Prettiest Livebearer?

[Katalyst]

So I've been reading up on livebearers and I can't seem to decide which is the prettiest, asthetically pleasing to look at. I know everyone's taste varies but I'm curious to see people's answers. One minute I think lyretail swords, the next beautiful show strain guppies and the next plumetails and mollies. And then Melody or Jay post photos of something else I've never even heard of before and in love all over again.

So what say you?

[jordonsmum]

Well.... I think we all know what my answer will be :rolleyes: :laugh:

[Katalyst]

:rofl: No kiddin'?

[traco1]

I ended up getting them all.:laugh: And it is still a toss up between the guppies, platies and swords. Doesn't help you much, does it? lol

[traco1]

The lyretail swords are kind of like Christmas with the fry though. You don't know what you are getting for number of lyre fry, standard fin fry, etc...

The male guppies are gorgeous, but require a bit more looking after re: water quality (I found that out when my male's tail started to get ragged. Upped the water changes and much better now. And the fry are all the same (gray) till they grow a bit and then the males are the ones who get the most coloring, females are more subtle.

I love my little koi platies though, you get such a mix for fry coloring.

Mollies, I have yet to have any fry so can't comment on that.

So, did you make your mind up yet?:laugh:

[Katalyst]

No this is not helpful...I think you need to post pictures :rofl:.

I'm having trouble finding any that I don't like! :twitcy: :rolleyes:

[CACAdmin]

Prettiest?... you expect me to choose????:spinny: Sailfin Mollies.

[Pamelajo]

I love any kind of lyretail. Some day will get some black lyretail mollies. I have a trio of lyretail swords.
I also have plume tail platies that I love too. Just got some endlers, so like them too.
Not helping eh?
Have limia p., H. furmosas. Had guppies for years.
There is something different about each that appeals to me.
Some I get just to breed for BAP cert. and then don't want to give them up.

[Katalyst]

Just when I was falling in love with platys....I see sailfins :swoon:
I went today to the pet store for plant plugs and just walked around looking. There were these mollies, that looked like lyre sailfins that were orange and white coloured. :swoon: Is that possible? I sailfinned lyre? Kyekesis I know I love...

I saw lyre balloons, I'm not sure how I feel about them. :nah: Most of them seemed to have problems swimming, I felt kinda bad for them.

Crud I like them all for such different reasons. The mollies just seemed the funniest to me though.

[canuck_trooper]

Apparently you cannot be left alone in the pet store or on the forums Miss Mini Mod. What to do about this. :Think:

[Katalyst]

Apparently you cannot be left alone in the pet store or on the forums Miss Mini Mod. What to do about this. :Think:

Don't you have grass to mow or something? :BOLTS:

[traco1]

Apparently you cannot be left alone in the pet store or on the forums Miss Mini Mod. What to do about this. :Think:
Hmmm, I wonder who this might be?

[Katalyst]

Hmmm, I wonder who this might be?
Never heard of the guy! :rofl:

[CACAdmin]

There were these mollies, that looked like lyre sailfins that were orange and white coloured. :swoon: Is that possible? I sailfinned lyre?
Yup, the one in my avatar is a Male Green Sailfin Lyre. Hard to see his lyre in the avatar but there are pics of my adult pair here (http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1723).

[Katalyst]

Yup, the one in my avatar is a Male Green Sailfin Lyre. Hard to see his lyre in the avatar but there are pics of my adult pair here (http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1723).

Definately one of my favorites! After looking online I think they one's I saw were called Creamsicles? They are so pretty and were very friendly when I wiggled my fingers at the tank. Jay they are beautiful!

[CACAdmin]

Thanks... and yes mollies are very sociable. They always come to the glass for attention. As far as the color, the creamsicles are very pretty.

[Katalyst]

Thanks... and yes mollies are very sociable. They always come to the glass for attention. As far as the color, the creamsicles are very pretty.

I want them all....And I just saw lyre guppies. :swoon: :wideeyed: I need to stop looking!

[traco1]

I think the lyre guppy males have the same problem as male lyretail swords, they can't breed due to the length of their gonopodium (is that the correct spelling?)

Melody will know that for sure.

[Katalyst]

I think the lyre guppy males have the same problem as male lyretail swords, they can't breed due to the length of their gonopodium (is that the correct spelling?)

Melody will know that for sure.
Population control! lol

[jordonsmum]

Don't you have grass to mow or something? :BOLTS:


Hmmmmmm married or related??!!! :laugh:

[jordonsmum]

Definately one of my favorites! After looking online I think they one's I saw were called Creamsicles? They are so pretty and were very friendly when I wiggled my fingers at the tank. Jay they are beautiful!


