Guppies are probably the first fish that comes to mind when considering livebearers.
However, there are plenty of other types of livebearers that you may not know about, each with its unique characteristics and behaviors.
This article will discuss 15 different types of livebearers that you may not have heard of before!
1. Guppy
The guppy is one of the most popular types of livebearers.
They are easy to care for and breed and come in various colors and patterns. Guppies are peaceful fish that do well in community tanks.
They are live-bearing fish, which means they give birth to live young. Guppies can have up to 60 babies at a time!
When you breed them with other varieties of guppies, you can get exciting color combinations like black speckles on blue or yellow fins.
In addition to being fun pets, guppies make great food for larger fish because they are small and don’t taste too bad.
If you keep your tank in an area with direct sunlight during the day, your guppies will grow better because sunlight helps them produce more vitamin D3.
2. Swordtail
The swordtail is a common livebearer that is easy to care for.
They are peaceful fish that do well in community tanks. Swordtails can grow about 4 inches long and live for 5-7 years.
They are easy to breed and make good parents. The swordtail is a hardy fish that can tolerate various water conditions.
Swordtails have the potential to reach up to 4 in length and live between 5-7 years, making them one of the longest-living types of livebearers.
Because they are so prolific, they are also one of the more accessible livebearers to breed.
3. Platy
The platy is a small, colorful freshwater fish popular in home aquariums.
They are livebearers, meaning they give birth to live young rather than laying eggs.
Platies are easy to care for and make a great addition to any community tank.
Different color and pattern morphs are available to find the perfect fish for your aquarium.
These hardy little guys will adapt well to your tank if it has clean water and plenty of hiding places.
Their fecal matter does not affect the water quality like other types of fish might!
Females do have an egg spot on their bellies. Males may have darker colors around the head and fins, but this isn’t always present.
They typically grow 2-3 inches long and should be kept in groups of at least six or more, with at least two females per male.
4. Endler’s Livebearer
Endler’s livebearer is a small fish native to freshwaters in South America.
The males of this species are brightly colored, while the females are drab.
These fish are live-bearing, meaning they give birth to live young rather than laying eggs.
Endler’s livebearer is a popular aquarium fish due to its bright colors and easy care.
It will readily breed with other livebearers, which can help start new tanks.
Males have a single black spot on their side, making them easily distinguishable from females.
Endler’s livebearer is not an aggressive species and does not usually cause problems in aquarium setups.
They may occasionally nibble at plants or gravel if hungry, but these fish prefer to eat algae or pellets as feeder foods.
5. Common Molly
The common molly is a small fish that is popular in home aquariums.
They are easy to care for and can live in various water conditions.
Common mollies are peaceful fish that get along well with other tank mates.
They are livebearers, which means they give birth to live young.
Common mollies are in various colors, including black, silver, gold, and copper.
They are not native to North America but have been bred here since the late 1800s.
Common mollies eat algae, shrimp pellets, bloodworms, and brine shrimp nauplii.
Males usually grow larger than females, but both sexes will reach an average size of 3 inches long when fully grown.
The males will develop red or blue patches on their bellies as they mature and breeding season approaches, whereas the females’ bellies remain silvery white or yellowish-brown all year round.
6. Sailfin Molly
The Sailfin Molly is a common type of livebearer that is found in many pet stores.
They are peaceful fish that do well in community tanks, and they can grow about four inches long and live for five to seven years.
Sailfin Mollies are easy to care for and make a great addition to any tank.
However, they will not tolerate water with high ammonia or nitrates. They should only be kept with other peaceful species.
The Sailfin Molly is one of the most common livebearers you might see at your local pet store.
These small fish can reach up to four inches in length and have an average lifespan of five to seven years.
The Sailfin Molly is easy to care for and can thrive in a community tank environment if the water has low ammonia or nitrates.
7. Yucatan Molly
The Yucatan Molly is a beautiful fish native to the Gulf of Mexico. It has a silver body with black stripes running down its sides.
The Yucatan Molly is a peaceful fish that does well in community tanks.
It is an omnivore and will eat both plants and animals. The Yucatan Molly is a livebearing fish, giving birth to live young. The female can have up to 50 babies at a time!
After they are born, they will be alone without parental care or protection from predators.
As adults, the females get as big as 3 inches long while males are smaller than 1 inch long.
