Breeding the one-spot livebearer
Easy livebearer. Keep more females than males; with good feeding and dense planting the fry are safe with the adults.
Step by step
One male with 3 or more females.
Planted 40 L tank with floating plants and no strong flow.
Warm water and a varied diet.
10-50 young per brood; gestation about 24 days (FishBase) to 4-6 weeks depending on temperature (Seriously Fish). Fry eat microworms and newly hatched Artemia at once.
Crushed flake and baby brine shrimp; the fry are tiny and need cover.
- Too many males
- No hiding cover
- Large tankmates
Male or female
Males are much smaller (about 3.5 cm) with a prominent gonopodium; females are larger, to about 6-7 cm.
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.