You mean like this one??? Only he doesn't have a lyretail
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/jordonsmum/100_5062-1.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/jordonsmum/100_5060.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/jordonsmum/100_5045.jpg

[Katalyst]

Wrap them up sold! lol They are both gorgeous! Yes like that!

[Melody]

Apparently you cannot be left alone in the pet store or on the forums Miss Mini Mod. What to do about this. :Think:

<Ignoring above kill-joy :laugh: > Pam hit the nail on the head - they all have their own appeal for different reasons. I couldn't name a fave if you paid me.

Well....

OK depends on how much you're offering, but even then I'd change my mind every other second.

Gotta love sailfins - I've never met an ugly one and they are very photogenic.

[Melody]

Oh about Balloon Bellies - they exploit a serious spinal deformity to produce those. They're deformed fish and their spine looks horribly painful. A pregnant one is almost sad to watch.:no:

[Melody]

I think the lyre guppy males have the same problem as male lyretail swords, they can't breed due to the length of their gonopodium (is that the correct spelling?)

Melody will know that for sure.

Lyre Guppies can breed. Swallows can't.

Swallow:

http://www.guppy-fish.com/guppy/img/swallow/sw01.jpg

{Photo: Guppy-fish.com}

[Katalyst]

Lyre Guppies can breed. Swallows can't.

Swallow:

http://www.guppy-fish.com/guppy/img/swallow/sw01.jpg


{Photo: Guppy-fish.com}


Yet another beauty...Man I'm in trouble.

[Katalyst]

Oh about Balloon Bellies - they exploit a serious spinal deformity to produce those. They're deformed fish and their spine looks horribly painful. A pregnant one is almost sad to watch.:no:
They remind me of the thai ranchu, they are bred for perfect tail tucks and huge wens. Beautiful fish to look at until you realize all they can do is bottom sit because they can't carry the weight of the wen or the severe angle of their tails impedes them from swimming.

[Melody]

Too extreme for my tastes or conscience. :no:

[Katalyst]

Too extreme for my tastes or conscience. :no:
Its why the rest of my ranchu are now and will be either Malaysian or Chinese.

[Katalyst]

After researching I can see now why you are fascinated with livebearers and isolating/enhancing strains. Pretty neat stuff...

[Katalyst]

C'mon Melody....Top 3 lol.

[KnaveTO]

Well mine will always be a toss-up between Swordtails and Sailfin Mollies both in the white or green variety....

[Melody]

With all of those wild-types out there? I couldn't narrow it down to a top 30....lol.

[amber2461]

My favourite Xiphophorus Montezumae :notworthy:

[Katalyst]

Ye gods I'm going to stop asking...

Swords are so pretty.

[jordonsmum]

I know that killifish are technically egg layers but for some reason i've found them on websites as "partial livebearers". I still need help figuring out how that works... but anyway... I think they are also VERY beautiful!!!

[Melody]

I know that killifish are technically egg layers but for some reason i've found them on websites as "partial livebearers". I still need help figuring out how that works... but anyway... I think they are also VERY beautiful!!!

I answered that question for you awhile back - you need to take notes...lol.

They're close, but not quite Livebearers. Livebearers are live-bearing toothcarp and Killifish are egg-laying toothcarps. There are a couple of species of Killifish that even have a gonopodium and Livebearers are thought to have evolved from them.

So no, they don't count.:NoWay:

[KnaveTO]

lol... oh Melody you are not fair... she sorta comes up with one and you dive in and take it away... I like you! :DevilGrin:

[Melody]

Its like asking what you're fave Cichlid is and saying "Whales", it just doesn't count....lol.

Besides, she likes Lyretails, so I'm not so mean!

[_BaDgUy_]

On my part, I do prefer all wild-type livebearers, even if they are dull and grey (I do have some)

I can't decide between the 12 different breeding species I have here....

X. montezumae?
X. malinche?
Brachyrhaphis roseni?
Micropoecilia picta?
Heterandria formosa?
Poeciliosis gracilis?
(and yes, I do have more than that list!)

I really can't decide!!

One thing I do prefer, is the Poecilia side of the livebearers! I don't really like the Goodeids, even if I do my best to try!!

[Melody]

Don't even try people - I've reserved his next 4 generations :laugh: .

I have them come & go, some I breed before they move on, some are just distrubuted. One of these days I'll have to count how many species have come through here.

I think my fave Goodeid that I've had was the Rainbow Goodeids.

