Live Bearers

Tips on Live Bearer Aquarium Maintenance & Care

It is true that live bearing fish are fairly hardy and can tolerate a wide range of water conditions, but it is wise to keep tank conditions optimal to make sure they stay healthy and are long lived. Water temperature for guppies, mollies, platys and swordtails should be warm. They are tropical fish and they should be kept in water that is between 74 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Water should be medium hard to hard and should have a pH value between 6.5 and 8. Mollies have shown to be healthier with some salt added to the aquarium water. 1 teaspoon of aquarium salt for every 5 gallons is adequate.

Since live bearing fish breed very easily the size of tank should also be considered when keeping these fish. The smaller guppies and platys can survive in a 10 gallon home aquarium but will soon need more space when they start having babies. Mollies and swordtails should have a minimum of 20 gallons and will quickly need more space when the fry start to come. If there are plans of breeding them and raising fry then doubling the size of the tanks just mentioned would be a good idea.

Since live bearing fish are warm water fish a good fish tank heater will be needed to keep the water temperature in the desired range of these fish. Good filtration is also needed to ensure that the water is kept clean and circulated in the tank. External power filters or undergravel filters are both adequate for live bearing fish. Even with a good filter it is important to maintain the water quality of the tank by doing regular partial water changes.