Livebearers are aquarium fish that retain the eggs inside the body and give birth to live, free-swimming young. Among aquarium fish, livebearers are nearly all members of the family Poeciliidae and include guppies, mollies, platies and swordtails.

What does Livebearer mean in fish?

Guppies and their relatives are known as livebearers or, more scientifically, ovoviviparous, meaning that the female fish is inseminated internally - like mammals - with the eggs developing and hatching internally. She then gives birth to live young, which fend for themselves as soon as they are born.

What small fish are livebearers?

Their peaceful nature and constant activity make them popular with fish keepers, young and old. Livebearers get their name because they give birth to live babies instead of laying eggs like most fish! They include guppies, mollies, platies and swordtails, as well as goodeids, halfbeaks and anableps.