Ornamental Fish Production and Management

8.1.1 Introduction

Livebearers are fish that bear live youngones. There are two types of livebearers: ovoviviparous, where the eggs form and hatch within the female before birth; and viviparous, where no eggs are formed, and the young are nourished through an umbilical-like cord or from secretion by the female. Livebearers are generally prolific and are easily bred.

The important live bearers are guppy, molly, swordtail and platy.