Types Of Guppy Fish – What are Rare Guppy Fish Species

Guppies are known for their range of patterns, colors, and tail shapes, as you may have heard. This means you may have a wide variety of guppy species in your aquarium. Guppy species may be distinguished by a variety of characteristics, making them versatile and colorful species.

So, if you decide to introduce guppies into your home, you should be aware that they come in a variety of varieties, each of which has its own appeal, and that individuals occasionally demand varying costs for different fish species.

This Guppy Guide delves into the differences between over fifty distinct guppy species and how to tell them apart. Males are the more flashy fishes, so keep that in mind. Females are less showy and have fewer distinguishing characteristics. Female guppies are more difficult to distinguish from one another.

What are the Different Types of Guppy Fish?

Guppies belong to the Poeciliidae family, and their genus is Poecilia. Poecilia Reticulata, Poecilia Wingei, and Micropoecilia Picta are the three primary species of the genus. There are nearly 300 distinct varieties of Guppies in these three species, according to the most recent count. Guppy species are classified in a variety of ways. Breeders are continually generating new sorts of Guppies as a result of selective breeding.

A Quick Guide to the Different Guppy Breeds

While the actual number of Guppy Types fluctuates every time someone makes a new one, there are a few other ways to look at them.

• Guppy Types based on their tail
• Bottom swordtails
• Delta/Triangle Guppies with tails
• Guppies with two swordtails
• Guppies with Fan Tails
• Guppies with Fire Tails
• Guppies with Flag Tails
• Guppies with Halfmoon Tails
• Guppies with Lyre Tails
• Guppies with Needle or Pin Tails Round Tail Guppies
• Guppies with Spade or Coffer Tails
• Guppies with a Spear Tail
• Guppies with Sword Tails at the Top
• Guppies with Veil Tails

Body Color Patterns of Guppy Types

• Guppies with Cobras
• Snakeskin Guppies 
• Guppies in Tuxedos

Types of Guppy based on Tail Color Patterns

• Guppies in Glass
• Grass Guppies
• Lace Guppies
• Guppies with Leopard Prints
• Guppies in Mosaics

Colors Determine Guppy Types

• Albino Guppies
• Black Guppies
• White Guppies
• Blue Guppies
• Red Guppies 
• Green Guppies 
• Purple guppies
• Yellow guppies
• Guppies with two
• Guppies that are half and half
• Guppies in Metal
• Guppies in Platinum
• Guppies in Solid Colors

Pectoral Fin Guppy Types

• Guppies with Dumbo Ears

Guppy Eye Color Types

• Guppies with Dark Eyes
• Guppies with real red eyes
• Albino Guppies with Real Red Eyes

What Species of Guppy are There?

Guppies are divided into three types. Freshwater Guppies come in two varieties: Fancy or Common Guppies and Endlers Guppies. Swamp Guppies are a kind of guppy that dwells in brackish water.

1. Poecilia Reticulata

Guppies are also known as Common or Fancy Guppies. These are the guppies that are most commonly found in pet stores. They are the most common and popular type of guppy to keep as a pet.

They’re simple to maintain and reproduce. Because of their many diverse colors and forms, they are also known as rainbow fish or million fish. 

2. Poecilia wingei

The Endler Guppies are a popular name for these creatures. The Endler’s Livebearer is another name for them. These guppies are quite similar to their Fancy counterparts. They are, however, more difficult to get by at pet stores. The Endler guppy and the Fancy Guppy are easily crossbred.

3. Picta Micropoecilia

Swamp Guppies are the popular name for these creatures. The Scarlet Livebearer is another name for the Scarlet Livebearer. Guppies may be found throughout Central and South America. These guppies are not commonly found in aquariums or pet stores.

What is the type of Guppy Tail Shapes?

We can identify roughly 13 different varieties of guppy fish only by looking at their tails. This variation is the result of years of careful breeding, and the list is always growing as breeders create new varieties:

1. Guppies with Sword Tails on the Bottom

The Bottom Sword-Tail Guppy has a long sword-like protrusion on the bottom part of its oval-shaped tail. The sword-like beam descends downward from the body at a fifteen-degree angle. The shorter section of the tail, which resembles the tail of a Flag Tail Guppy, is normally roughly a third of the length of the body. The tail’s sword-like bottom can be as long as the Guppy.

2. Guppies with a delta or Triangle Tail

The Delta Tail Guppy, sometimes known as the Triangle Tail Guppy, has a triangle-shaped tail. The tail has straight edges and protrudes from the body at a seventy-degree angle. Their tail is roughly 4/3 of their body length.

