing guppy colony.
Aquatic Arts Quick Care Guide
Care Level: Beginner. A hardy and adaptable livebearer that is an excellent choice for both first-time and experienced aquarium hobbyists.
Temperament: Peaceful. Assorted Moscow Guppies thrive in community aquariums with other non-aggressive fish and freshwater invertebrates.
Diet: Omnivore. Readily accepts high quality flakes, pellets, frozen foods, and live foods for optimal health and coloration.
Origin: Tank Bred. Many fish are sourced from experienced local breeders, producing hardy, adaptable guppies well suited for home aquariums.
Adult Size: Up to 2 inches (5 cm). Males are typically smaller and more colorful, while females grow slightly larger with a fuller body.
Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons. Larger aquariums provide more stable water conditions and additional swimming space for groups or breeding colonies.
Swimming Zone: Upper to Middle Water Column. Active swimmers that spend much of the day exploring open water while interacting with plants and tank mates.
Breeding: Livebearer. One of the easiest freshwater fish to breed, with females giving birth to fully formed free-swimming fry.
Purchase Size: Approximately 1 to 1.25 inches. Fish are juvenile to young adult and will continue to develop their full size and coloration with proper care.
Water Parameters
Temperature: 72–82°F (22–28°C). Stable tropical temperatures promote vibrant coloration, healthy growth, and long-term success.
pH: 7.0–8.2. Assorted Moscow Guppies thrive in neutral to moderately alkaline water and adapt well to a wide range of stable aquarium conditions.
General Hardness (GH): 8–18 dGH (140–320 ppm). Moderate to hard water supports healthy development, vibrant coloration, and successful breeding.
Carbonate Hardness (KH): 4–12 dKH (70–215 ppm). Maintaining adequate carbonate hardness helps stabilize pH and creates ideal conditions for guppies.
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): 180–400 ppm. While adaptable, Moscow Guppies generally perform best in moderately mineralized water with stable parameters.
Origin: Tank Bred. Assorted Moscow Guppies are produced in captivity, with many fish sourced from experienced local breeders who share our commitment to producing healthy, high quality aquarium fish. While the Moscow strain is a selectively bred ornamental variety that does not occur naturally in the wild, it traces its ancestry to the Wild Guppy (Poecilia reticulata), a species native to northern South America and several Caribbean islands.
Wild Guppies are naturally found in slow moving streams, creeks, ponds, canals, and other shallow freshwater habitats with abundant aquatic vegetation. These environments typically feature warm, mineral-rich water, submerged roots, leaf litter, and gentle water movement that provide shelter, feeding opportunities, and ideal conditions for reproduction.
Although Assorted Moscow Guppies have been selectively bred for their brilliant metallic coloration and flowing finnage, they retain the active, curious, and social behavior that has made guppies one of the world's most popular freshwater aquarium fish. Providing a well planted aquarium with open swimming areas, stable water parameters, and a varied diet allows these beautiful livebearers to display their natural behaviors while thriving in the home aquarium.
Aquascaping & Habitat
Creating an aquarium that reflects the natural behaviors of Assorted Moscow Guppies begins with balancing open swimming space and dense plant cover. These active livebearers spend much of their time exploring the upper and middle water column, so an aquarium with open areas for swimming and pockets of vegetation for security allows them to display their natural behavior while showcasing their brilliant metallic coloration.
Live plants such as Java Fern, Anubias, Cryptocoryne, Vallisneria, Water Sprite, and floating plants provide shelter for fry, encourage natural exploration, and help maintain excellent water quality. Floating plants are especially beneficial because they diffuse bright lighting and create a more comfortable environment while allowing guppies to display confidently.
Natural driftwood, smooth river stones, and subtle botanical accents create a beautiful freshwater aquascape without reducing valuable swimming space. While Moscow Guppies do not require heavy tannins, occasional additions of Catappa Leaves or other Aquatic Arts botanicals can support a healthy aquarium ecosystem by encouraging biofilm development and providing additional grazing opportunities for shrimp and other beneficial invertebrates.
