Health & Care · Aquatic
Livebearer Fish Care
Guppies, Platies, Mollies, and Swordtails
Livebearers are easy to love and easy to end up with too many of. 10 lessons on the hard, alkaline water they need, keeping three females for every male, endlers versus fancy guppies and the cost of inbreeding, molly size and when salt makes sense, managing swordtail rivalry, sperm storage and fry numbers, natural population control, feeding an omnivore, what shimmying means and what to check first, and all-male bachelor tanks.
About this course
Guppies, platies, mollies and swordtails are often the first fish people fall for, and they are easier to keep well once you know a few things about them. Lesson 1 explains why livebearers need moderately hard, slightly alkaline water, and how crushed coral or aragonite helps. Lesson 2 covers why you keep at least three females for every male. Lesson 3 compares wild-type endlers with fancy guppies, and explains why choosing sturdy stock from a good breeder matters. Lesson 4 is about mollies: how big sailfins grow, and when a little aquarium salt is reasonable. Lesson 5 helps you keep male swordtails from bullying each other. Then you'll learn why one mating can lead to months of fry, how a planted community tank slows population growth without stopping it, and why you never release extras into ponds or streams. Lesson 8 builds a diet with both plant fiber and protein. Lesson 9 explains shimmying and what to check first, and Lesson 10 shows you how an all-male tank gives you color without endless babies.
What you'll learn
- Why livebearers need hard, alkaline water, and how crushed coral helps
- Keeping three females per male, and choosing sturdy guppies over overbred strains
- Molly adult size and salt, and calming swordtail rivalry with plants
- Why fry keep coming, and planning for extras without ever releasing fish
- A balanced omnivore diet with plant fiber and protein for livebearers
- What shimmying means and what to check first, plus all-male bachelor tanks
Who this is for
New keepers bringing home their first guppies or platies; anyone whose livebearer tank is suddenly full of fry; and molly or swordtail owners dealing with chasing, bullying or a fish that sways in place.
Course outline (10 modules)
Quiz & Certificate
Knowledge quiz
After completing all lessons, take a short quiz to test your understanding.
Go to quiz →Completion certificate
Pass the quiz and earn a shareable certificate of completion.
View certificate →Frequently asked questions
Ready to get started?
$9.99 · Lifetime access · 10 lessons