They require an aquarium temperature of 72-82 degrees Fahrenheit and a pH level between 6-8 for optimal conditions.
Like many other freshwater fish, these guys need plenty of oxygen, so ensure you provide lots of space for swimming.
These guys do not like sudden changes in water parameters, so you should keep water changes to no more than 10% per week.
8. Southern Platy
The Southern Platy is a species of freshwater fish native to Central America, and it is a livebearing fish family Poeciliidae member closely related to the guppy.
The Southern Platy is a small, colorful fish popular in the aquarium trade; males have more extended fins than females and are more brightly colored.
Females are more significant than males and can give birth to up to 30 fries at a time.
The Southern Platy is an easy fish to care for and can be kept in a community tank with other peaceful fish.
They will readily eat most types of food, including flake food, frozen bloodworms, frozen brine shrimp, and thawed daphnia.
Breeding them is also not too difficult if you provide them with a well-planted tank with plenty of hiding places, such as plastic plants or decorative rocks for the female to lay her eggs.
9. Variable Platy
The Variable Platy is a type of freshwater fish native to Central America.
They are a part of the livebearing fish family, which means they give birth to live young.
The Variable Platy is black with yellow spots and can grow about two inches long.
They are peaceful fish that do well in community tanks. The Variable Platy might be the perfect choice if you are looking for a beautiful and low-maintenance fish!
They need an aquarium of at least five gallons, preferably more than ten.
You’ll also want to ensure your tank has plenty of plants and hiding places because these fish love to explore new surroundings.
It’s important not to have rough edges on your decorations because this could harm the platies.
10. Redtail Splitfin
The Redtail Splitfin is a type of livebearer that is native to the southern United States.
They are named for their red tails and their ability to split their fins to give them more maneuverability.
These fish are also known for being hardy and easy to care for, making them a good choice for beginner aquarists.
Some everyday tank mates for Redtail Splitfins include other livebearers, danios, and guppies.
You should keep these in five or more schools as they will get lonely otherwise. Redtail Splitfins typically grow up to three inches long.
11. Skiffia multipunctata
Skiffia multipunctata is a species of fish in the Goodeidae family.
It is endemic to Mexico; it is found in several lakes in the Cuatro Cienegas Basin, including Lake Galeana, Lake Juárez, and Lake Cuitzeo. S. multipunctata is a small fish, reaching a maximum length of only 4 cm (1.6 in). It is olive-green in coloration with dark spots on its sides.
The spots are more numerous towards the fish’s tail. Its head has one or two vertical bars, which may be darker than the rest of its body. It feeds primarily on aquatic insects and worms.
Females lay eggs on plants that grow along the lake bottom.
These eggs hatch into larvae that swim near the surface until they reach maturity and live as adults at depths of up to 40 meters.
12. Four-eyed Fish
The four-eyed fish are types of livebearers that are native to South America.
These fish get their name from the two eyespots on their heads, which help them blend in with the leaves and roots in their natural habitat.
Four-eyed fish are peaceful and make good community tank mates.
They can grow about four inches long and prefer water on the acidic side.
13. Least Killifish or Midget Livebearer
The least killifish is a small, colorful fish found worldwide in fresh and brackish water habitats.
In the wild, they are known to eat mosquito larvae, small crustaceans, and other microorganisms.
They are livebearers, meaning they give birth to live young rather than laying eggs.
The males of this species are much smaller than the females and have distinctively shaped heads.
The least killifish is not a popular fish in the aquarium trade, but those who keep them find them peaceful and exciting additions to their tank.
14. Rainbow Characodon
The Rainbow Characodon is a freshwater fish native to Central and South America.
It is a livebearer, meaning it gives birth to live young rather than laying eggs.
The Rainbow Characodon is a popular aquarium fish due to its vibrant colors and exciting patterning.
Some common names for the Rainbow Characodon include characodon rainbow, characodon clownfish, and characodon.
The size of this species ranges from 2 inches to 4 inches long.
These adult fishes typically have orange or yellow coloration with black stripes on their bodies.
15. Mosquito Fish
The mosquito is a small live-bearing fish often used in mosquito control programs. As its name suggests, the mosquito fish feeds on mosquitoes.
The mosquito fish is a native of Africa but has been introduced to many other parts of the world, including the United States.
The female mosquito fish can give birth to up to 100 young people.
