Breeding Livebearers articles

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Fish breeding, keeping

Livebearers

Species are in alphabetical order according to their Latin names

ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION OF FANCY LIVEBEARERS by Matt Hennig
Summary: Matt explains why new experiments in artificial insemination can be the most practical way to breed certain fancy livebearers. He lists the equipment needed and summarises the technique.

BREEDING LIVEBEARERS - GUPPIES AND SWORDTAILS
by the Editors of FishLore.com
Summary: A beginners' guide to breeding and raising guppies and swordtails.

See also: A Look at Genetics - selective breeding of guppies

SAVING LIVEBEARERS' FRY THE NATURAL WAY by Bob Berdoulay
Summary: A discussion about how various plants can be used to help young livebearers hide from their parents and not be eaten.

Alfaro huberi. A SLIGHTLY LESS COMMON LIVEBEARER by Tom and Pat Bridges
Summary: This fish is from clear, unpolluted streams in Atlantic Central America. After some trouble in obtaining a pair, Tom and Pat kept and bred them successfully. Illustrated.

THREE UNUSUAL LIVEBEARERS by Howard Norfolk
Summary: Having a surplus of Ameca splendens, Heterandria formosa, and Endler's livebearers, Howard wrote notes on these fish before taking them to a club meeting for auction.

Ameca splendens by Gerry Hawksby
Summary: Gerry describes the external physiology of these fish and recounts his recent breeding of them. He makes a few other observations on his experiences in keeping them.

THE FISH SPEAK: Ameca splendens by Gord Mitchell
Summary: "Susan, Stanley and the Splendens family" tell of their breeding and the tank conditions they prefer.

ANABLEPS ANABLEPS - PART 1 - THE EYES EXPLAINED by Tom and Pat Bridges
Summary: A definitive article for the keeping of these four-eyed wonders. Part one explains the reason for their nickname.

ANABLEPS ANABLEPS - PART 2 - MATING EXPLAINED by Tom and Pat Bridges
Summary: Part two explains their unique sexual dimorphism - key information if you want to breed them.

ANABLEPS ANABLEPS - PART 3 - BABIES by Tom and Pat Bridges
Summary: Part three details the birth process of these fish; information provided on how to raise prematurely born Anableps.

ANABLEPS ANABLEPS - PART 4 - BABIES by Tom and Pat Bridges
Summary: Part four explains the importance of a high protein diet, brackish water, and excellent water parameters needed to succesfully keep Anableps.

Belenesox belizanus, THE PIKE LIVEBEARER by John Mangan
Summary: These fish are highly predatory, and feeding them and their young enough so that they don't eat each other is a challenge. John is experimenting with different foods.

RAISING AND CARE OF Belenesox belizanus by Don Marentette
Summary: Some more observations about this fish, which Don calls the pike-top minnow. Don doesn't like feeding live fish as food, so is trying to raise his fry on frozen foods and whiteworms.

THE CARDINAL BRACHY: Brachyraphis roseni by Birgit McKinnon
Summary: This recently described (1988) livebearer is cannibalistic and aggressive, but is attractive, hardy and enjoyable to keep in a species tank.

BREEDING Chapalichthys pardalis by Tom and Pat Bridges
Summary: These goodeids are easy to breed, and they leave their young alone.

Poecilia sp. "Endlers" by Gerry Hawksby
Summary: Gerry found these fish to be undemanding, and prolific breeders. He makes a few other observations on his experiences in keeping them.

BREEDING THE SAILFIN GOODEID - Girardinichthys vivaparous
Summary: Rich Serva managed to breed this seldom seen and difficult fish. He researched the on-line NEODAT II, which carries "data on neotropical freshwater fish specimens deposited in natural history collections in the New World and Europe," and which "is probably a better way of referencing fish habitats than using standard aquarium hobby literature."

THE BLACK SAILFIN GOODEID - Girardinichthys vivaparous
by Chase Klinesteker
Summary: This fish is severely endangered, since Mexico City is built upon its natural habitat. Aquarists can help ensure its survival. Careful attention to water quality is required.

GOODEIDS REVISITED by Mike and Robin Schadle
Summary: Goodeids require cool water of high quality, a varied diet, lots of room, and are best kept in groups. Many populations and some species are on the verge of extinction, so aquarists should take special care of them and distribute them widely.

Heterandria formosa by Tony Bernard
Summary: This livebearer, from the U.S.A., is "the seventh smallest fish known to man." It is easy to keep and breed.

Ilyodon furcidens by Steve Smith
Summary: Mark discusses some of the differences between poeciliids and goodeids. These particular goodeids ignore their fry and are easy to keep in a community setting.

SOMETHING NEW 2 -Ilyodon furcidens by Michael McKinney
Summary: After success with Xenoteca eisseni, Michael tried this goodeid, and found it to be "a very neat and interesting species of fish" that he would recommend to all.

Ilyodon lennoni. VEGI-MATIC by Ted Guglielmo
Summary: The young of these goodeids were not molested by their parents. They like vegetables. It is important to preserve these fish since their ecosystem in Mexico is polluted.

THE HUMP-BACKED LIMIA, Limia nigrofasciata by Bob Berdoulay
Summary: Bob describes how he kept these interesting little livebearers, and how they bred.

BREEDING THE NOT-SO-COMMON GUPPY by Rich Serva
Summary: A beginners' guide to the selective breeding of guppies.

BREEDING THE GUPPY - Poecilia reticulata by Christian B. Homrich Jnr.
Summary: There is more to breeding guppies than is commonly thought. Selective breeding. Line breeding. Culling.

GUPPY AIDS...DISEASES?...OR JUST DEFECTS IN THE GENE POOL?
by PegasusNZ
Summary: "It is my belief that all this talk of Guppy AIDS and the Wasting Away Disease is all just that - talk and a myth."

THE RUSSIAN COBRA GUPPY by David Marshall
Summary: David has kept this strain of beautiful guppies for ten years now. He describes his various trials and tribulations along the way.

Xenophallus umbratilis SPAWNING REPORT by Mark Weierman
Summary: The 'golden teddy' from Costa Rica is relatively easy to spawn, but requires a bit of patience.

SOMETHING NEW - Xenoteca eisseni by Michael McKinney
Summary: Michael kept nothing but cichlids and catfish for twelve years, but then he bought these goodeids at a club auction and found them colorful and interesting to watch.

A SWORDTAIL BREEDING PROGRAM by Barry Lynch
Summary: Barry wanted to introduce a high fin feature to his "saddleback" albino swordtails. He details how two years of interbreeding have produced the desired results and have generated additional goals. The principles outlined here can be used by advanced aquarists for other fish.

THE FISH SPEAK; Xiphophorus helleri/SWORDTAIL by Gord Mitchell
Summary: "Sarah, Stan and the Swordtail Family" tell of their breeding, food, and preferred living conditions.

THE FISH SPEAK: Xiphophorus Maculatus/BLACK PLATY by Gord Mitchell
Summary: "Patsy, Percy and the Platy family" tell of their breeding and the tank conditions they prefer.

Xiphophorus nezahualcoyotl by Paul McFarlane
Summary: The "Northern Mountain Swordtail" is a small swordtail from fast flowing streams in Mexico. Paul's male died, which seemed to prompt just one of the fry to develop into a male.

THE SECRETS OF RAISING SHOW QUALITY BLACK SWORDTAILS
by Charles Drew
Summary: How to use basic genetics in order to selectively breed the ultimate swordtail.