[_BaDgUy_]

Just had a female Poeciliopsis gracilis drop a few fry this evening!! :)

[Pamelajo]

Congrats!!!!!!

[Melody]

Ah its so nice to be able to go broke shopping in Canada rather than the US for a change :rolleyes: . Congrat's on the birth!

[Katalyst]

There's a lot of that going on lately!

[Katalyst]

Congrats on your new fry. I'm scared to look at what it is, cause I'll want it. :yes:

[traco1]

Going broke or birth?

[Katalyst]

Going broke or birth?

:rofl: Going broke is easy, my goldie eggs fungused and there's nothing else giving birth here anytime soon!

:BOLTS:

[traco1]

Well then, you have to be just like Pam and talk really loud around the goldfish tank about you are going away on holidays. That'll get them going, worked for Pam, right?:laugh:

[Katalyst]

Usually they wait until I'm out, then I come home to find them munching on the last few eggs.

[Melody]

Yeah but, you can get your box next week because I'll be able to pick up your Pandas, if you still want them that is.

[Katalyst]

Yeah but, you can get your box next week because I'll be able to pick up your Pandas, if you still want them that is.
Are you kidding me!?! Yep I still want em! I can't wait for that box! Its like Christmas! Except I can't peek! We just finished making some tank stands for the 4 48's and I'm getting part of the basment as a dedicated fish room not just a tank or two here or there. Snails are low in numbers and will be moved to the snail condo soon. Allthough your fish are so pretty I doubt they'll end up in the basement. I've even gave away some cories that I had no plans of breeding. Just have to let me know what I owe you for the panda's and I'll pay pal you....Hmmm what else do ya have? lol

God I'm worse then a junkie.

[Melody]

What I have, you are getting...lol...and then some!

So then I was cleaning out a tank tonight and I thought I had a few fry in there, but when I snagged the moss out to clean it, there was fry everywhere! I thought I was seeing the same few in there. That one has a Hifin male romancing Lyre females. Then over there we have Mollies and I don't have room for all of them. In this tank we have Platy's and Platy's and more Platy's....

I got a haircut and got a real job - I can't handle all of these fish....

You should have sent a bigger box....

:;):

[traco1]

Kat, I'm excited for you! An early birthday present for you. Whatever Melody sends you is going to be fishy heaven for ya! Your four 48's are going to fill up very quickly, I foretell.

[Katalyst]

What I have, you are getting...lol...and then some!

So then I was cleaning out a tank tonight and I thought I had a few fry in there, but when I snagged the moss out to clean it, there was fry everywhere! I thought I was seeing the same few in there. That one has a Hifin male romancing Lyre females. Then over there we have Mollies and I don't have room for all of them. In this tank we have Platy's and Platy's and more Platy's....

I got a haircut and got a real job - I can't handle all of these fish....

You should have sent a bigger box....

:;):

You know I was thinking that when I was sending them too! Gah! Well I guess when I send you barnacles in December......lol
Have your brigs laying yet? Mine have slowed down now that I have tons of room for them...Nature of the beast!

Barb don't worry there's room in the 90 as well. :)

[Katalyst]

What I have, you are getting...lol...and then some!
:;):
:Flowers3: :thumbup: :red_dance: Christmas I tell ya!

[Katalyst]

Hey does that mean you won't take any bronze guppy fry? I'm holding out on Doug's bronze line which he's out of at the moment. I keep looking at his albino topaz line as well which he does have available...I can't decide! Then those lyre guppies, oh man...

[Katalyst]

I just made a mistake and looked at Limia Tridens & picta's (i think)...:swoon:

Can I have the real job and the hair cut too please? I'm becoming the crazy ole fish lady.

[traco1]

Your wishes have been granted.

Job, haircut = crazy ole fish lady

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/3/3_4_100v.gif + http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_60.gif = http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_4_144.gif

[Katalyst]

Your wishes have been granted.

Job, haircut = crazy ole fish lady

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/3/3_4_100v.gif + http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_60.gif = http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_4_144.gif

:rofl: Those are the best smilies ever! You are too much...And the hair thing is exactly how I feel today!

[traco1]

The "Go Crazy" placard should be a regular smiley for us fish lovers who always seem to be buying, don't you think?

[Katalyst]

Yep I do! A twitching smiley with a credit card in one hand and a bag of fish in the other would be good too!

[Melody]

LOL Sorry, its copyrighted by the spyware smiley thing, so it won't be in our collection I'm afraid.

[Pamelajo]

Awww!
Yep Kat just tell them your going on holidays.

