Which tropical fish are livebearers

Rather, female livebearers keep their eggs within themselves and only give birth to live fry when they can swim on their own. Even though only 1 percent of all fish are livebearers, they make up one of the largest portions of those found in the fishkeeping business. There are several different types of livebearer tropical fish, some known while others are relatively obscure. The table below names some of the most popular livebearing aquarium fish. Since these groups are closely related to each other, there is a great degree of variation in the types of livebearers kept by aquaria enthusiasts.

This variation is possible through either cross between species, such as mollies and guppies, or crosses between different geographical variants of the same species, such as those of guppies. Therefore, it is possible to have an entire assortment of fish that give live birth in the aquarium, making livebearers all the more exciting. Guppies, mollies, platies, and swordtails, respectively, are discussed in greater detail in the latter part of this article.

Since livebearing tropical fish belong to many different species, livebearers are naturally found in a variety of different habitats ranging from freshwater to seawater. In geographical terms, you will find livebearers near the tropics in coastal regions of Mexico, Central America, southeastern United States, and towards the north of South America.

Wild livebearing fish prefer medium to hard water, ranging from eight to 18 dH, with slightly alkaline conditions. They thrive in a wide range of different temperatures, but those between 70 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit are found to be the most favorable. Because guppies love to devour mosquito larvae, this particular type of fish that give live birth has been introduced in many parts of Asia to help combat the rise of malaria-causing mosquitoes. As a result, livebearers are not limited to any particular region.

They are now also found in the freshwater bodies of many sub-tropical regions such as estuaries, rivers, and streams. Even though the natural habitat of wild livebearing fish consists of medium-hard alkaline water, commercially bred livebearers are quite flexible. They also easily adapt to different water conditions. Setting up an aquarium for livebearers and caring for them is like a walk in the park.

Their hardiness and adaptability mean there is little you need to worry about. This simplicity is the reason why all types of fishkeepers prefer livebearers, whether beginners or professionals. With the right kind of care and attention, livebearers easily live up to 7 years and grow as big as 3 inches. Livebearers naturally thrive in slightly alkaline, medium to hard water.

However, livebearing aquarium fish that are commonly found in the market are not restrained by water conditions. In fact, they do just fine in tap water. In terms of specific water conditions, it is best to replicate the natural environment in which wild fish give birth. We recommend that the pH of the water remains between 7 and 8, while the temperature is maintained between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Even though livebearers adapt to a wide range of different temperatures, the most suitable temperature for livebearing freshwater fish lies between the mids or low 80s.

With temperatures lower than 60 degrees Fahrenheit, livebearers run the risk of contracting diseases. Therefore, a heater might prove to be an essential accessory in colder parts of the world.

Several types of livebearers live in brackish slightly salty coastal waters. Therefore, adding salt to the aquarium is recommended by many experts. To make the living environment similar to their natural habitat, you can add one tablespoon full of non-iodized aquarium salt for every five gallons of water in the tank.

The right size and form of aquarium vary from one type of livebearer to another. On average, you should have a minimum of 15 gallons of water in the tank regardless of the kind of livebearers you are keeping. Doing so follows the simple rule of having no more than an inch of adult fish per gallon. However, the specific size of aquarium you need depends on the size of the livebearers you are keeping. The drawback of Montezuma swordtails, and why they are not found in shops often, is that males can take one to two years just to develop swords, confusing hobbyists who think they have a tankful of females.

I have observed young males even taking on the gravid spot and full abdomen of a female to survive. When the alpha male emerges, it generally cannot tolerate other males in its tank.

The growth rate of the other fish now slows, until one gets large enough to challenge the alpha male. The transformation to a male occurs rapidly. I have found that separating the two largest fish in a colony, or using a larger tank at least 55 gallons [ liters] , can help accelerate this process. Patience is key with Montezuma swordtails, but the result is well worth it.

A trio can be housed in a gallon liter tank. Imagine a giant sailfin dorsal fin standing erect by a male fluttering and circling around a female, his colors intensifying as his scales protrude ever so slightly. And he does this continually throughout the day. Mating is a more cooperative effort.

The reason hobbyists and shops have problems with them is three-fold: osmotic shock due to the quick transition from salted farm water to municipal pet-shop water; ammonia buildup that has occurred during shipping, to which inbred mollies are very susceptible; and crowded suboptimal tank conditions.

It need not be this way. In this respect, they are the discus of livebearers in terms of maintenance. Sailfin mollies need calcium-hard alkaline water. They are an old fish family, with fossil records going back about 25 million years.

Goodeids probably evolved from a Profundulus-like killifish ancestor. They were generally unknown to the hobby and to science until the late s, when ALA fellow James K. Langhammern of the Belle Isle Aquarium began distributing several species after obtaining transfers from the collection of Robert Rush Miller, who was describing the family for science and foresaw the environmental peril in Mexico.

Male goodeids do not sport a gonopodium like poeciliids do. Instead, the flexible part of their front anal fin, called an andropodium, is separated by a notch where sperm transfer occurs. Mating takes longer, and cooperation from the female is required. This single characteristic leads to an interesting mix of social behavior for us to observe in the home aquarium. Female goodeids also cannot store sperm like poeciliids do. A new mating is needed for every pregnancy, which lasts about twice as long 60 days , with fry born in smaller numbers.

