A sitter looking after guppies is really looking after a small, changing population. Fish may be born during the trip, the group feeds in a flurry that hides shy individuals, and the biggest dangers are overfeeding and helpful interference. The care log should therefore read like a colony checklist: short, daily, and explicit about leaving the breeding setup alone.
Set Tiny, Exact Feedings and a No-Extras Rule
Guppies have small stomachs and enthusiastic appetites, so write the amount precisely — a small pinch measured against a photo you attach, or pre-portioned daily pots as many colony keepers use. State how many feedings a day, and whether fry food is given separately and where fry usually shelter, often among floating plants or moss. Make the rule plain: no extra feedings for visitors, no bread or other kitchen food, and a missed meal is better than a doubled one. Note that food should be spread over the surface so females and younger fish feed too, not just the boldest males at the front glass, and ask the sitter to watch for a minute and log whether the whole group fed actively.
Include a Daily Fry and Headcount Check
Ask the sitter to note, once a day, whether new fry have appeared and roughly how many, where they are — main tank, breeder box, or nursery — and that the correct action is almost always to leave them exactly there. Guppy fry are part of this colony's normal life, and a sitter who tries to rescue, move, or separate them mid-trip usually causes the harm they fear. Pair this with a best-effort headcount of adults and a note of any fish that has died, with the day recorded and the fish removed with a net if the sitter is comfortable, since leaving it in the water fouls a small tank quickly. Your contact details belong beside this section, because a death plus several fish looking unwell is a call-you event, not a wait-and-see one.
Protect the Filter Setup and Plant Cover
Explain the fry defences in the log: the sponge or mesh over the filter intake stays on, floating plants stay floating, and nothing gets pruned, moved, or 'tidied.' Ask for a daily glance that the filter is running and the heater light behaves as usual, plus top-ups with the conditioned water you left ready, restoring the level to your marked line. State clearly that no water change is due during a short trip — you will have done one before leaving — or write full steps if the trip is long. Ban additions in one line: no new fish as a surprise, no remedies poured in, no fertiliser or other bottles from the cupboard unless the log names them.
Describe Normal Colony Behaviour and Call Triggers
Tell the sitter what a healthy evening looks like in this tank: males displaying and chasing, females grazing among plants, fry darting in the cover, and the group gathering fast at feeding. Then list the changes to log and phone about: several fish clamped and hovering at the surface, white spots or torn tails spreading across multiple fish, cloudy water, or a sudden string of deaths. A single fish sitting apart for an hour is a note in the log; the same fish there all day, or joined by others, is a call. Sending this colony log through KinsLe's Care Pass shares the routine and emergency details with your sitter temporarily, with everything in one place when questions come up at feeding time.