Livebearer whose young are born one at a time, hours apart, over several days. Adults do not eat the fry. Females mature at about 8 weeks, males at 5 weeks; the fry are the smallest of any Cuban poeciliid.
One male with 3 females.
20-30 L planted tank with floating plants and hard water.
Warm, stable water and live food.
Up to about 35 young per brood after a gestation of 28-45 days.
Baby brine shrimp and powdered flake; fry are small.
One breeding tank for the black-barred livebearer, drawn to scale from the breeding guide.
Water: 24–28 °C · hard water
A plan from the breeding guide and an adult size of 4 cm. Tank shape is a standard 2 : 1 : 1.2 box, at least 6 adult lengths long. Check each step in the guide above.
A 120 cm rack for breeding the black-barred livebearer in numbers.
In total: 6 tanks, about 200 L of water. A litre of water weighs about 1 kg, so check that the floor and rack can take the weight.
Sizes are worked out from the breeding tank in the guide. Tanks fit a standard 120 cm rack when they can; bigger tanks go on their own stands.
Males are smaller (about 3 cm vs 5 cm), deeper-bodied and more angular, with a gonopodium; females have a simple pointed anal fin.
Typical for livebearers
A dark 'gravid spot' grows behind the belly. Gestation is usually about 4 weeks.
Fry are born ready to swim. Thick plants or a breeding box keep them safe from adults.
Feed crushed flake, baby brine shrimp or microworms 3–5 times a day.
Males start to show color and a pointed anal fin. Separate them if you want to control lines.
Most livebearers are grown and can breed at about 3 months.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
A dark 'gravid spot' grows behind the belly. Gestation is usually about 4 weeks.
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.