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Livebearers give birth to free-swimming fry instead of laying eggs. Guppies, endlers, platies, mollies and swordtails are colorful, active and generally hardy, which is why they are often recommended for beginners.
Two things matter more than anything else. First, most livebearers prefer moderately hard to hard, alkaline water; mollies in particular struggle in soft, acidic water. Second, they breed constantly. Keep one male for every two or three females so males do not harass a single female, and plan in advance what you will do with fry: an all-male tank is a simple option.
- Temperature: 72-79 °F (22-26 °C) for most; platies and swordtails tolerate slightly cooler water.
- Tank size: guppies and endlers fit 10-15 gallons (40-60 L); mollies and swordtails need 25-30 gallons (100-120 L) or more.
- Diet: omnivores that appreciate vegetable matter; spirulina flakes are a good staple.
Fancy guppies with long fins are vulnerable to nippers, so avoid tiger barbs and serpae tetras. Buy from healthy stock: heavily line-bred guppies can be fragile. Never release surplus fry; local fish stores often accept them.
Livebearers
| Species | Min. liters | Size | Temp. | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Guppy Poecilia reticulata | 14 gal (54 L) | 2 in (5 cm) | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Easy |
 Molly Poecilia sphenops | 26 gal (100 L) | 3.1 in (8 cm) | 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) | Easy |
 Platy Xiphophorus maculatus | 16 gal (60 L) | 2.4 in (6 cm) | 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) | Easy |
 Swordtail Xiphophorus hellerii | 32 gal (120 L) | 4.7 in (12 cm) | 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) | Easy |
 Endler's livebearer Poecilia wingei | 11 gal (40 L) | 1.2 in (3 cm) | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Easy |
 Least killifish Heterandria formosa | 8 gal (30 L) | 1 in (2.5 cm) | 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) | Easy |
 Sailfin molly Poecilia latipinna | 40 gal (150 L) | 3.9 in (10 cm) | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Moderate |
 Variatus platy Xiphophorus variatus | 21 gal (80 L) | 2.6 in (6.5 cm) | 64–77 °F (18–25 °C) | Easy |
No species match those filters.