World Of Guppies Forum

butch · Newbie Joined: 05 May 2008 Posts: 13 Location: Minnesota

Here the livebearers you can find at your Local Fish stores:

Fancy Guppy (Poecilia reticulata)
Feeder Guppy (Poecilia reticulata)
Endler's Livebearer (Poecilia wingei)
Sailfin Molly (Poecilia latipinna)
Mexican Sailfin Molly (Poecilia velifera)
Shortfin Molly (Poecilia mexicana)
Liberty Molly (Poecilia sphenops)
Balloon Molly (Poecilia spp.) hybrids
Green Swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri)
Southern Platy (Xiphophorus maculatus)
Variatus Platy (Xiphophorus variatus)
Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)

All of these livebearers in the LFS are already hybrids, one species x another species to order to get some colors. For example, MickeyMouse swordtails can be created if you cross the swordtails to the MM platy.

Fancy guppies (Poecilia reticulata)

The Fancy Guppy, the common livebearers you see in your local fish stores. They are bred for the fancy colors such as Leopard, Red blonde and Purple moscow. And the fancy finnage too such as delta and ribbons. They are much bigger than their wild forms but not as hardy as their wild forms due to they are highly inbred in many generations and are very sensitive to their water quality so their water must be kept as clean. Not the first fish for beginners. Fancy Guppies are very colorful but fragile as they are easy target for nipping fishes such as danios and barbs. The fancy guppies cant handle current very well as their long tails are dragging around. Local bred or home raised fancy guppies are much hardier than imports.

Temp: 76 to 86*F (24-30*C)
Size: 2 1/4 inch long in both sexes.
*Giant SuperGuppies can reach more than 3inch long*
Diet: Plant matters through they are not fussy eaters as they can take any prepared foods or live foods you can offer to.
Fry Size: Can have up to 100 fry but the average is 60. The parents will eat their fry but not in predatory mode as Mosquitofish and swordtails.
Minimun tank size: 10gal for three trios.
p.h: 5.5 to 8.0

Feeder guppies (Poecilia reticulata)

Feeder Guppy are bred as feeder fishes for the big fish to eat them. Feeder guppies can be fancy guppy culls, mutts, bad broodstock or wild forms. Most feeder guppies you see are wild forms with some fancy traits or none. They are not 100% wild guppies. The feeder guppies are more bigger than Endler's livebearers but smaller than Fancy guppies. The feeder guppies can be attractive as their random patterns and their neon colors are very striking but not striking as Endler's livebearers. Feeder guppies are much hardier than fancy guppies but because of the feeder fish conditions they in, are always heavily diseased. But with some medical, they are very easy fish to take care of, just add water and they will breed.

Temp: 76-86*F
Size: Males 1 inch long, Females 2 1/4 inch long.
Fry size: Can have up to 100 fry but the average is 60.
Diet: Not fussy eaters as you can feed to them anything through they like plant matter.
Minimun tank size: 10gal for three trios.
p.h: 5.5 to 8.0

Other names: Millionfish, Common Guppy, Wild Guppy.

Endler's Livebearer (Poecilia wingei)

Endler's Guppy are small colorful relative of the Common guppy which they are separted species. Endlers are smaller than feeder guppies but much hardier than feeder guppies, probably because the Endlers are not in bad tank conditions as the feeder guppies are in. Not highly inbred as Fancy guppy but will hybridizing with to get more colors which that is why the purebred endlers are very rare than hybrids. Both purebred and hybrid endlers are rarely offered for sale in the Local Fish Stores but more common in the local fish auction and online sale such as aquabid. The males are very much colorful than the feeder guppies as they are vibrant. Don't put any endlers in the same tank as the common guppies in as the purebred endlers are very rare. The females are dull grey.

Temp: 79-83*F
Size: Males 1 1/4 inch long, females 2 inch long.
Fry Size: will have up to 50 but average is 30 fry.
Diet: Not fussy eaters as they can take any prepared foods such as flakes but they love plant matters more than anything.
Minimun tank size: 10gal for three trios.
p.h: 6.8-8.0

Other names: Endler's Guppy, Endler's Livebearer.

Sailfin Molly (Poecilia latippina)

Common molly species that you found in your local fish store area as the males only have sail like dorsal fin, through the aquarium strains are smaller than wild types. The males use this sail fin to impress the females which lack of sail like fins. Sailfin mollies are brackish water species through they can breed in both freshwater and full saltwater. Sailfin mollies do fare in brackish water and full saltwater than in freshwater which the LFS always sell them in. All aquarium strains of the sailfin mollies are already hybrids, made of four species of the molly: Mexican sailfin, Sailfin, Sphenops and Shortfin. They can be aggressive toward to other tankmates sometimes but most of time the sailfin mollies are very peaceful. The sailfin mollies are smaller than the Mexican sailfin molly. The wild types are much bigger than the aquarium strains as the wild types can reach more than 6 inches long.