A Delta or Triangle Guppy’s tail is shorter than that of a Vail Tail Guppy. Despite having a similar form, these tails are significantly broader than Veil Tails. The dorsal fin is long and flows as well.

3. Swordtail with two Tails

The tail form of the double Swordtail guppy distinguishes it from other guppy fish. The tail of the twin Swordtail guppy fish is similar to that of the Swordtail fish, but instead of one extended tail, it has two elongated tails fashioned like swords on either side of the tail base.

When the tail is only extended on one side of the tail, it produces two separate guppy kinds.

4. Guppies with Fan Tails

One of the biggest guppy tails belongs to the Fan Tail or Fantail Guppy. The tail breadth of a Guppy is around 75% of its whole length. Some tails are even longer than the Guppy’s entire length. The Guppy’s tail-fin extends out behind him like an open fan. On fan tail guppies, the dorsal fin is also longer than usual. It can extend up to one-third of the length of the tail fin. Fan Tail Guppies come in a variety of colors and patterns.

5. Guppies with a Flag or a Scarf Tail

The tail of the Flag Tail Guppy, sometimes known as the Scarf Tail Guppy, is short and rectangular. The Guppy’s body, from head to tail, is longer than usual, contributing to the rectangular form.

Some speculate that this Guppy is a mutation of the Delta Tail Guppy. The Flag Tail Guppy has one of the shortest tails of any guppie species.

6. Guppies with Halfmoon Tails

One of the biggest guppy tails belongs to the Halfmoon Tail Guppy. The tail is half-moon shaped and spreads out in the water. The curvature angle is 180 degrees. These guppies are very new and brightly colored.

7. Guppies with Lyre Tails

The Lyre Tail Guppy, also known as the Lyretail Guppy, has a similar tale to the Sword-Tail Guppy. The tail is in the form of a lyre. The top and bottom of the body extend up to 4/3 of the body’s length. The midsection, on the other hand, is just 2/3 the length of the body. Other interesting facts about these guppies include the fact that they are among the most colorful of all the guppies. They also develop faster than other guppies and are one of the tiniest guppies, measuring only 2.5 inches long.

8. Guppies with Pin or Needle Tails

The Pintail Guppy, sometimes known as the Needle Tail Guppy, is a unique species. The tail of this Guppy is shorter on the outside edges and grows larger as it approaches the center. The last tip is located in the center of the tail and can extend as far as the length of the Guppy’s body. The portions on each side of the needle that are shorter are roughly 2/3 the length of the body.

9. Guppies with a Round Tail

The Round Tail Guppy has a rounded tail and a short body. The circular tail resembles the tails of many wild guppies and might be one of the first guppy tails. The Guppy’s tail is nearly half the length of its body.

10. Guppies with a spade or a cofer tail

The Cofer Tail Guppy, Coffer Tail Guppy, and Cofertail Guppy are all names for the Spade Tail Guppy. Regardless of its various titles, they all allude to the tail’s form. One of the shorter tails, the tail is fashioned like a spade. The tail will be half the length of the body at its longest. Many scientists believe the Spade or Cofer Tail is a Round Tail Guppy mutation.

11. Guppies with a Spear Tail

The Spear Tail Guppy has a spearhead-shaped tail. At its widest point, the tail is as long as it is wide. The edges of the triangle curl inwards and meet in the center. This tail is thought to be a mutation of the Cofer Tail Guppy or the Round Tail Guppy, according to several scientists.

12. Guppies with Veil Tails

The Veil Tail Guppy has an isosceles triangle-shaped tail. From top to bottom, the tail features straight edges and a 45-degree angle. The Guppy’s tail is usually around the same length as its body.

13. Guppies with Sword-Tails at the Top

The only difference between the Top Sword-Tail Guppy and the Bottom Sword-Tail Guppy is that the tail ray is on top rather than on the bottom. The guppy’s sword-like ray at the apex of its tail can be as long as the guppy’s body. The remainder of the tail is Flag Style and measures approximately 2/3 the length of the body. The sword-like beam of the tail will either extend at the same angle as the body or at a fifteen-degree upward slant.

What are Guppy Body Types and Tail Color Patterns?

Body and Tail kinds are classified separately by certain fans, specialists, and breeders. Others combine them since the designs frequently encompass both body areas. Guppy designs can be found on either the body or the tail, or both.

