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Guppy

Poecilia reticulata

Fish · family Poeciliidae · order Cyprinodontiformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Longest recorded life
5 years[3]

The guppy is a small fish in the family Poeciliidae[4]. It is not native to the United States, and NatureServe lists it as introduced in seven states[5].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the guppy a global rank of G5, which means Secure[2]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[6]. The guppy is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. In the seven states where it is recorded, NatureServe gives it the state rank SNA in each of them[7]. USGS calls it a nonindigenous aquatic species in parts of the country[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[6] Least concern
USGS nonindigenous aquatic species[8] Listed as exotic in parts of the US

Where Guppy lives

NatureServe lists the guppy as introduced, not native, in Arizona, Florida, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas and Wyoming[5]. GBIF observation records come most often from Hawaii, West Virginia, Nevada, New Mexico and California[9]. These counts follow how much people look and report, not how many fish live there[9].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: introduced, state rank SNAIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: introduced, state rank SNANVWyoming: introduced, state rank SNAWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: introduced, state rank SNAAZNew Mexico: introduced, state rank SNANMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: introduced, state rank SNATXFlorida: introduced, state rank SNAFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[7].
Show state ranks (7 states)
StateRankMeaning
ArizonaSNANot Applicable
FloridaSNANot Applicable
IdahoSNANot Applicable
NevadaSNANot Applicable
New MexicoSNANot Applicable
TexasSNANot Applicable
WyomingSNANot Applicable

Habitat

NatureServe records the guppy in creeks, springs and spring brooks, low gradient streams and pools[10]. It is found in shallow, warm, weedy waters[11]. In the US, introduced groups have turned up in warm springs and canal systems[11].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[10]

Size, diet and lifespan

The guppy is an invertivore, which is the food habit NatureServe records for adults[12]. Its main food is insect larvae[13]. Typical length recorded by NatureServe is 5 cm (2 in)[14]. NatureServe records the guppy as ovoviparous and notes extremely high fecundity[15]. The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 5 years, and this is a record, not a typical lifespan[3].

Trait Value
Typical length[14] 5 cm (2 in)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[3] 5 years (wild)
Food habits[12] Invertivore
Migration[16] non-migrant

When to look for it

NatureServe lists the guppy as a non-migrant, though groups can differ[16]. GBIF observation records in the US are highest in July, August and December[17]. These records show when people look and report, not how many fish there are[17].

January: 29 recordsJanFebruary: 11 recordsFebMarch: 25 recordsMarApril: 25 recordsAprMay: 14 recordsMayJune: 36 recordsJunJuly: 83 recordsJulAugust: 59 recordsAugSeptember: 41 recordsSepOctober: 21 recordsOctNovember: 25 recordsNovDecember: 78 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[17].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January29
February11
March25
April25
May14
June36
July83
August59
September41
October21
November25
December78

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Guppy as present in 4 park units[18]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Hawaii, West Virginia, Nevada, New Mexico, California[9]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the guppy endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5, Secure[2].
Is the guppy native to the United States?
No. NatureServe lists it as introduced in Arizona, Florida, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas and Wyoming[5].
What does the guppy eat?
It is an invertivore and feeds mainly on insect larvae[12][13].
How big is a guppy?
The typical length recorded by NatureServe is 5 cm (2 in)[14].
How long does a guppy live?
The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 5 years[3]. This is a record, not a typical lifespan.

Facts and sources

  1. Guppy is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Guppy: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 5 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  4. Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) is a fish in the family Poeciliidae, order Cyprinodontiformes. NatureServe Explorer
  5. NatureServe lists Guppy as introduced (not native) in: Arizona, Florida, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, Wyoming. NatureServe Explorer
  6. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  7. NatureServe state ranks for Guppy (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  8. USGS lists Guppy as a nonindigenous aquatic species in parts of the United States (exotic). USGS NAS
  9. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Guppy: Hawaii, West Virginia, Nevada, New Mexico, California. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  10. Habitat types NatureServe records for Guppy: Creek, Spring/spring brook, Low gradient, Pool. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe notes on habitat for Guppy. NatureServe Explorer
  12. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on food for Guppy. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 5 cm (2 in). NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Guppy. NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe migration category for Guppy: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  17. GBIF observation records of Guppy in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  18. NPSpecies park lists recording Guppy as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.