Assorted Moscow Guppies thrive in peaceful planted community aquariums where every inhabitant serves a different role. Pairing them with Neocaridina Shrimp, Amano Shrimp, Nerite Snails, Corydoras, and Otocinclus creates a balanced ecosystem in which shrimp graze on biofilm, snails help clean hard surfaces, bottom dwellers forage along the substrate, and guppies provide constant movement and vibrant color throughout the aquarium.
Assorted Moscow Guppies are opportunistic omnivores that naturally feed on small aquatic insects, insect larvae, microcrustaceans, algae, biofilm, and plant matter. This varied diet provides the protein, vitamins, and minerals needed to support their active lifestyle, brilliant coloration, and continuous growth.
In the home aquarium, Assorted Moscow Guppies readily accept a wide variety of high quality prepared foods. A premium tropical flake or small community fish pellet should serve as the foundation of their diet, supplemented several times each week with frozen or live foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia, microworms, or bloodworms. A varied diet encourages stronger immune systems, improved coloration, and more natural feeding behavior.
Because guppies have small stomachs and fast metabolisms, they benefit from being fed small portions two to three times each day rather than one large meal. Feed only what they can consume within a few minutes to maintain excellent water quality and reduce unnecessary waste.
For hobbyists interested in breeding or maximizing coloration, increasing the variety of protein-rich live and frozen foods can significantly improve body condition, finnage development, and reproductive success. Occasional spirulina-based foods or vegetable-rich diets also provide additional nutrients that support long-term health and vibrant coloration.
Assorted Moscow Guppies are among the most peaceful and adaptable freshwater community fish available. Their active personalities, small adult size, and gentle temperament allow them to thrive alongside a wide variety of similarly peaceful species. They do best in aquariums with fish that share comparable water parameters and will not nip their flowing fins or outcompete them during feeding.
Recommended Fish Tank Mates
- Ember Tetra (Hyphessobrycon amandae) – Peaceful schooling fish that occupy the middle water column and complement the vibrant colors of Moscow Guppies without competing for territory.
- Harlequin Rasbora (Trigonostigma heteromorpha) – Calm, active schooling fish that thrive under similar water conditions and add beautiful contrast to planted community aquariums.
- Celestial Pearl Danio (Danio margaritatus) – A colorful nano species that enjoys densely planted aquariums and peacefully coexists with Moscow Guppies.
- Pygmy Corydoras (Corydoras pygmaeus) – Small bottom-dwelling catfish that help utilize the lower portions of the aquarium while remaining completely peaceful.
- Otocinclus (Otocinclus spp.) – Gentle algae-grazing catfish that thrive in mature planted aquariums and make excellent companions for Moscow Guppies.
- Kuhli Loach (Pangio kuhlii) – Peaceful nocturnal bottom dwellers that spend most of their time among plants and hardscape, adding activity to areas of the aquarium rarely occupied by guppies.
- Honey Gourami (Trichogaster chuna) – A peaceful centerpiece fish that shares similar water requirements and adds personality without intimidating or harassing guppies.
- Other Guppies (Poecilia reticulata) – Moscow Guppies can be mixed with other peaceful guppy varieties, although hobbyists interested in maintaining pure bloodlines should avoid crossbreeding different strains.
Fish to Use with Caution
Larger peaceful fish such as Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) or larger Gourami species may coexist successfully in spacious aquariums, but individual personalities vary. Closely monitor interactions, especially with long-finned male guppies, as occasional fin nipping or territorial behavior may occur.
Fish to Avoid
Avoid housing Assorted Moscow Guppies with aggressive cichlids, large predatory fish, or persistent fin nippers such as Tiger Barbs (Puntigrus tetrazona). These species may stress Moscow Guppies, damage their flowing fins, or outcompete them during feeding, resulting in poor health and diminished coloration.
Aquatic Arts Recommendation: Assorted Moscow Guppies truly shine in heavily planted community aquariums where they can be combined with peaceful schooling fish, bottom-dwelling catfish, freshwater shrimp, snails, and live plants. Building a diverse aquarium with species that naturally occupy different areas of the tank creates a healthy, balanced ecosystem while allowing every fish to display its natural behaviors.
Assorted Moscow Guppies are one of our favorite fish to keep alongside freshwater shrimp. Their peaceful temperament, small adult size, and active yet non-aggressive behavior make them excellent companions for many shrimp species. While adult shrimp are generally ignored, newly hatched shrimplets may occasionally be eaten. Heavily planted aquariums with dense mosses, floating plants, and natural hiding places greatly improve shrimplet survival.