[KnaveTO]

Don't mention holidays around fish... the do nasty things like lay a new batch of eggs :POed:

Looked in my tank at feeding time and the GBR's layed again... and I am leaving on Wednesday for NYC. :Surrender:

[Pamelajo]

:laugh: glad I am not the only one.

Another batch of brigs hatching as we speak and the fourth clutch looks like it maybe starting to hatch. I be digging out the rubbermaid tubs when I get back for nursery tanks.

[KnaveTO]

I haven't even had the 40 gallon delivered yet... that was supposed to come after I returned. Oh well...

[Katalyst]

:swoon: Endlers!

Must stop looking!

[KnaveTO]

oh but why Kat...

I will enable you as long as you continue to enable me... found this on aquabid

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?fwcatfishp&1187900064

debating if I want to bid a tad higher

[Katalyst]

oh but why Kat...

I will enable you as long as you continue to enable me... found this on aquabid

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?fwcatfishp&1187900064

debating if I want to bid a tad higher

For $600 bucks you'd think they post a picture! Maaaannnn you have it bad!

[KnaveTO]

yeah... I hate it when they don't post pics

[CACAdmin]

Hmmmm! Kat, you mention enders and Ross immediately tries to sidetrack you with those $600 plecos... :Think: I wonder...has he found some endlers close by which he just has to have and is trying to divert your attention elsewhere?:;):

[Katalyst]

Hmmmm! Kat, you mention enders and Ross immediately tries to sidetrack you with those $600 plecos... :Think: I wonder...has he found some endlers close by which he just has to have and is trying to divert your attention elsewhere?:;):
Jay you have a point! I smell a conspiracy!:wideeyed: No one wants me to have livebearers! :cry: As much as I like the zebra's and do the Ooooohhhh ahhhhh thing when I see em. I'd bet the farm endlers are much cheaper--Errr maybe/I think.

[KnaveTO]

I see I should have posted something for Kat as well....

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?fwlivebearersw[/URL]
[URL]http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?fwlivebearers (http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?fwlivebearersw&1188265514)

Lots of endlers and a fair number with international shipping

Am I forgiven for the distraction? :Embarassing:

[Katalyst]

I see I should have posted something for Kat as well....

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?fwlivebearersw
http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?fwlivebearers

Lots of endlers and a fair number with international shipping

Am I forgiven for the distraction? :Embarassing:

Depends if I get to go to the front of the line for your zebra fry when you get them. :yes: Did you buy them yet? :rofl:

[Katalyst]

Liberty Mollies??? :swoon:
http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?fwlivebearersw&1187733513

I so want these!

[CACAdmin]

Keep an eye on our classifieds... liberty mollies have come up for sale a few times.

[KnaveTO]

No... I decided not to go higher on that auction. I really need to get the 65 tall set up first appropriately as well as the breeding tank and a second 10gal.

[CACAdmin]

No... I decided not to go higher on that auction. I really need to get the 65 tall set up first appropriately as well as the breeding tank and a second 10gal.
and a third... and maybe a fourth... you can never have enough tanks! :DevilGrin:

[KnaveTO]

lol... yeah... I know. However I feel that a 40gal, a 50gal, 2 65gal and 2 10gal will be more than enough to keep me occupied.

[Katalyst]

I've lost my mind. I went to Big Al's for a barnacle. I just came home with a 10 gallon tank, and a pair of black swords and an amazon sword. The male is blackish/greenish with an orange dorsal fin and the female is whitish black. They were kept in a immaculate show community tank and I had to beg the lfs guy to sell them to me. Its sad that I actually choose the people I want to help me based on what I know I can get them to give me lol. Apparently the person who maintains the tank brought them in from his own personal stock. This is where being pushy in a cute girly sort of way does me well. The counter people all said OMG those are Matt's fish! How did you get them? I shushed them all and said what are you talking about? I'm going to get absolutely killed, yet I care not. I even stalled the husbo to bring home milk and soda so I can acclimate them and hide them lol. I have a new disease! Its called FRF for short Fish Room Fever. The more my little fish room gets built the more things I wanna put in it. Yes it'd be nice if the tanks and stands were actually finished being built. Eh till then they can sit on my dishwasher. ::D: I HAD to get the extra 10 gallon you see, can't be poisiong Melodys pretty live bearers with lfs fish with no qt. So I HAD to get the other tank. RIGHT? Course I am, that's what I'll keep telling myself anyways. Will snap some piccies soon!

[Katalyst]

Addicted completely. So I've had the swords in the tank about an hour, I just checked on the female and asked her if she was pregnant yet. She didn't look amused nor at all interested in the male sword. He was too busy eating freeze dried bloodworms! I found something that will eat them!

