14 replies to this topic

[markk039]

hi all was thinking about cross breeding a few of my guppys with swordtails and then at a later crossing their fry with mollys and idea on how to go about this? Any info is welcome. Thanks

[nmonks]

Why? What would you do with the fry? Do you think anyone would want them? In any case, guppies won't cross with swordtails; too distantly related. Mollies crossed with guppies has been done, but the results weren't particularly interesting.

If you want to breed fish, concentrate on quality rather than novelty. There's plenty of scope for breeding interesting livebearers, especially ones that aren't commonly traded, such as Limia, dwarf mosquitofish, goodeids, and halfbeaks.

Cheers, Neale

[markk039]

thanks alot for the comment and i just thought that cross breeding them may produce some interesting results and i also like the suggestions of livebearing fish the are nice fish. Thanks again Mark

[markk039]

can you give me other suggestions of freshwater livebarers please

[fish48]

you will get more interesting results with guppys
you can try to fix your own colour strain or develop different fin shapes.
this nice looking round tail snakeskin came from a shop bought Half Black female Guppy.
to improve or fix this colour strain i will breed him back to one of He's sisters

[markk039]

nice work mate that is impressive looking

[XFiSh_CichildX]

that is a nice guppy like

[nmonks]

Do you want to breed a variety of a common species (i.e., guppy, molly, platy, or swordtail) or do you want to breed a "rare" species (not necessarily rare as such, simply less easily found in pet shops). I've got little interest in breeding the four common species, but I do enjoy the halfbeaks a good deal, and recommend them highly if you're reasonably good at providing specific water chemistry conditions.

Goodeids are another overlooked group, and while some species are nippy or downright thuggish, their pushy personalities and the sheer size of their babies at birth make them very interesting fish. Ameca splendens is quite widely traded, Xenotoca eiseni also widely sold, and if you know where to look, you can find other species as well; just last week I came across another Xenotoca species, an Ilyodon species, and a Characodon species at Wildwoods in London.

Then there are the pike livebearers that need careful feeding and maintenance, but are so extraordinary in appearance that they totally shatter the idea that "livebearers = guppies".

Cheers, Neale

can you give me other suggestions of freshwater livebarers please

[markk039]

i would be interested in going down the line of guppy breeding and ajusting finnage and colour to produce the best results however after hearing of the freshwater pike i became more interested in the rarer types of live bearers and now i cannot decide which way to go.

Thanks Mark...

Edited by markk039, 27 February 2011 - 07:11 PM.

[fish48]

guppys are a good fish to start with
pike livebearers are nice fish and will be very expensive to look after them properly.
goodeids from a shops in most cases dont know the location and some dont know what they are selling
i whent to a pet shop not long ago they had Ameca splendens for sale they tald me they were wild caught
they will tale you any thing to sale a fish as nele as sead a shop selling Xenotoca species which one is it there are up to 5 species of them in the uk they all look very similar and Ilyodon species they all look the same unless you can get them from very reliebe People thet have location info or better still if you know the persons thet collect the fish., there are 2 recognized Ilyodon species Ilyodon whitei and Ilyodon furcidens and many sub species they all look a like any goodeid from a pet shop can only be put Down to being a aquarium a strain.



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Ilyodon whitei female

[markk039]

thanks very much mate and that is a nice fish i will have to look into acquiring other species of live bearers.
thanks again mark

any other info on live bearers will be appreciated...

[OldMan47]

The case of finding Ameca splendens that are "wild caught" is indeed interesting Fish48. Although I have a tank of Amecas, I am well aware that no Ameca has been seen in the wild in over 20 years. The IUCN lists them as extinct in the wild with a last siting that was quite long ago. They are delightful fish and that is why I keep them but any shop that doesn't even know a fish is extinct in the wild had better not try citing the source of their fish. BTW, that is a nice looking female that you have.
Markk039, if you want some decorative fish that are a little harder to find, why not look into something like Characodon lateralis. They are quite colorful and also are easy to care for. My own have collection information and are happily living and reproducing in a 29 gallon tank. The nice red fin edge colors add a lot to a tank when my wife constantly remarks on the simple looking fishing minnows in my tanks. At least she can appreciate them.

[markk039]

thanks for the info!!!!! and those fish are nice and will definitely come into consideration when i next stock my tanks. thanks again, Mark

[OldMan47]

Glad to be able to help Mark. If you get really interested in hard to find livebearers, try going to the ALA or the BLA site to find fish that interest you. At ALA, you will find my own fish and those of other American located fish keepers. At the BLA site, you will find similar posts by specialists in the UK. Either place is a site worth visiting for people new to livebearers who have a more general interest in their fish.

[helterskelter]

The case of finding Ameca splendens that are "wild caught" is indeed interesting Fish48. Although I have a tank of Amecas, I am well aware that no Ameca has been seen in the wild in over 20 years. The IUCN lists them as extinct in the wild with a last siting that was quite long ago. They are delightful fish and that is why I keep them but any shop that doesn't even know a fish is extinct in the wild had better not try citing the source of their fish. BTW, that is a nice looking female that you have.
Markk039, if you want some decorative fish that are a little harder to find, why not look into something like Characodon lateralis. They are quite colorful and also are easy to care for. My own have collection information and are happily living and reproducing in a 29 gallon tank. The nice red fin edge colors add a lot to a tank when my wife constantly remarks on the simple looking fishing minnows in my tanks. At least she can appreciate them.

Just an update on wild Ameca's

They have been rediscovered living in the wild, but so far only in a single pool.

As for shop's having wild caught fish then this is not possible! If they was then then the Mexican government could do them. As only the "Fish Ark" has had permission to collect them for their collection and breeding programs.