TankBud

Porthole livebearer

Poeciliopsis gracilis

FreshwaterFish

Porthole livebearer (Poeciliopsis gracilis)
Andrewbogott · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
pH
6.5–7.8
Adult size
3.5 in
9 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Beginner
Breeding
Livebearer · Easy
Rarity
Common
Family
Poeciliidae
Origin
Central America; Atlantic slope from southern Mexico to Honduras

Overview

The porthole livebearer is a peaceful, hardy fish for the middle of a community tank. It is a good first fish.

Did you know

A single porthole livebearer female can stay productive for a long stretch. That is why a small group can fill a tank surprisingly fast.

Caring for the porthole livebearer

Keep porthole livebearers as a small colony in a tank of 11 gal (40 L) or larger. Give them some planting and open mid-water space to swim. They jump, so put a tight lid on the tank.

Porthole livebearers handle a wide range of water without fuss, including hard water. Keep it at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.8. Feed prepared flake, which they eat readily, along with live or frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp and microworms.

They are peaceful mid-water swimmers that mix well in a community. Keep more females than males, since males chase persistently and extra females spread out the attention.

Females grow well larger than males. Like other poeciliids, females give birth to live, free-swimming fry rather than scattering eggs. They are extremely prolific, dropping 6 to 15 fry per brood every few weeks.

Plan ahead for population control or rehoming. Never release unwanted fish or fry into local waters, and check your local rules.

Good to know

The porthole livebearer, Poeciliopsis gracilis, is a member of the family Poeciliidae. Hardy livebearers like it can become invasive in warm regions.

In the wild

The porthole livebearer comes from streams and ponds on the Atlantic slope of Central America, from southern Mexico down through Honduras. Its home waters are warm and often hard.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The porthole livebearer is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a porthole livebearer need?

A porthole livebearer needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a porthole livebearer need?

A porthole livebearer is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.8.

What does a porthole livebearer eat?

A porthole livebearer eats prepared flake readily. Add live or frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp and microworms.

How big does a porthole livebearer get?

An adult porthole livebearer reaches about 3.5 in (9 cm).

How can you tell a male porthole livebearer from a female?

Males stay smaller than females, which grow noticeably larger.

How does a porthole livebearer breed?

A porthole livebearer gives birth to live, free-swimming fry rather than scattering eggs. Females are extremely prolific, dropping 6 to 15 fry per brood every few weeks, so plan for population control or rehoming.

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