[jordonsmum]

Hmmmmm now if I were Kat. I would be making a comment about claims of new fish without pics...lol

BAD GIRL!!!! LOL want to see new fish...:laugh:

[Katalyst]

Hmmmmm now if I were Kat. I would be making a comment about claims of new fish without pics...lol

BAD GIRL!!!! LOL want to see new fish...:laugh:
I did try, came out like green blobs but I'll post em later.At the moment the pretty boy is not interested in pics & the female seems to have a complex buzzing around the male who is totally ignoring her. Typical man! I figured I'd give them a few hours peace to settle in and then snap on bright lights and torture them with the camera. In between trying to finish moving all the shelves into place...

[Katalyst]

Said new 10 gallon has a hairline crack....And they're in a blue rubbermaid until I can exchange the tank tommorrow night, pictures on hold. meh

[Melody]

Well haven't you been busy! Sorry to hear about the tank. And what Livebearers? You filled the box with Cory's!

Almost...

:Neener:

[Katalyst]

Well haven't you been busy! Sorry to hear about the tank. And what Livebearers? You filled the box with Cory's!

Almost...

:Neener:

I'd like to offically request a not listening! smiley plz.

Surreeee all this comes from the girl who I just picked up a stryfoam cooler box to ship snails to in. Okay so I harassed my lfs to give me a few.

[Melody]

That's great that they'd give you some!

I guess I best do some shopping for us with the current collection of snails then...

"Hello Paul? Sell those snails yet? Want some more? Suuuurrrre you do!"

"Hello Roger? Want some snails?"

"Hello Tom? You want some snails right?"

We could be shopping all over the Delta area by the time we're done.

[Katalyst]

Well lemme know what your looking for cause Thursday here it's going to be..

Hello Ron, you still want snails right?

Audreeeyyyyy what's up, I'm bringing some snails in k?

Hey James ready for those snails?

lol

[Katalyst]

That's great that they'd give you some!


The lfs employee who gave me them is awesome. So awesome I've written two letters about him to the GM of Big Al's and to his direct employer. If every lfs employee were like him I'd never leave. He appreciates it and omg screams my last name like Norm on Cheers when I walk in the door.

He's always been great but since I wrote the letters he goes even more out of his way then he did in the past. :smile: Kill em with kindness and then take all their good fish! :Frog:

[Melody]

LOL I'm in no hurry - move what you can locally. I hear there will be more ::D: . About the only thing I want right now is Olive, Jade & Striped Gold/Chestnut.

Want your topic back people? lol :offtopic:

[Katalyst]

I'll send you my olives, next week. You get em to breed and send me the babies k? lol

[Melody]

LOL Wait until we have more to send - the shipping is a killer otherwise. But yes, babies are Kat's!

[KnaveTO]

Now I am assuming you are talking about the BA's on Steeles correct? Just to let you know the owner of that store is Al's Brother-in-Law or something like that. My preference is the BA's out in Scarborough... is a Corporate store and Shawn the Manager there is really great to work with.

Yes... I admit it... I do buy at BA's on occasion... rarely fish but usually equipment. Love their price guarantee! I rarely pay the price marked on the shelf anymore as I print off a page from a Canadian internet store and walk in with it. Saves me a few bucks.

[Katalyst]

Now I am assuming you are talking about the BA's on Steeles correct? Just to let you know the owner of that store is Al's Brother-in-Law or something like that. My preference is the BA's out in Scarborough... is a Corporate store and Shawn the Manager there is really great to work with.

Yes... I admit it... I do buy at BA's on occasion... rarely fish but usually equipment. Love their price guarantee! I rarely pay the price marked on the shelf anymore as I print off a page from a Canadian internet store and walk in with it. Saves me a few bucks.
Yep I know Al and his brother in law. I'm friendly with the manager the buyer etc. I prefer it to Scarborough staff wise but to each his or her own. I do buy certian fish from Big Al's since they'll actually order me specifically anything I ask as long as they can get it. The buyer just printed me a two page list of cories for me to choose from and they'll hold things in seperate tanks for me. On occasion they put me to work helping people and answering questions and once made me do a python demonstration for someone lol. I buy very little from most LFS's other then pond prime which I buy from Clarke Koi in Scarborough (Randall's a great guy). Pond prime costs the same as regular Prime yet its doubally concentrated. Most of the things I buy filter wise are still way cheaper to bring in from home. Just bought 4, 300 watt heaters for $80, gets shipped to good ole Mom n Dad who are coming to visit me in a week. :) The same exact heaters here would have cost me $150. So I still can't beat going home.