Tropical Fish Keeping banner

Thinking about breeding live bearers but which one

2K views 12 replies 2 participants last post by  Tattoo Tippy 
#1 ·
Ok so I have kicked this idea around for a long time and I really think it's time to start live bearer colony. But I'm at a loss for which ones to do, so hoping you guys could help point me toward one. I'm going to start small with 1 or 2 tanks but I can see them expanding to 4-5 tanks pretty fast. These will be on top of my other tanks I currently have.


Guppy are one of my favorite fish ever but the guppy is very common and most people that do live bearers have guppies.

Endler is really gaining in popularity and look pretty close to the guppy so the same things I love about the guppy I get in the endler. The big draw back is getting a pure endler not one that is mixed, I have a dozen or so right now that are mixed but if I do it I want a better group to start with. And the fact that they are extinct in the wild does make me think they are the best idea.

Swordtails I like but they don't have the character that the guppy or endlers have for me. They are larger which I like but I don't get excited when I see them swim around the tank like the little guys.

Molly are in the same group for me that the Swordtails is in. I don't get excited when they are in the tank. And I like the swordtail better.

Platy is a weird fish for me, I read up on them and it all says I should like these guys as much as the guppy but when I see them in the tanks a the fish store I just walk past them. I might set up a 10g and get 2 pairs of Platy to see if those guys can grow on me.

Others I have read a lot on the different live bearers and while I would like to set up a tank or two for some of these I don't see me setting up a fish room full of them.


My goal is to have colony tanks set up with live plants and allow the fish and fry to live together. I know most of the fry won't survive up that is fine. I will be watching the tanks to make sure the numbers stay strong and if I see them start to dwindle I can start pulling fry to help more grow out. In the end I would like to be able to sale some of the fish off to others or end send free ones to people that want to enjoy the hobby also.

So whats your suggestion on which fish to get?
 
See less See more
#2 ·
What you wrote is exactly how I feel....I will post a pic of my Endler I really lucked out with him he is a pure breed and seems to be the most colorful non hybrid I have ever seen. I did go the guppy route also because of smaller size I am limited to space and having my dream tanks for now. I have learned so many interesting facts about the Guppy/Endler clan I am happy with my choice. I also let them birth naturally and with this "non cannibalistic" gang I have now 50 out of 55 fry have survived. I have netted each batch and put them in a nursery net for the first week just to make sure they are getting enough food then release. My females are very good mommies and keep the 2 boys in check when one is laboring (I love nature) I have my first small batch of 6 Guppy/Endlers and I am pleased with the results but again I think it is because "Mr.Endler" is spectacular. Waiting to see what they will look like is so much fun :) It is so hard not to keep them all. I have had 98% pros only 2% cons with my choice. I hope you will find your decision easy and I look forward to seeing whatever your colony becomes Good luck to you!

Tiffany
 
#3 ·
I saw some Endlers online but $45 for a trio isn't going to happen. I might get some at the local pet store and breed those.

I did look at some Platy at the store but none of them jumped out at me so I didn't bring any home.
 
#5 ·
Nice! I look forward to seeing some pics :) I was so lucky that what I thought was a small female guppy turned out to be an Endler......what you had to say here sparked my Endler interest and after some research I decided not to let Mr. Endler breed with the guppies (unless they are exquisite) and I am going to set up another 10 gallon just for my Endler pair plus add one or two more female Endlers. I have plenty of fry that maybe a guppy/endler mix plus whatever my females decide to hold onto. I really want to honor the Endler species and try to keep them from mix breeding. My juvenile male Endler is coloring up quite nicely which was also a deciding factor for me :) Yeah its an Endler breeding Thread now :)
 
#11 ·
I love him! He wants to populate the world ;) He was one of the first fish I bought :) There was a juvenile in his tank even more spectacular and I tried to get him too but the pet store worker dropped him on the floor and under the steps he went :( On a happier note "Big Mama" had 30 fry this morning and you said it first, it never gets old!
 
#12 ·
I was looking at my current guppies and Endlers and I really want to try and breed some of those they have great colors. I didn't want to start two breeding lines but think I will. Maybe one line I get from a breeder and one line just for fun with my current stock to see where it goes.

Here is one of my male guppies that I was surprised with the red in his tail fin. No idea where that color came from his mom and dad where both blue(mom was almost as blue as some males I have seen) The photo isn't great I know but they won't stay still.
Freshwater aquarium Aquarium Nature reserve Fish Rock
 
#13 ·
That is so cool! I can't stop mine from breeding! I started these tanks after 2 of my cats passed away just a few months apart the latter of the 2 I had since I was 19 :( So I wanted to see the flip side of the circle of life, boy did I get it! My live plants brought in all types of life from the obvious pond snails, damsel flies (I removed those) and aquatic moths that actually metamorphisized into the moths which I released outside! Now I have about 80 fry/juveniles in 3 tanks! My Lfs is going to take when the Guppies are one inch. I have to admit it will be hard to see them go but my biggest female is on the 28 day cycle now so I now there will be lots more.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top