1. Guppies with Cobras

The dots and stripes of the Cobra Guppy are distinctive. Because the spots aren’t perfect dots or circles, they’re called rosettes. Cobra guppies are available in a variety of hues, including Black, Blue, Green, and Red.

2. Guppy with Snakeskin

Guppies with snakeskin have a vertical pattern that runs the length of their body. These designs can sometimes mimic those of a tiger, and the colors used include gold, orange, and black.

3. Guppy in a Tuxedo

Guppies with two contrasting colors on the front and rear of their bodies are common. The color pattern is similar to that of a standard tuxedo, with the front of the body being brighter and the lower half of the body significantly darker.

4. Guppies in Glass

Glass guppies are translucent due to a genetic mutation that hinders the generation of guanine. Guanine is a silver dye that makes fish gleam and has the function of reflecting light and so avoiding transparency. It’s possible that black melanin in glass guppies falters as well, emphasizing the transparency of their bodies even more. Glass guppies are bred in the same way that albino guppies are.

5. Guppies with Leopard Tails

The Leopard Tail Guppy’s tail features leopard-like markings. The dots are usually deeper in color, almost black. Leopard markings can sometimes extend all over the body.

6. Guppies with Lace Tails

The Lace Tail Guppy has a unique, complicated pattern made up of lights and dark in a net-like arrangement. Snakeskin Guppies have a lot of different tail colors. Their tails are generally long and flowing in a fan form. Blues, reds, oranges, greens, and other vibrant hues are common among these guppies. They are categorized as part of the Snakeskin Guppy family for competition purposes since they are frequently found with the Snakeskin pattern.

7. Guppies with Fire Tails and Guppies with Dragon Heads

The Fire Tail Guppy is a one-of-a-kind guppy with a vivid orange-red tail. The tail is frequently characterized as having the appearance of underwater fire.

The Dragon Head Guppy has a two-tone body and a Fire Tail. Typically, a Tuxedo-style body with a lighter-colored head and a darker-colored rear half. This Guppy is a one-of-a-kind creature with a remarkable appearance.

8. Guppies with Grass Tails

The Grass Tail Guppy’s tail features little spots that resemble grass seeds. The tail pattern is similar to that of the Leopard Tail, but the dots are smaller.

9. Mosaic Guppies

Mosaic guppies have an uneven pattern on their tail that is joined together in a unique and unusual fashion. This style of design gives the tail a nice look, especially when it’s mixed with complementary or contrasting colors.

What are the Color-coded Guppy Types?

If you think there are a lot of different kinds of guppies based on their tail shapes and patterns, wait till you see how many different colors and color variants guppy fish have.

1. Guppies in Solid Colors

Any Solid Colored Guppies fall within this group. Black, white, red, blue, green, purple, and yellow is some of the colors available. They also contain hues like pink, which are frequently classified as one of the other colors. Guppies with a single hue on their bodies are known as Solid Color Guppies. They’re not as common as mixed-color guppies.

2. Guppy Albino

The albino guppy’s body is predominantly white, with flecks of different colors here and there. Their eyes may be soft pink or red, and their face may be soft pink as well.

All of these characteristics contribute to the albino guppy’s delicate appearance and elegance. Because their bodies don’t contain black melanin pigment, these fish don’t have the brilliant colors that we’re used to seeing in guppies. You may acquire reddish-white and yellow-white shades, all with soft, delicate tones, in addition to all-white and soft-pink types.

3. Guppies in White

A white guppy with black eyes is known as the White Guppy. Guppies are only white and have no other colors. Their hue is akin to a pearl white pastel or a milky white pastel.

4. Guppies in Black

The Black Guppy is a complete blackfish. Black Guppies, like White Guppies, have only one solid color. Black Guppies are uncommon since the coloration is difficult to obtain. In the wild, black guppies do not exist. Shows are great for small to mid-sized Black Guppies since their colors are more vibrant. When Black Guppies get too large, they begin to resemble a dark grey.

5. Guppies in Blue

The Blue Guppy is a Guppy with a single blue color or a mix of blue colors. These Guppies are a sight to behold. The look of these guppies varies depending on illumination and a variety of other variables.

6. Blue Guppy with Neon Colors

The Neon Blue Guppy is a kind of Blue Guppy with a brighter blue coloration than regular Blue Guppies. The blue coloration can range from turquoise to sky blue. Unless they have a pattern, these guppies are normally classified as blues at exhibits.