Temp: 77-83*F
Size: Wild type- 6 inches long.
Aquarium strains- 4 inches long.
Fry Size: will have up to 120 but average is 60 fry.
Diet: Mostly plant matter but will take prepared foods.
Minimum tank size: Wild types- 100gal
Aquarium strains- 50gals for three trios.
p.h: 8.0 and up.

Mexican Sailfin Molly (Poecilia velifera)

More bigger than normal sailfin mollies and also more dorsal rays than normal sailfin mollies. Their home range is in the Mexico while the sailfin mollies’ home range is in Southern United States such as Florida. They are much do fare in brackish water than the normal sailfins as the Mexican sailfins are always found in the mouth of the rivers connect to the sea. Their information and requirements are same as Sailfin Molly. Aquarium strains are mostly likely hybrids with Sailfin and Sphenops.

Temp: 77-83*F
Size: Wild type- 7 inches long
Aquarium strains- 5 inches long.
Fry size: Average 60 fry.
Diet: Mostly plant matter but will take frozen foods such as bloodworms or Daphia.
Minimum tank size: Wild type- 125 gals
Aquarium strains: 50gals for two trios.
p.h: 8.0 and up.

Shortfin Molly (Poecilia mexicana)

Another common species of the mollies but smaller than the sailfin mollies as the shortfin doesn’t have any sail-like dorsal fins. They do well in brackish water just like other mollies but can handle freshwater very well as long as you add the salt to the tank for their health. Aquarium strains of shortfins are already hybrids with Sailfin and Sphenops which that is why some male sailfins have small sail fins, other males doesn’t have any of the sail fins.

Temp: 77-83*F
Size: 5 inch long in wild types
3 inch long in aquarium strains.
Fry size: Average 60 fry.
Diet: Plant matters but will take prepared foods.
Minimum tank: 30 gal for two trios.
p.h: 7.0-8.0

Liberty Molly (Poecilia sphenops)

Beautiful molly species, speckled with different colors such as yellow, orange, black and white. They are very different looking from the rest of the mollies as the Liberty mollies have pointed mouths and lack of the sail- like dorsal fins. However the Sphenops are not hardy as the sailfins due to their sensitive to the water quality or they can succumbed to the disease such as velvet disease. They are better off in the brackish water than in freshwater through some wild type Sphenops are found in the inland waters in their home range.

Temp: 79-85*
Size: 3 inch long.
Fry size: Average is 40 fry.
Diet: Plant matters but will take prepared foods.
Minimum tank: 30gal
p.h: 8.0 and up.

Other names: Black Molly, Sphenops, Point mouthed Molly.

Balloon Molly (Poecila spp.) hybrids

Weird-looking molly, which actually are bred for its deformed backs cause they looks like balloon shape and can be dangerous effects in some balloon mollies as there’s no room for internal organs. Balloon mollies are 100% hybrids, made out of all four species of mollies that found in the aquarium trades. Balloon mollies are much proflic breeder in the molly group as they always threw more fry than any mollies. They are much aggressive than normal mollies as they are always picking on other tankmates. The balloon mollies can breed in freshwater, brackish and full salt water, but majority of the balloon mollies are kept in the freshwater.

Avoid Tattooed Balloon Mollies!

Temp: 77-85*
Size: 3 inch long
Fry size: 60 fry is average.
Diet: plant matter but will take prepared foods.
Minimum tank size: 30gal
p.h: 6.0 to 8.0

Other names: Potbelly Molly, Pot Bellied Molly.

Green Swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri)

You can’t mistake this male livebearer for any fish as they have swords on its base tail. The only male swordtails has sword while the females doesn’t have any swords expect in the lyre strains which both sexes has two swords on top and bottom of caudal fins. The males can be aggressive to each other if the females are present. They are not herbivores like the Poecilia family. Guppies, Endlers and Mollies belong to the Poecilia while Swordtails and Platies belong to the Xiphophorus. They are known as jumper which they can jump out the tank if you don’t keep the tank covered. Also swordtails and platies don’t need require any salt in their water unlike the mollies. The parents are predatory which they can hunt down their own fry and other fishes that are smaller than swordtails’ mouths. Female swordtails are much slender than the Southern Platy and Variatus and also has more dorsal rays than both Platies. Aquarium strains are much smaller than purebred swordtails as the aquarium strains are already hybrids with Platies and Variatus, cause the swordtails getting smaller due to the hybridization.

