Live Bearing Tropical Fish

Live bearing tropical fish, often called "livebearers" do not lay eggs, but instead give birth to fully formed, free-swimming young.

The eggs of livebearers are fertilized inside the female's body until they are ready for birth. Upon their emergence, the fry are relatively large and self sufficient.

Fast Facts

1. Only 1% of fish are classified as live bearing
2. 54 families of fish bear live young
3. Most prefer slightly alkaline water
4. Female guppies give birth to 12-30 babies over a few hours
5. Most livebearers are also prolific breeders

Raising Livebearers

Livebearers are often recommended to amateur fish breeders, since the young are larger and easier to feed than fish born from eggs. However, adult fish may eat their newborn tank mates if given the opportunity, so many fishkeepers opt to remove the fry from a community tank.

Livebearers of interest to the aquarium-keeper usually belong to the family Poeciliidae. Commonly kept tropical live-bearing species include mollies, guppies, swordtails and platies.

Halfbeaks, splitfins and freshwater stingrays are also livebearers kept by some aquarists, but generally not recommended for amateur breeders.

Categories