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Live Bearing Fish Reproduction. Dr. Craig Kasper HCC Aquaculture Program Spring 2007. sailfin molly , Poecilia latipinna. Introduction. Live bearing or ovoviviparous fish
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Live Bearing Fish Reproduction Dr. Craig Kasper HCC Aquaculture Program Spring 2007
sailfin molly, Poecilia latipinna Introduction • Live bearing or ovoviviparous fish • Species of interest to aquarists are almost always members of the family Poeciliidae, most commonly guppies, mollies, platies and swordtails. • Live-bearing fish are often easy to spawn and provide a great introduction to the hobby of fish aquariums.
Mollies (Poecilia spp.) • Habitat: fresh, marine, brackish (preferring marshes, lowland streams, swamps and estuaries in the Americas. • Food: algae, plants, aquatic invertebrates, mosquitoes. • Temperature: • Reproduction: Internal fertilization (gonopodium ♂) • Gestation: 3-4 weeks • Brood size: 10-140 (live) • Parental Care: None
Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) • Habitat: fresh, marine, aquaria, hard water pH 5.5-8.5 • Temperature: 22°C-28°C (68°F-82°F) • Food: omnivors • Reproduction: Internal fertilization, ♀ “gravid spot” near the anus enlarges and darkens. Females store sperm (can result in multiple spawns from the same sperm (superfetation) • Gestation: 3 -4wks • Brood size: 20-60 • Parental Care: None
Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) Guppie morphs!
Platyfish (Xiphophorus spp.) • Habitat: They prefer water with a 7.0–8.0 pH, moderately hard • Temperature: 18°C-25°C (64°F-77°F) • Food: omnivors • Reproduction: Internal fertilization, slight sexual dimorphism (male’s caudal fin slightly pointed) • Gestation: 3 -4wks • Brood size: 40-50 • Parental Care: None Xiphophorus maculatus
Butterfly SplitfinAmeca splendens • Habitat: They prefer water with a 7.0 pH, moderately soft water • Temperature: 20°C-25°C (68°F-77°F) • Food: omnivors (voracious) • Reproduction: Internal fertilization, slight sexual dimorphism • Gestation: 6 wks • Brood size: 40-50 • Parental Care: None
Halfbeaks (many) • Habitat: brackish water (hard), pH 7.0-7.5 • Temperature: 20°C-25°C (68°F-77°F) • Food: omnivors • Reproduction: Internal fertilization • Gestation: 6 wks • Brood size: <50 • Parental Care: None
Halfbeaks (genus) • Arrhamphus • Chriodorus • Dermogenys • Euleptorhamphus • Hemirhamphodon • Hemiramphus • Hyporhamphus • Melapedalion • Nomorhamphus • Oxyporhamphus • Rhynchorhamphus • Reporhamphus • Tondanichthys • Zenarchopterus