Livebearer Care Sheets

This thread will provide care sheets for most common livebearers. Any suggestions to improve these are sheets are welcome, and I hope that members will benefit from the information provided here.

Swordtails:
Family: Poeciliidae
Size: 3-5 inches not including sword, females grow larger
Fish Origin: Northern South America
Water: Prefer a pH of 7.4 but can adapt to a wide range of water conditions
Temp: 22-26 C
Feeding:: General tropical flakes. Frozen or freeze dried bloodoworms and brine shrimp occasional help provide a balanced diet
Sexing: Males display a gonopodium and a sword protruding from the end of the tail
Breeding: Livebearing
Aquarium size: preferably 20g long, or larger as Swordtails prefer a group of their kind. Should be kept with a minimum of 1 male to 3 females.

The swordtail is a really good beginner fish that is easy to care for and lives happily in community tanks. It comes in many color variations. The original Xiphophorus helleri is mainly olive green. The color is darker at the top of the back and lightens towards the bellu. A thin orange stripe extends down the sides. From this original color stems varieties such as Red Velvets, Red Wags, marigold Wag, Marigolds, Koi, Pineapple, Tuxedo, Twin Bar, Solar Flare Twinbar, Black, Mickey Mouse, and many others. Many of these varieties may have originated from mating with the platy (Xiphophorus variatus)

The swordtail is a notorious jumper and should always have a lid on its fishtank.

This Poeciliidae species is not particularly difficult to reproduce and will breed without live food or other conditioning. Parents may eat the young fry so plant cover is a must. A fry net may also be used to house the fry temporarily.

The male will relentlessly pursue females. They will use their sword in courtship displays before chasing the female around the tank. Keep several females per male to give them a break. When breeding these fish one male will be able to perform fatherly duties for up to fifteen fish.

Lyre tail swordtails and hi fin varieties have been produced. Breeding these varieties can pose difficulties as the male's gonopodium is often too long to be useful in impregnation.

Platys
Family: Poeciliidae
Size: about 1.5 - 2.5 inches
Fish Origin: Central America
Water: Prefer a pH of 7.4 but can adapt to a wide range of water conditions
Temp: 18-26 C
Feeding:: General tropical flakes. Frozen or freeze dried bloodoworms and brine shrimp occasional help provide a balanced diet
Sexing: Males display a gonopodium, females slightly larger
Breeding: Livebearing
Aquarium size: 10g or larger, with a ratio of 1 male to 2 females

The platy is a really good beginner fish that is easy to care for and lives happily in community tanks. It comes in many color variations such as Southern Platy, Red Wagtail Platies, Mickey Mouse, Red Tuxedo, Moon Fish, Topsail Rainbow, Sunset, Golden, Calico, Salt and Pepper, Coral Red, Black, Blue, Panda, Bumble Bee (see above photo)

This Poeciliidae species is not particularly difficult to reproduce and will breed without live food or other conditioning. Parents may eat the young fry so plant cover is a must. A fry net may also be used to house the fry temporarily.

The male will relentlessly pursue females.

Fancy Guppies:
Family: Poecilia
Size: 1-2 inches
Fish Origin: Northeastern South America
Water: Prefer a pH of 7.0 but adaptable to pH 6-8
Temp: 22-26 C
Feeding:: General tropical flakes. Frozen or freeze dried bloodoworms and brine shrimp occasional help provide a balanced diet
Sexing: Males display a gonopodium and bright coloring, females duller in color
Breeding: Livebearing
Aquarium size: preferably 20g but can do well in 15 gallon tanks. t

A fantastic beginner fish, tolerant of a wide range of water parameters, but favours hard water. The males vary in their appearence dramatically and are available in many differing colours often with oversized caudal fins of startlingly elaborate detail. The females are larger and somewhat more plain. The attractiveness and ease of care of these fish make them excellent fish for those new to the hobby.

Peaceful. Will happily co-exist with similiar sized fish, but fin-nippers should be avoided as the elaborate fins of the males make tempting targets.

Endlers are close relatives to the Fancy Guppy, and significantly hardier as they have not been exposed to successive generations of inbreeding.

Guppies are prolific and will breed readily with little to no input from the hobbyist. Livebearers, they give birth to live, free swimming young. A great beginner fish to get to grips with fry care

Fancy Guppies:
Family: Poecilia
Size: 1-2 inches
Fish Origin: Northeastern South America
Water: Prefer a pH of 7.0 but adaptable to pH 6-8
Temp: 23-29C
Feeding:: General tropical flakes. Frozen or freeze dried bloodoworms and brine shrimp occasional help provide a balanced diet
Sexing: Males display a gonopodium and bright coloring, females duller in color
Breeding: Livebearing
Aquarium size: 5g minimum

A fantastic beginner fish, tolerant of a wide range of water parameters, but favours hard water. The males vary in their appearence dramatically and are available in many differing colours often with oversized caudal fins of startlingly elaborate detail. The females are larger and somewhat more plain. The attractiveness and ease of care of these fish make them excellent fish for those new to the hobby.

Peaceful. Will happily co-exist with similiar sized fish, but fin-nippers should be avoided as the elaborate fins of the males make tempting targets.

Endlers are close relatives to the Fancy Guppy, and significantly hardier as they have not been exposed to successive generations of inbreeding.

Enlders are prolific and will breed readily with little to no input from the hobbyist. Livebearers, they give birth to live, free swimming young. A great beginner fish to get to grips with fry care

The Endler's livebearer is in danger of extinction, primarily due to habitat destruction.

ill do wild guppies tomorrow

What happened to all the care sheets