Livebearers
Fish that give birth to free-swimming young. The Poeciliids are the familiar ones; the goodeids nourish their young internally, come from a cooler climate, and include species close to extinct in the wild.
18 species, separated by adult size. Part of the freshwater fish catalogue.
Nano — under 4 cm (1)
Small enough for tanks under 60 cm, and usually needing larger groups than their size suggests.
Small — 4 to 8 cm (11)
The core of most community tanks.
- Eastern mosquitofishGambusia holbrooki6 cmUndemandinggroup of 4+
- Endler's livebearerPoecilia wingei4.5 cmUndemandinggroup of 6+
- GuppyPoecilia reticulata6 cmUndemandinggroup of 6+
- Humpbacked limiaLimia nigrofasciata6 cmUndemandinggroup of 5+
- Metallic livebearerGirardinus metallicus6 cmUndemandinggroup of 5+
- Norman's lampeyePoropanchax normani4 cmModerategroup of 10+
- PlatyXiphophorus maculatus6 cmUndemandinggroup of 5+
- Rainbow goodeidCharacodon lateralis6 cmModerategroup of 6+
- Spotted skiffiaSkiffia multipunctata7 cmModerategroup of 6+
- Variatus platyXiphophorus variatus7 cmUndemandinggroup of 5+
- Wrestling halfbeakDermogenys pusilla7 cmModerategroup of 4+
Medium — 8 to 15 cm (3)
Needs real swimming length. Frequently sold as juveniles into tanks that will not suit the adult.
Large — 15 cm and above (3)
Specialist tanks. Check the adult size and the lifespan before buying.