Trying To Identify...

[sekhmut0402]

It's some type of Gambusia I think - females look just like feeder guppies, brown/grey colour with a black spot on the dorsal fin. I was sold three females as guppies, they live with my guppies (and corys) - two of the primary females have died since I got them, but they've all bred rather well. I now have quite a few females, and several males too - the females all look the same, the males are smaller, have huge gonopodiums, and a distinctive black stripe right along the under side.

Any ideas?

Both my adult male guppies have died recently, they appeared to have been beaten up... so, I'm seriously considering a third tank so I can seperate these whatever they are's from the guppies.

 

[BigC]

Heterandria formosa.- Least Killifish - Mosquito fish
Is this them.

 

[sekhmut0402]

Heterandria formosa.- Least Killifish - Mosquito fish
Is this them.

Thanx, I found some info about these ones, but from what it says, the females are far too big to be these. They do have very feint markings on their sides, but nothing as colourful as these guys I haven't, yet, been able to find any other livebearer with the black stripe on the underside, and this is definitely not a one off, as all the males have it.

 

[Annastasia]

Gambusia Affinis perhaps? Though the black stripe doesn't quite match...some kind of Endler? Keep in mind there are many variations these days from being hybridized with Guppies.

Any chance of a picture?

 

[sekhmut0402]

I'll try and get a pic to post here - the black stripe on the males has thrown me. I'd assumed the females were wild type guppies until the boys matured enough to show that stripe...

Did find, a few weeks back, a picture of a female fish that was EXACTLY like these ones - but can't find it anywhere now Grey, same size as a guppy, look like guppies - but one black spot on the dorsal fin.

 

[sylvia]

Are you certain the males and females are the same species?

Perhaps take a look at various brachy species.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I'll try and get a pic to post here - the black stripe on the males has thrown me. I'd assumed the females were wild type guppies until the boys matured enough to show that stripe...

Did find, a few weeks back, a picture of a female fish that was EXACTLY like these ones - but can't find it anywhere now Grey, same size as a guppy, look like guppies - but one black spot on the dorsal fin.

Oh! Sounds a bit like Belonesox belizanus(pike livebearer) am i close?

Belonesox belizanus(pike livebearer)

 

[sekhmut0402]

Oh! Sounds a bit like Belonesox belizanus(pike livebearer) am i close?

Belonesox belizanus(pike livebearer)

Thanx, but not close at all - they look just like guppies, but grey all over with a black spot on the dorsal fin, and the males have the black stripe underneath (right from the mouth to the base of the tail, gonopodium is also black and massive compared to the guppies). The females do sometimes show very feint markings on their sides, but they're not always there and are not easily seen. The body shape is the same as the guppies too.

Sylvia - there's only these guys and the guppies in my tanks (except the corys), as far as I knew, I'd only bought guppies. The guppy boys never showed any interest in these girls, but they gave birth anyway. The girls got bigger, but they have never shown a gravid spot.

Tried getting pics last night, but got nowhere

 

[BigC]

Are they Girardinus metallicus


http/www.zyworodki.akwarysta.pl/html/gal..._metallicus.htm

 

[sekhmut0402]

Are they Girardinus metallicus


http/www.zyworodki.akwarysta.pl/html/gal..._metallicus.htm

That's them!! Wow!! You found them!! Thank you!!

 

[BigC]

Problem solved then.... the membership on tihs forum usually come up with the answers you are searching for in the end.
Regards
BigC

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Correct me if im wrong, but i think Girardinus metallicus are a brackish species that has a mainly veg orientated diet?