7. Blue Guppy of Japan

Because this color scheme is typical of the swordtail guppy, this blue guppy type is also known as the Japanese blue swordtail guppy or Japanese blue Endler guppy. From the mid-section to the end of their tails, they have a platinum baby blue tint on their bodies.

8. Guppies Jarawee Lazuli

Jarawee Lazuli Guppy takes its name from Jarawee Farms in Thailand, where it was raised, as well as the beautiful blue Lapis Lazuli-like hues it frequently displays. The brilliant blue heads of these fish are a rare characteristic created by an additional color gene.

9. Guppies in Green

The Green Guppy is a rare Solid Color Guppy species. The majority of “Green” guppies are actually blue-green guppies. A true solid green guppy is extremely rare and costly. These Guppies are difficult to breed since the colors of the progeny are difficult to predict. They are very new, and because they require specialist breeding, they will never be seen in the wild.

10. Guppies in purple

Purple Guppy is a unique breed that was only recently developed. It can be difficult to come by and can be rather costly. These guppies come in a wide range of brilliant purple hues. They might be a single color or a combination of colors.

11. Guppies in Red

The Red Guppy comes in a variety of red colors, ranging from orangey-red to maroon-red. They might be plain red or have a patterned red design. They can also be reddish-gold metallic in appearance.

12. The Yellow Guppy

The Yellow Guppy possesses a “blonde” gene that causes it to lose its black pigmentation. Yellows aren’t always as bright as the other hues. They do, however, have a metallic-looking color. Their unique “gene” makes them difficult to reproduce and hence difficult to locate. They are one of the most uncommon and costly guppies.

13. Guppy in Bronze

The bronze guppy, a variant of the gold guppy, must have at least 25% of its body in gold hue and must have black scales.

14. Golden Guppy

The golden guppy, like the bronze guppy, must have a body color of at least 25% gold to be designated a golden strain.

15. Blue Guppy, Half-Black

The black half of this guppy’s body is covered in various colors of blue, while the other half is covered in various shades of blue.

16. Half-Black Green Guppy

With a black half-body and green with gold tones and even different colors on the other half, this half-black guppy species is difficult to procreate.

17. Half-Black Red Guppy

With one-half of the body black and the rest covered in red, including tails and fins, this guppy strain is a sight to behold.

18. Guppies in two colors

Guppies with only two colors are known as bi-colored Guppies. They can be Half-and-Half Guppies or guppies with as low as 25% of one color and 75% of the other hue.

19. Bi-Color Guppies (Blue-Green)

The Bi-Color Blue-Green Guppy’s primary color is either blue or green. The second color is present in a lower percentage of twenty-five percent or more of the time. The color and design of the Tail-fin and Dorsal Fin must match.

20. Bi-color Guppies in Red

The Bi-Color Red Guppy has a red base hue. To be categorized as a Red Bi-color, the tail must have at least twenty-five percent of the other hue. Furthermore, the additional color must be non-red.

21. Guppies, half and half

Guppies that are half black and half another color are known as Half and Half Guppies. They can be exactly half or a seventy-five percent black, twenty-five percent color combination. The Tuxedo Trait is shared by the Half and Half Guppy, however, instead of being black and white, they are black and color.

22. Guppies with a half-black, half-blue color scheme

Half-Black, Half-Blue Guppies has a black tail and can have half of their bodies black and half of their bodies blue. They can also have more blue on the body and tail with only a minor bit of black.

23. Guppies that are half black and half green

Half-Black Green Guppys are just as uncommon as their Solid Green counterparts. A guppy must have a real green hue of twenty-five to fifty percent to be categorized as Half Black Green. The back, body, and tail of the fish will be black.

24. Guppies that are half black and half purple

The Half-Black Purple Guppy is a very unusual species. Its body and fins can only be black and purple. They can’t have any other designs on their tails or bodies, either. The coloration of the Half Black Purple Guppy ranges from twenty-five to fifty percent purple and fifty to seventy-five percent black.

25. Guppies that are half black and half red

The Half-Black Red Guppy is distinguished by its red head, black body, and red fins. Black coloration can cover anywhere from 50% to 75% of the body. Twenty-five to fifty percent of the body is colored red.

26. Guppies that are half black and half yellow

The Half-Black Yellow Guppy is an uncommon guppy because the yellow disappears with each generation. Their bodies are typically dark black, with yellow faces, fins, and tails.

