Live Bearing Fish Reproduction

Dr. Craig KasperDr. Craig KasperHCC Aquaculture ProgramHCC Aquaculture Program

Spring 2007Spring 2007

Introduction

• Live bearing or ovoviviparous fishLive bearing or ovoviviparous fish• Species of interest to aquarists are almost always Species of interest to aquarists are almost always

members of the family members of the family PoeciliidaePoeciliidae, most commonly , most commonly guppiesguppies, , molliesmollies, , platiesplaties and swordtails. and swordtails.

• Live-bearing fish areLive-bearing fish are

often easy to spawn often easy to spawn

and provide a great and provide a great

introduction to the hobbyintroduction to the hobby

of fish aquariums.of fish aquariums.

sailfin molly, Poecilia latipinna

Mollies (Poecilia spp.)

• HabitatHabitat: fresh, marine, brackish (preferring marshes, lowland : fresh, marine, brackish (preferring marshes, lowland streams, swamps and estuaries in the Americas.streams, swamps and estuaries in the Americas.

• FoodFood: algae, plants, aquatic invertebrates, mosquitoes.: algae, plants, aquatic invertebrates, mosquitoes.

• TemperatureTemperature: :

• ReproductionReproduction: Internal fertilization (gonopodium : Internal fertilization (gonopodium ♂♂))

• GestationGestation: 3-4 weeks: 3-4 weeks

• Brood sizeBrood size: 10-140 (live): 10-140 (live)

• Parental CareParental Care: None: None

Guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

• HabitatHabitat: fresh, marine, aquaria, hard water : fresh, marine, aquaria, hard water pH 5.5-8.5pH 5.5-8.5

• TemperatureTemperature: 22: 22°°C-28C-28°°C (68C (68°°F-82F-82°°F)F)

• FoodFood: omnivors: omnivors

• ReproductionReproduction: Internal fertilization, : Internal fertilization, ♀ “gravid spot” ♀ “gravid spot” near the anus near the anus enlarges and darkens. Females store sperm (can result in multiple enlarges and darkens. Females store sperm (can result in multiple spawns from the same sperm spawns from the same sperm (superfetation)(superfetation)

• GestationGestation: 3 -4wks : 3 -4wks

• Brood sizeBrood size: 20-60 : 20-60

• Parental CareParental Care: None: None

Guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

Guppie morphs!Guppie morphs!

Platyfish (Xiphophorus spp.)

• HabitatHabitat: They prefer water with a 7.0–8.0 pH, moderately hard : They prefer water with a 7.0–8.0 pH, moderately hard

• TemperatureTemperature: 18: 18°°C-25C-25°°C (64C (64°°F-77F-77°°F)F)

• FoodFood: omnivors: omnivors

• ReproductionReproduction: Internal fertilization, slight sexual dimorphism: Internal fertilization, slight sexual dimorphism(male’s caudal fin slightly pointed)(male’s caudal fin slightly pointed)

• GestationGestation: 3 -4wks : 3 -4wks

• Brood sizeBrood size: 40-50 : 40-50

• Parental CareParental Care: None: None

Xiphophorus maculatus

Butterfly Splitfin Ameca splendens

• HabitatHabitat: They prefer water with a 7.0 pH, moderately soft water: They prefer water with a 7.0 pH, moderately soft water

• TemperatureTemperature: 20: 20°°C-25C-25°°C (68C (68°°F-77F-77°°F)F)

• FoodFood: omnivors (voracious): omnivors (voracious)

• ReproductionReproduction: Internal fertilization, slight sexual dimorphism: Internal fertilization, slight sexual dimorphism

• GestationGestation: 6 wks : 6 wks

• Brood sizeBrood size: 40-50 : 40-50

• Parental CareParental Care: None: None

Halfbeaks (many)

• HabitatHabitat: brackish water (hard), pH 7.0-7.5: brackish water (hard), pH 7.0-7.5

• TemperatureTemperature: 20: 20°°C-25C-25°°C (68C (68°°F-77F-77°°F)F)

• FoodFood: omnivors: omnivors

• ReproductionReproduction: Internal fertilization: Internal fertilization

• GestationGestation: 6 wks : 6 wks

• Brood sizeBrood size: <50: <50

• Parental CareParental Care: None: None

Halfbeaks (genus)

• ArrhamphusArrhamphus• ChriodorusChriodorus• DermogenysDermogenys• EuleptorhamphusEuleptorhamphus• HemirhamphodonHemirhamphodon• HemiramphusHemiramphus• HyporhamphusHyporhamphus• MelapedalionMelapedalion• NomorhamphusNomorhamphus• OxyporhamphusOxyporhamphus• RhynchorhamphusRhynchorhamphus• ReporhamphusReporhamphus• TondanichthysTondanichthys• ZenarchopterusZenarchopterus