- Neocaridina Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) – An outstanding choice for planted community aquariums. Adult shrimp coexist peacefully with Moscow Guppies, while mosses and dense vegetation provide excellent refuge for newly hatched shrimplets.
- Amano Shrimp (Caridina multidentata) – One of our favorite pairings. Their larger adult size makes them ideal companions, and their exceptional algae-eating abilities help maintain a clean, balanced aquarium.
- Caridina Shrimp – Peaceful companions when maintained within compatible water parameters. Mature planted aquariums with abundant cover provide the best long-term success.
- Bamboo Shrimp (Atyopsis moluccensis) – Gentle filter feeders that occupy a completely different ecological niche. Moscow Guppies rarely interact with Bamboo Shrimp, making them an excellent addition to peaceful community aquariums.
- Vampire Shrimp (Atya gabonensis) – Large filter-feeding shrimp that coexist exceptionally well with Moscow Guppies. Providing moderate water flow and shaded hiding places allows Vampire Shrimp to feed naturally while guppies occupy the upper and middle water column.
Breeding Difficulty: Easy
Reproduction Type: Livebearer
Assorted Moscow Guppies are among the easiest freshwater fish to breed, making them an excellent choice for hobbyists interested in observing livebearing behavior or raising their own fish. Unlike egg-laying species, female guppies carry developing fry internally and give birth to fully formed, free-swimming young approximately every 28 to 30 days under ideal conditions.
For the best breeding success, maintain one male with two or three females. This ratio helps distribute the male's attention among multiple females, reducing stress while encouraging regular reproduction. Dense plant growth, floating plants, and fine-leaved species such as Java Moss provide valuable shelter for newborn fry and greatly improve their chances of survival in community aquariums.
A varied diet of high quality prepared foods supplemented with frozen and live foods helps condition breeding adults and supports healthy fry development. Excellent water quality, stable water parameters, and regular maintenance are far more important than attempting to manipulate water chemistry to encourage breeding.
Because Assorted Moscow Guppies are offered as an assorted color strain, offspring may display a wide range of colors, patterns, and finnage. Hobbyists interested in maintaining or improving specific Moscow characteristics should selectively breed only their best individuals and avoid mixing different guppy strains if preserving the distinctive traits of the Moscow line is the goal.
Aquatic Arts Tip: If your goal is to raise the greatest number of fry, provide dense mosses, floating plants, or a dedicated grow-out aquarium where young guppies can mature safely away from hungry adults. Well-fed adult guppies are less likely to prey on their own fry, but some losses should still be expected in community aquariums.
Buying & Selection
Are Assorted Moscow Guppies good for beginners?
Yes. Assorted Moscow Guppies are one of the best freshwater fish for beginner aquarium hobbyists. They are hardy, adaptable, peaceful, and easy to care for, making them an excellent choice for planted and community aquariums.
Should I choose a male, female, or breeding pair?
Male Assorted Moscow Guppies display the brightest metallic colors and longest finnage, making them ideal display fish. Females are slightly larger with more subtle coloration and are recommended for breeding projects. A breeding pair is an excellent choice for hobbyists interested in raising their own guppies.
How many Assorted Moscow Guppies should I keep together?
Assorted Moscow Guppies are social fish and are happiest in groups of at least three to six individuals. If keeping both sexes together, maintaining one male for every two to three females helps reduce stress on individual females.
Will my Assorted Moscow Guppies look exactly like the photos?
No. Because these are offered as an assorted strain, every Assorted Moscow Guppy displays its own unique combination of metallic colors, patterns, and finnage. The photos represent the overall quality and variety you can expect, but each fish is truly one of a kind.
What size Assorted Moscow Guppies will I receive?
Most Assorted Moscow Guppies are approximately 1 to 1.25 inches at the time of purchase and will continue to develop their adult size, coloration, and finnage as they mature.
Aquarium Care
What size aquarium do Assorted Moscow Guppies need?
A 10-gallon aquarium is suitable for a small group of Assorted Moscow Guppies, although larger aquariums provide greater swimming space, improved stability, and additional room for community fish.