Temp: 72-83*F
Size: Males 7 inch long (swords are included) females 5 inch long
• Red eyed Super blood swordtails can reach more than 7 inch long in both sexes.*
• Aquarium strains- Males 5 inch long, females 4 inch long

Fry Size: Average is 60 fry.
Diet: Like frozen bloodworms but will take prepared foods
Tank size: Swordtails- 50gals
Aquarium strains- 30gals for 6 females and a male.
p.h: 6.8 - 9.5

Southern Platy (Xiphophorus maculatus)

Other popular livebearers next to the fancy guppies, they are hardier than fancy guppies but not hardier as endlers livebearers due to its highly inbred and the store tank conditions. The southern platy is most peaceful Xiphophorus than swordtails and are bred for the colors and the unique finnage such as crown tailed or plume tailed. The southern platy is fatter than variatus platy and less dorsal rays than both swordtails and the variatus.

Temp: 70-77*F
Size: Males 2 inch long, Females 3 inch long.
*Dwarf Sunset Platy reached just a one inch long and the balloon platies can reach more than 1 3/4 inches long.
Fry Size: Average is 60 fry.
Diet: love frozen bloodworms but will take prepared foods.
Tank size: 20gal
*Dwarf and Balloon Platy- 10gal*
p.h: 6.8 - 9.5

Other names: Common platy, platyfish, platties, moonfish.

Variatus Platy (Xiphophorus variatus)

Third common Xiphophorus species in the aquarium trade and are much colorful than Southern platy and the swordtail. The variatus platy are subtropical species which they like cooler water but not freezing point. The variatus are thought to be hybrids between the Southern platy and the swordtails but now separated species. The females are dull and the males are much bright. The sunset platy and sunset swordtails are mostly like variatus hybrids as the variatus are known as sunset platy. The variatus are more slender than southern platy but not slender as swordtail. More dorsal rays than southern platy. Some males are known to carry gravid spot which they are not pregnant. Variatus are often used as feeder platies.

Temp: 68 - 77*F
Size: Males 2 3/4 inch long, females 3 inch long.
Fry size: 40 fry is average.
Diet: Plant matters but will take prepared foods.
Tank size: 30gal
p.h: 6.8 - 9.5

Other names: Variable platy, sunset platy, parrot platy and variable platy, feeder variatus, feeder platy.

All Xiphophorus species are already hybrids in the LFS as some platies have short swords and some swordtails' swords are colorless or shorter than wild types. They are also less proflic than purebred.

Western Mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis)

Another common livebearers in the local pet store, through not for community aquarium purposes. They are used for feeder fishes, just like feeder guppies and feeder variatus. Sometimes the mosquitofish are mislabeled as feeder guppies in some local pet stores. They look like female guppy but have tear drops on its eyes and the mouth are pointed like duck than cow. The mosquitofish are often found in the feeder fishes such as goldfish, guppies and red rosy minnows. The mosquitofish are also used for mosquito control which is useless as they can displace the natives by eat their eggs and youngsters. The mosquito fish makes excellent pond fish with the koi and the goldfish which are too big for mosquito fish nipping their fins. This is not same species as Heterandria Formosa which are different fish with different personalities.

Temp: 60-90*F
Size: males 1 1/2 inch long females 3 inch long.
Fry size: the average is 50 fry.
Diet: Bloodworm, red flakes and live foods but will take prepared foods.
Tank size: 30gal
p.h: 6.8- 9.5

Other names: Damnusia, Gambusia, Mosquito fish, Skeeters.

Lilfishie · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 5:27 pm Post subject:

i was never lucky enough to find any endlers in my LFS, but then i found a breeder that is quite local so picked up a few there only problem is there only male, now i need to find some females Rolling Eyes

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Duck and Dive · Site Admin Joined: 05 May 2008 Posts: 59

This topic is pin worthy. Add some more info if you can.
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Lilfishie · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 8:47 pm Post subject:

i think this topic could do with a few pictures just to show a few of them and they will split the text up a little Very Happy

i have some endler pictures you could use, and could find some of my guppies in my larger photobucket album, i sware you can get lost in there Rolling Eyes

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Duck and Dive · Site Admin Joined: 05 May 2008 Posts: 59

As you are a mod you have the function to edit posts as well as me.
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Duck and Dive · Site Admin Joined: 05 May 2008 Posts: 59

Even better with pics!! Very Happy

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