Breeding the metallic livebearer
Livebearer with 10-30 fry per brood and a strong appetite for its own newborns.
Step by step
One male with 3 females.
40-60 L tank with dense plants and floating cover.
A warm, well-fed tank.
10-30 fry per brood.
Baby brine shrimp and flake; very easy to rear.
- No cover for fry
- Too many males
- Cold, stale water
Male or female
- Male: Smaller with an elongated gonopodium
- Female: Larger with a dark gravid spot
- Males have a long gonopodium and a metallic sheen
Can I breed it in my tank?
- Good for a first breeding project.
Day-by-day plan
Typical for livebearers
- 28 days beforePregnancy
A dark 'gravid spot' grows behind the belly. Gestation is usually about 4 weeks.
- Day 0Birth
Fry are born ready to swim. Thick plants or a breeding box keep them safe from adults.
- Day 0First food
Feed crushed flake, baby brine shrimp or microworms 3–5 times a day.
- Day 28Sexing starts
Males start to show color and a pointed anal fin. Separate them if you want to control lines.
- Day 90Adults
Most livebearers are grown and can breed at about 3 months.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Simulator: guided
A dark 'gravid spot' grows behind the belly. Gestation is usually about 4 weeks.
Simulator: try it yourself
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
- The female gave birth.
- With no plants or breeding box, the adults ate most of the fry.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.