1. Live Bearing Fish Reproduction
Dr. Craig Kasper
HCC Aquaculture Program
Spring 2007

2. Introduction Live bearing or ovoviviparous fish
Species of interest to aquarists are almost always members of the family Poeciliidae, most commonly guppies, mollies, platies and swordtails.
Live-bearing fish are
often easy to spawn
and provide a great
introduction to the hobby
of fish aquariums.
sailfin molly, Poecilia latipinna

3. Mollies (Poecilia spp.)
Habitat: fresh, marine, brackish (preferring marshes, lowland streams, swamps and estuaries in the Americas.
Food: algae, plants, aquatic invertebrates, mosquitoes.
Temperature:
Reproduction: Internal fertilization (gonopodium ♂)
Gestation: 3-4 weeks
Brood size: (live)
Parental Care: None

4. Guppy (Poecilia reticulata)
Habitat: fresh, marine, aquaria, hard water pH
Temperature: 22°C-28°C (68°F-82°F)
Food: omnivors
Reproduction: Internal fertilization, ♀ “gravid spot” near the anus enlarges and darkens. Females store sperm (can result in multiple spawns from the same sperm (superfetation)
Gestation: 3 -4wks
Brood size: 20-60
Parental Care: None

5. Guppy (Poecilia reticulata)
Guppie morphs!

6. Platyfish (Xiphophorus spp.)
Habitat: They prefer water with a 7.0–8.0 pH, moderately hard
Temperature: 18°C-25°C (64°F-77°F)
Food: omnivors
Reproduction: Internal fertilization, slight sexual dimorphism
(male’s caudal fin slightly pointed)
Gestation: 3 -4wks
Brood size: 40-50
Parental Care: None
Xiphophorus maculatus

7. Butterfly Splitfin Ameca splendens
Habitat: They prefer water with a 7.0 pH, moderately soft water
Temperature: 20°C-25°C (68°F-77°F)
Food: omnivors (voracious)
Reproduction: Internal fertilization, slight sexual dimorphism
Gestation: 6 wks
Brood size: 40-50
Parental Care: None

8. Halfbeaks (many) Habitat: brackish water (hard), pH 7.0-7.5
Temperature: 20°C-25°C (68°F-77°F)
Food: omnivors
Reproduction: Internal fertilization
Gestation: 6 wks
Brood size: <50
Parental Care: None

9. Halfbeaks (genus) Arrhamphus Chriodorus Dermogenys Euleptorhamphus
Hemirhamphodon
Hemiramphus
Hyporhamphus
Melapedalion
Nomorhamphus
Oxyporhamphus
Rhynchorhamphus
Reporhamphus
Tondanichthys
Zenarchopterus