Can Assorted Moscow Guppies live in a planted aquarium?
Absolutely. Assorted Moscow Guppies thrive in planted aquariums where live plants provide shelter, improve water quality, reduce stress, and create excellent hiding places for fry.
What water parameters do Assorted Moscow Guppies prefer?
Assorted Moscow Guppies thrive in stable tropical aquariums with temperatures between 72 and 82°F, a pH of 7.0 to 8.2, and moderately hard to hard water.
What should I feed Assorted Moscow Guppies?
Assorted Moscow Guppies are omnivores that thrive on a varied diet of high quality flakes or small pellets supplemented with frozen and live foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia, and bloodworms.
How often should I feed Assorted Moscow Guppies?
Feed Assorted Moscow Guppies small portions two to three times each day, offering only as much food as they can consume within a few minutes.
How long do Assorted Moscow Guppies live?
With proper care, Assorted Moscow Guppies typically live between 2 and 4 years.
Fish Compatibility
Can Assorted Moscow Guppies live with Corydoras?
Yes. Corydoras are one of the best companions for Assorted Moscow Guppies because they peacefully occupy the bottom of the aquarium while guppies remain primarily in the upper and middle water column.
Can Assorted Moscow Guppies live with Otocinclus?
Yes. Otocinclus are peaceful algae-grazing catfish that thrive in mature planted aquariums and make outstanding companions for Assorted Moscow Guppies.
Can Assorted Moscow Guppies live with Plecos?
Yes. Smaller peaceful species such as Bristlenose Plecos and Clown Plecos are excellent choices. Avoid very large plecos that may outgrow the aquarium or compete for space.
Can Assorted Moscow Guppies live with Tetras?
Yes. Peaceful tetras such as Ember Tetras, Cardinal Tetras, Black Neon Tetras, and Von Rio Tetras make excellent community fish alongside Assorted Moscow Guppies.
Can Assorted Moscow Guppies live with Rasboras?
Yes. Harlequin Rasboras, Chili Rasboras, and other peaceful rasbora species share similar water parameters and complement the active nature of Assorted Moscow Guppies.
Can Assorted Moscow Guppies live with Gouramis?
Yes. Honey Gouramis and Sparkling Gouramis are peaceful species that coexist exceptionally well with Assorted Moscow Guppies.
Can Assorted Moscow Guppies live with Rainbowfish?
Yes. Most dwarf rainbowfish are excellent companions for Assorted Moscow Guppies. Larger rainbowfish can also work in spacious aquariums provided they are peaceful and not overly boisterous.
Can Assorted Moscow Guppies live with White Cloud Mountain Minnows or Celestial Pearl Danios?
Yes. Both species are peaceful community fish that thrive in planted aquariums and make excellent tank mates for Assorted Moscow Guppies.
Shrimp & Snail Compatibility
Can Assorted Moscow Guppies live with Neocaridina Shrimp?
Yes. Adult Neocaridina Shrimp are excellent companions. Dense mosses, plants, and hardscape provide valuable cover that helps protect newly hatched shrimplets.
Can Assorted Moscow Guppies live with Amano Shrimp?
Absolutely. Amano Shrimp are one of our favorite companions because their larger adult size and exceptional algae-eating abilities make them ideal additions to planted community aquariums.
Can Assorted Moscow Guppies live with Caridina Shrimp?
Yes. Assorted Moscow Guppies generally coexist well with Caridina Shrimp when both species are maintained within compatible water parameters and provided with abundant cover.
Can Assorted Moscow Guppies live with Bamboo Shrimp or Vampire Shrimp?
Yes. Both Bamboo Shrimp and Vampire Shrimp are peaceful filter feeders that occupy a different ecological niche, making them excellent additions to mature community aquariums.
Will Assorted Moscow Guppies eat baby shrimp?
They may occasionally consume newly hatched shrimplets. Heavy plant growth, mosses, and natural hiding places greatly improve juvenile shrimp survival.
Can Assorted Moscow Guppies live with Nerite Snails, Mystery Snails, or Rabbit Snails?
Yes. Nerite Snails, Mystery Snails, and Rabbit Snails are all peaceful cleanup crew members that coexist exceptionally well with Assorted Moscow Guppies.