They also do not acclimate to new water conditions as easily. This compounds the environmental degradation that led to most of the family becoming endangered or extinct in the past 40 years. In response, the Goodeid Working Group was formed to establish conservation sites and hobbyist networks in countries around the world. The group will meet and present at the ALA Convention. Goodeids are ideal candidates for a long-term dedicated-species maintenance tank. Witnessing the live birth of a goodeid is something every hobbyist should make an effort to behold at least once in his or her life.

With few exceptions, goodeids are best considered cool-water tropicals. Unheated aquariums, tanks at the lower rack in a fishroom, and summer water gardens are good vessels. Calcium hard, alkaline water is preferred by most. What could be better than an interesting aquarium that can help pay for itself? You might be wondering what livebearers have been forgotten. Compare that to the average modern aquarium book, which likely list only guppies, mollies, platies, and swordtails.

If aquarists 60 years ago kept many different livebearers, why do we only keep the big four species today? The simple fact is that the four most common livebearers are the ones that have been bred into the variety of colors many hobbyists seem to prefer. But that has been achieved at a cost, and fancy livebearers are demonstrably less hardy than their wild forebears.

Furthermore, as wild-type livebearers slipped from the hobby, advanced aquarists gradually came to view livebearers as fish fit only for the most casual hobbyists, and not nearly as worthwhile as, say, catfish or cichlids.

Advanced hobbyists can rediscover some old friends, and beginners will learn why livebearers were once lauded as the toughest of the tough. Metallic Girardinus Girardinus metallicus. As their name suggests, both sexes of Girardinus metallicus are metallic fish. Their colors range from silver to gold depending on the lighting, and there is a hint of vertical banding on the flanks.

Males also bear black blotches that cover their heads, throats, and anal fins, though the amount of black varies from fish to fish. As is often the case with livebearers, females are larger than the males. Metallic girardinus are charming fish that make wonderful additions to densely planted aquaria from 10 gallons upward.

Given their size, companions should be chosen with care. Cherry shrimps and nerite snails, or Corydoras and the smaller barb, tetra, and rainbowfish species would be suitable. Next, add a few clumps of floating plants, Ceratopteris thalictroides being ideal.

These plants will provide hiding places for both females and their fry. While metallic girardinus are not especially cannibalistic toward their fry, it can happen. Dwarf Mosquitofish Heterandria Formosa. The dwarf mosquitofish is unusual in that males and females look quite similar. Both are silvery and feature a black band running along the midline of the body. Both sexes also possess a black spot at the base of their dorsal fins.

To sex these fish, the aquarist needs to look at their anal fins. On males, this is a long tube-like structure, whereas females have a triangular anal fin much like that of any other fish. Female Swordtail. More than one female should be kept with each male, to help reduce the stress on females from harassment by the male. In addition to the sword tail, males have a gonopodium which is used to fertilize the female.

Females can have young every 4 to 6 weeks. Swordtails will eat their young, so it is important to either have a heavy plant cover or a separate breeding tank. Java moss will work well or a simple plastic breeding trap can be purchased at aquarium stores. The young can be fed finely crushed flake food. Platies are a popular beginner's fish because of their hardiness and the ease with which they breed. Platies originally came from clear waters in Central America.

Although originally a drab olive green in appearance, they have been bred into a number of variations, such as the Tuxedo black on the body , Wagtail black on the tail , Mickey Mouse see above , Red and Sunset Platies.

Red Wag Platy Male. Platies are closely related to the Swordtail , but lack the extension at the bottom of the tail fin. Red Platy Male. Red Platy Female. Platies will eat their young, so it is important to either have a heavy plant cover or a separate breeding tank. Red Hifin Platy Male. The Endlers Livebearer originates from Laguna de Patos, near Cumana in Venezuela, but it is now thought that they are extinct in the wild.

Bond with having found them first. To read an Email from John Endler visit the Krib. Endlers don't officially have a scientific name yet, but most sources call them Poecilia "Endlers". They are a distinct species closely related to the Guppy. Endlers can interbreed with guppies, but the offspring are infertile. After John reported them, stock was mainly bred in Germany.

Males are mainly orange and neon blue, but with the ease of breeding, the variations are numerous. Male colors are brighter than guppies. Females are plain. The size is smaller than a guppy and they lack the fancy tail. The profile is more streamlined. Endlers Livebearer. Enlders frequent the top of the tank, similar to guppies. They prefer hard water and temperatures near 80 F are best.

Endlers prefer warmer temperatures than guppies. They will do fine on flake foods, but also appreciate spirulina, tubifex, and brine shrimp.

They love live food. Like guppies, Endlers are very easy to breed. They have young monthly. A ratio of one male to two females is recommended to reduce the stress on the females. What to look for in a healthy Livebearer: Before buying your Livebearer or any fish you should try and inspect it closely for any signs of illness. These are just some of the obvious things to look out for! The female usually looks fatter than the male.

The female will appear even rounder if holding fry. Fish that breathe slowly and regularly, but sometimes fish may be breathing a bit heavily in the shop tanks because they are overstocked. Healthy looking reddish colour under the gill flaps.

Eyes look healthy and clear. Scales are sitting flat. Fish to Avoid: Livebearers that have a concave or sunken looking stomach, could mean that it is having trouble eating or the stomach hasn't formed properly. Livebearers that look overly bloated, this could also be a sign of illness.

Females that are heavily pregnant, where her stomach has a box shape to it and has a large gravid spot.