27. Guppies that are half black and half pastel

Any pastel hue except yellow can be used for the Half Black Pastel Guppy’s face and fins. A white pastel color is the most prevalent. Blue, red (or pink), green, and even the rare purple pastel hue can also be seen.

28. Guppies koi

The Koi Guppy’s color pattern is similar to that of a koi fish. Their cheeks and tails are red, while their bodies are white. Koi Guppies are one of the only guppy species in which the females have identical colors to the males.

29. Guppies in Metal

Bronze, Golden, or Iridophore Guppy are the three types of Metallic Guppy. Iridophore Guppies have metallic-looking scales that change color depending on their surroundings. The Iridophore Metallic Guppy may conceal from predators because of this.

30. Guppies from Moscow

The Moscow Guppy is a one-of-a-kind guppy bred in Russia. They’re a rare and pricey Guppy breed. If you breed a Moscoe Guppy to anything other than a Moscow Guppy, the line will get diluted, and you will eventually have no Moscow Guppy offspring. Guppies of this kind are usually solid colors, such as black, blue, green, or purple. They are larger, longer, and frequently fancier than other guppies, with larger, longer, and often fancier stories.

31. Guppies in a variety of colors

Guppies with more than two colors on their bodies are known as multi-colored or multi-color guppies. Their tails generally have three or four unique colors. At least 15% of the tail must be covered in each color. The patterned guppy category is where you’ll see these guppies most commonly.

32. Panda Guppies

The Panda Guppy has a striking color scheme. It’s a brand-new breed with darker coloration around the eyes, dorsal fins, and body center. They have markings that resemble those of a Panda. The Panda Guppy is usually a lighter color, such as white, with dark blue or black patterning.

33. Guppies of any color (AOC)

The AOC, or Any Other Color, is a term used to describe a group of people Guppy refers to guppies that do not fit into any of the other categories. They can be a blend of pink and yellow, blue and purple, or just about any other color you can think of.

34. Guppies with solid colors

These guppies come in a variety of hues, including blue, yellow, red, and even black, and they have a single consistent color on their body and fins.

What are the types of Pectoral Fin Guppy?

The pectoral fins of most Guppies are rather tiny. There is one variety of Guppy, though, that has a unique pair of pectoral fins.

Guppies with Dumbo Ears

The Dumbo Ear Guppy gets its name from its huge pectoral fins, not its big ears. They’re so big that when the Guppy swims, they look like a dumbo’s ears flapping. This sort of Guppy comes in a wide range of colors and designs.

What is the type of Guppy Eye Color?

The majority of guppies have dark eyes. There is, however, a kind of Guppy with vivid red eyes. In this category, there are two varieties of guppies.

1. Guppies with real red eyes

The eyes of the Real Red Eye Guppy are vivid red. This Guppy does not have the albino characteristic and can be any color of the rainbow instead. The Real Red Eye Guppy is a rare guppy that is smaller and has shorter tail fins than other guppy species.

2. Albino Guppies with Real Red Eyes

The Real Deal With Red Eye The eyes of the Albino Guppy have vivid pink color. This distinguishes them from Albino Guppies, who have dark red eyes.

3. Guppies Mut

The Mut Guppy is the guppy with the largest genetic diversity. It is available in a variety of colors and designs. It can have any form of a tail. These are the guppies that breeders wish to get rid of since they were born but lack the necessary attribute. If you’re seeking a certain characteristic, it’ll be difficult to breed these guppies because of the variability within the species. They have so many potential characteristics that it’s impossible to anticipate how the infants will appear. If you’re only searching for cute Guppies, though, these will do just fine. 

What are the Other Species of Guppy Fish?

There are several varieties of guppy to pick from. The Female Guppy and the Mut Guppy are two species that don’t fit into any of the above categories.

Guppies that are female

Guppies are bigger in females than in males. Male guppy color is usually more bright than female guppy coloring. They do, however, have color differences that are identical to those seen in males.

They have huge fins as well, albeit the form is less distinct than in males. A black gravid mark that darkens when the female gets pregnant is one method to distinguish a female, in addition to the more subdued color.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line on Types Of Guppy Fish

The guppy world is wide and diverse, and you’ll be in for a treat if you ever decide to start breeding guppies professionally.

With so many kinds being created, it’s easy to see how this list of 50+ sorts of guppies might change dramatically in the coming years. Some guppy strains are more difficult to come by, which increases their value and allows them to sell for a greater price. With so many various kinds of guppies to choose from, you’ll always have something fresh to look forward to.