Livebearers

Livebearers give birth to free-swimming fry and breed readily in a healthy tank, which is half the fun of keeping them. Most prefer harder, slightly alkaline water. Profiles cover tank size, conditions and what to expect from each species.

41 species

• Amazon molly

  Poecilia formosa

  3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)

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  Black molly

  Poecilia sphenops

  4.7 in (12 cm)24 gal (90 L)70–82°F (21–28°C)

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  Black-barred livebearer

  Quintana atrizona

  1.3 in (3.4 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

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  Blackbelly limia

  Limia melanogaster

  2.4 in (6 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

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  Blue-eyed livebearer

  Priapella intermedia

  2.8 in (7 cm)24 gal (90 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

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  Cardinal toothcarp

  Brachyrhaphis roseni

  2.4 in (6 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–86°F (22–30°C)
• Cascajal toothcarp

  Brachyrhaphis cascajalensis

  3 in (7.5 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

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  Cauca molly

  Poecilia caucana

  2.4 in (6 cm)16 gal (60 L)77–86°F (25–30°C)

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  Cuban limia

  Limia vittata

  3.9 in (10 cm)18 gal (70 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)

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  Dalmatian molly

  Poecilia latipinna

  4.7 in (12 cm)24 gal (90 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)

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  Dusky millions fish

  Phalloceros caudimaculatus

  2.4 in (6 cm)12 gal (45 L)64–75°F (18–24°C)

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  Dwarf livebearer

  Neoheterandria elegans

  1 in (2.5 cm)5 gal (20 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

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  Eastern mosquitofish

  Gambusia holbrooki

  3.1 in (8 cm)11 gal (40 L)59–84°F (15–29°C)

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  Endler's livebearer

  Poecilia wingei

  1.6 in (4 cm)5 gal (20 L)72–86°F (22–30°C)
• Fourspotted toothcarp

  Phallichthys quadripunctatus

  1.4 in (3.5 cm)11 gal (40 L)68–86°F (20–30°C)

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  Giant sailfin molly

  Poecilia velifera

  5.9 in (15 cm)30 gal (113 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

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  Gill's molly

  Poecilia gillii

  3.9 in (10 cm)26 gal (100 L)72–86°F (22–30°C)

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  Green swordtail

  Xiphophorus hellerii

  5.9 in (15 cm)24 gal (90 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)

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  Guppy

  Poecilia reticulata

  2.4 in (6 cm)13 gal (50 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)

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  Humpbacked limia

  Limia nigrofasciata

  2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

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  Knife livebearer

  Alfaro cultratus

  3 in (7.6 cm)32 gal (120 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

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  Least killifish

  Heterandria formosa

  1.4 in (3.5 cm)5 gal (20 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)

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  Liberty molly

  Poecilia salvatoris

  3.9 in (10 cm)24 gal (90 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

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  Melanzona Guppy

  Poecilia parae

  2 in (5 cm)15 gal (55 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

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  Merry widow livebearer

  Phallichthys amates

  2.5 in (6.4 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–86°F (22–30°C)

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  Metallic livebearer

  Girardinus metallicus

  2.4 in (6 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)

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  Montezuma swordtail

  Xiphophorus montezumae

  5.5 in (14 cm)32 gal (120 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)

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  Northern mountain swordtail

  Xiphophorus nezahualcoyotl

  3.5 in (9 cm)29 gal (110 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)

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  Perugia's limia

  Limia perugiae

  2.8 in (7 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

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  Pike topminnow

  Belonesox belizanus

  7.9 in (20 cm)44 gal (165 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)

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  Porthole livebearer

  Poeciliopsis gracilis

  3.5 in (9 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

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  Pygmy swordtail

  Xiphophorus pygmaeus

  1.6 in (4 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

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  Sailfin molly

  Poecilia latipinna

  4.7 in (12 cm)24 gal (90 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)

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  Scarlet livebearer

  Micropoecilia picta

  1.6 in (4 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

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  Sheepshead swordtail

  Xiphophorus birchmanni

  2.8 in (7 cm)24 gal (90 L)68–81°F (20–27°C)

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  Shortfin molly

  Poecilia mexicana

  4.3 in (11 cm)32 gal (120 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
• Sicklefin livebearer

  Girardinus falcatus

  2.6 in (6.5 cm)11 gal (40 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)

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  Southern platy

  Xiphophorus maculatus

  2.8 in (7 cm)15 gal (55 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)

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  Spiketail platy

  Xiphophorus xiphidium

  2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)

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  Variable platy

  Xiphophorus variatus

  2.8 in (7 cm)15 gal (55 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)

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  Western Mosquitofish

  Gambusia affinis

  3 in (7.5 cm)7 gal (25 L)64–81°F (18–27°C)