Breeding & Reproduction
Do Assorted Moscow Guppies breed easily?
Yes. Assorted Moscow Guppies are among the easiest freshwater fish to breed, making them an excellent choice for hobbyists interested in raising livebearing fish.
Will adult Assorted Moscow Guppies eat their fry?
Yes. Adult Assorted Moscow Guppies may consume some newborn fry. Dense plant growth, floating plants, and dedicated grow-out aquariums significantly improve fry survival.
Can I keep Assorted Moscow Guppies with other guppy varieties?
Yes, but use caution if you plan to breed them. Different guppy strains readily crossbreed, producing offspring with unpredictable colors, patterns, and finnage. To preserve the distinctive characteristics of the Moscow strain, maintain a dedicated breeding colony separate from other guppy varieties.
Why are my Assorted Moscow Guppies chasing each other?
This behavior is usually normal, particularly among males displaying to females or establishing a social hierarchy. Providing plenty of swimming space, plants, and the proper male-to-female ratio helps minimize excessive chasing.
Are Assorted Moscow Guppies better for beginners than Endler's Livebearers?
Both are excellent beginner fish. Assorted Moscow Guppies are known for their larger size, elaborate finnage, and incredible color variety, while Endler's Livebearers remain smaller, more active, and often retain a more natural appearance.
Shipping & Ordering
How are Assorted Moscow Guppies shipped?
Every Assorted Moscow Guppy is carefully packed in our Aquatic Arts Live Arrival Guarantee Box using insulated packaging and weather-appropriate materials to help ensure your fish arrive healthy and in excellent condition.
Are Assorted Moscow Guppies covered by the Aquatic Arts Live Arrival Guarantee?
Yes. Every Assorted Moscow Guppy is carefully quarantined, observed, and conditioned before shipment and is backed by our 100% Live Arrival Guarantee.
For the safety of our animals, we only ship live fish, crabs, and select other inverts exclusively via UPS 1 Day Air. If your order contains this item, you will only see UPS 1 Day Air as a shipping option during checkout. If other items are in your cart that can ship with 2 day or standard shipping options the only shipping method you can still select is UPS 1 Day Air.
UPS 1 Day is a description of the duration of time a shipment will spend in transit once it has been shipped. This does not guarantee the package will be shipped the same or next day from which the order was placed.
Shipping Schedule for this service
Current Handling Time:
1-9 business days
Here at Aquatic Arts, we consider the welfare of the live animals we are shipping to be of the foremost importance. This process is much more involved than simply creating a shipping label and affixing it to a box. Depending on the order, it takes from 4 to 7 people to complete this process properly. We check the weather conditions here where they fly out of the Indianapolis UPS facility and the destination for each shipment. We start early each morning and go through a multi-step process to have the day's shipments prepared in time for the UPS pickup. The volume of orders in our system also affects the processing time. Therefore our stated handling time is 1-9 business days.
Shipping Rate
Pricing is by size of package needed to fill entire order and distance it must travel. It will be calculated at checkout.
We stand behind the health and quality of every fish we offer. Each Assorted Moscow Guppy is carefully quarantined, observed, and conditioned before shipment to help ensure it arrives healthy, active, and ready to thrive in its new aquarium.
Every fish order ships in our Aquatic Arts Live Arrival Guarantee Box at no additional charge. Each shipment is professionally packed using insulated packaging and weather-appropriate heat or cold packs when necessary to help maintain safe temperatures throughout transit.
Every Assorted Moscow Guppy is backed by our 100% Live Arrival Guarantee. If your fish arrive with any issues, please complete our DOA Claim Form as soon as possible and include all required photographs and order information. This allows our Customer Support Team to review your claim and provide the fastest possible resolution. You can access the claim form here:
DOA Claim Form: aquaticarts.com/pages/doa-claim
If you have questions about your order or need additional assistance, please contact us at info@aquaticarts.com.
For complete details about our Live Arrival Guarantee, claim requirements, and reporting process, please visit our Live Arrival Guarantee page:
Live Arrival Guarantee: aquaticarts.com/pages/live-arrival-guarantee
Best Fishes,
The Aquatic Arts Team