Heterandria formosa

The pygmy livebearer(Heterandria formosa) I obtained a group of these fish from www.aquaculturestore.com They arrived in good shape and adapted quickly. Below, I will tell of my experience Pygmy livebearer scientific name:Heterandria formosa water conditions: Not picky Temperature: Again, not picky. Once adapted, this fish is surprisingly resilient to temperature changes and doesn't give dire consequences for accidental abuse. This fish is one of my favorites and I hope to always have them around-they don't need much room anyway! The males are one of the smallest vertebrates and are tiny in comparison to the bulky females. These fish are Native to most of the Southeastern United States(check a field guide to see if they live in your region). They are by no means colorful, but have a subtle appeal. They can withstand some abuse and are also rather prolific, the females delivering small batches of 2-3 over the course of a week or so as opposed to suddenly dropping a whole batch of fry. Works better if you don't have very much trunk space! Overall a fun fish to keep, and works great for smaller planted tanks.

General Care

Very easy to care for, and doesn't pose any difficulties. However, it is best kept by itself or with other small, mild mannered fish. While the fish sometimes do squabble over food and males may fight for dominance(something that probably never happens in the wild)they are by no means aggresive. Be sure other fish cannot eat them! The males are particularly vulnerable to this mistake.

Feeding

Not at all picky. If you wanted to, you could raise fry and adults on finely crushed flake. They have difficulty with larger food items but I have found a shrimp pellet will be mobbed by them as they pick away at it. They love small live foods such as daphnia and mosquito larvae. They also, like just about everything else, enjoy blackworms. Microworms are excellent for feeding a colony as everyone from newborn fry to adults can eat them. They really enjoy them and eat them readily. Frozen baby brine shrimp may work but my fish did not particularly enjoy it.

Breeding

If kept by themselves in a well planted tank, they will breed for themselves. One of the females gave birth to 2 fry 1 day after she was removed from the shipping box. The males carefully follow the females often manuevering precisely to stay directly behind a female. At the right moment when the female is not paying attention they dart in and attempt to fertilize the female with the long gonopodium. The fry can be raised on microworms, crushed flake, and similar foods. They can usually be left with the adults who only make half hearted attempts to eat them. They grow quickly and you can tell the females from the males as the females will develop a black spot on the anal fin that mirrors that of the dorsal. The males don't as the anal fin will change into a gonopodium.

Pictures soon.

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