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Guppy Breeds

Guppy breed directory

Explore guppy breeds by color, pattern, and strain.

From deep metallic Moscow guppies to spotted Leopard tails and bright Koi patterns, use this directory to find a guppy look you love and jump straight into the full breed guides already available on Guppy Guide.

Find My GuppyBrowse full breed guidesSee the variety index
A variety of colorful fancy guppy breeds swimming in a bright planted aquarium

Start with the look you notice first

Guppy names often describe a mixture of color, pattern, body coverage, fin shape, and breeding line. That means two guppies can share one trait while looking very different overall. The easiest way to browse is to start with the feature you care about most, then open the individual guide for the exact strain.

Browse your way

Choose the type of guppy look you want

Moscow strainsSolid metallic blues, greens, purples, blacks, reds, and related lines.Patterned guppiesLeopard, Cobra, Lace, Mosaic, Grass, Tuxedo, and other patterned varieties.Specialty strainsKoi, Dragon, Panda, Metalhead, Galaxy, Medusa, and other distinctive lines.Tail and fin typesDelta, fan, sword, lyretail, Dumbo Ear, ribbon, and other fin shapes.
Variety index

Browse guppy varieties by group

Linked names below already have full guides on the site. The other names are included as useful reference points for future pages and for recognizing common breeder and store labels.

Moscow strains

Known for strong metallic body coverage and coordinated fin color.

Black MoscowBlue MoscowGreen MoscowPurple MoscowRed MoscowSilver MoscowPlatinum MoscowAlbino MoscowMetal MoscowBlue Green MoscowDark Blue MoscowDragon Moscow

Koi, Dragon, Panda & specialty strains

Distinctive named lines that combine specific color placement, patterning, or metallic traits.

KoiAlbino KoiKoi TuxedoKoi Red EarRed DragonBlue DragonYellow DragonDragon DumboPandaBlack PandaBlue PandaMetalheadGalaxyMedusaSanta MariaMagentaFireworksMulti Color

Metallic, platinum & neon strains

Reflective scales and bright body sheen are the main visual feature.

PlatinumBlue PlatinumRed PlatinumYellow PlatinumWhite PlatinumFull PlatinumMetalheadMetallic BlueMetallic GreenMetallic RedNeon BlueNeon RedElectric BlueJapan BlueBlue Topaz

Solid & full-color strains

Selective lines that emphasize one dominant body-and-fin color.

Full RedAlbino Full RedFull BlackFull BlueFull GoldFull YellowFull OrangeFull WhiteFull PlatinumFull PurpleFull GreenFull PinkSnow WhiteSuper White

Albino combinations

Albino genetics can appear alongside many familiar colors and patterns.

Albino RedAlbino BlueAlbino YellowAlbino GoldAlbino PlatinumAlbino TuxedoAlbino CobraAlbino SnakeskinAlbino LaceAlbino DumboAlbino Blue TopazAlbino Yellow TigerAlbino German YellowAlbino White

Tail shapes

Tail shape can be combined with almost any color or pattern strain.

Delta TailTriangle TailFan TailVeil TailFlag TailRound TailSpade TailSpear TailPin TailNeedle TailLyretailDouble SwordtailTop SwordtailBottom SwordtailHalfmoon TailRose Tail

Special fin types

These varieties are named for unusual fins rather than color alone.

Dumbo EarBig EarElephant EarRibbonSwallowLongfinHigh DorsalBig DorsalSailfinShort BodyBalloon

Base colors & genetic backgrounds

Some names describe the underlying body color or genetic background rather than a finished show pattern.

GrayBlondGoldBronzeAlbinoReal Red Eye AlbinoWine Red Eye AlbinoWhiteBluePinkTigerAsian BlauEuropean BlauIvoryCream

Wild-type & Endler-related varieties

These are useful to recognize because stores and breeders may list them alongside fancy guppies.

Wild Type GuppyTrinidad GuppyVenezuela GuppyEndler GuppyBlack Bar EndlerJapan Blue EndlerOrchid EndlerPeacock EndlerTiger EndlerEndler-Guppy Hybrid
Why the list can keep growing: breeders combine traits, so one guppy may carry several descriptive names at once—for example, a color, pattern, fin type, and genetic background in a single strain name. The directory groups the major names instead of pretending every possible combination is a completely separate biological breed.

Not sure which guppy to choose?

Start with appearance, then think about the tank you want. A male-only display is usually simpler if your goal is color without baby guppies. A mixed-sex group can reproduce quickly, so breeding plans matter just as much as the strain name.

  • Choose Moscow strains for smooth metallic body coverage.
  • Choose Leopard, Cobra, Lace, Mosaic, or Grass for detailed pattern.
  • Choose Koi, Dragon, Panda, or Metalhead for a distinctive signature look.
  • Choose Dumbo Ear or a special tail form when fin shape matters most.
Male vs. female

Why males and females can look very different within the same strain

Most fancy-guppy strain names are easiest to recognize on males because males usually display stronger color, larger fins, and more obvious pattern. Females from the same line may carry the genetics while looking much more subtle.

Typical male guppy

  • Smaller, slimmer body
  • Stronger visible color and pattern
  • Larger tail and dorsal fin
  • Pointed gonopodium instead of a fan-shaped anal fin
  • Usually the fish pictured when a strain is advertised

Typical female guppy

  • Larger, deeper body
  • More muted body color in many strains
  • Smaller and less dramatic fins
  • Fan-shaped anal fin and often a visible gravid spot
  • Can still show strain color or markings, just less intensely
Common questions

Guppy breed directory FAQ

How many guppy breeds are there?

There is no single fixed number because guppies are commonly classified by combinations of color, pattern, tail shape, fin type, and genetic background. New named strains and crosses continue to appear.

Are Moscow, Leopard, and Koi actually separate species?

No. They are fancy guppy strains or varieties within the guppy species, selected for different appearances.

Why does my female not look like the male of the same strain?

Females are often larger and much less colorful, with smaller fins. They can belong to the same strain even when the male shows the defining appearance more strongly.

Which guppy breeds are best for beginners?

Choose healthy, active fish from a reliable source and avoid selecting only by extreme fin size or perfect show appearance. The beginner-friendly guppy guide can help narrow down practical choices.

Can two guppy strains be crossed?

Yes. Fancy guppy strains can interbreed, which is one reason hobby names can become complicated and why maintaining a consistent line requires selective breeding.

Keep reading

Guppy Tail TypesGuppy Tail TypesCompare popular guppy tail shapes, including delta, fan, sword, round, and lyretail forms.Popular Guppy Colors and PatternsPopular Guppy Colors and PatternsExplore tuxedo, cobra, mosaic, metallic, solid, and multicolor guppy appearances.Beginner-Friendly Guppy BreedsBeginner-Friendly Guppy BreedsChoose attractive, active guppies with traits that suit a first aquarium.