I have a small cream colored fish with lots of black spots the adult size is about 1 & half inch what is it?

Question

This fish is a live breeder we woke up one day and the tank had 8 additional fish all look the same as the original. the fish was given to us we didn't expect to wake up one day to 8 babies they all have very dark black spots all over them.

Answer 1

african cichlids are not livebearers, nor do they breed at the size you describe. Many african's are mouth brooders and reach an adult size of 4-6 inches.

What I think you have is a color morph of the Molly. Mollies, like other livebearers store sperm. They can 'store' the genetic material for months, even for several batches of babies. Most female mollies you buy are pregnant becuase more than likely, they have come in contact with a male within the last two months.

Look at the shape of the body. The nose will be pointed with a slightly upturne mouth. There will be a distict top dorsal fin and an anal (belly) fin. In an african cichlid, the nose is round and blunt with the fins covering most of the back. The anal fin will have spots that look like eggs if it is a male. These are called egg spots and are there so that when the female scoops the eggs up in her mouth, she thinks the males 'eggs' are her's and gets a mouthful of, well, genetic material.

For livebearers, look at the anal fin. If it is skinny and pointed back towards the tail, it is male. If it is fanned out it is female. This is true on all common communtiy live bearers.

Google Molly Fish, Dalmation Molly, Red Dalmation Molly, or Sunset Molly and see if it matches up. If that isn't the fish, try Swordtail or Platy. I'd bet my next paycheck that's what it is.

Answer 2

It sounds like a livebearer to me as well, but at the size you mention, I doubt that it's a molly (unless it's a balloon molly). Look up platy instead. It could also be a mosquitofish or small guppy.

Answer 3

african cichlids. The fish actually are born looking female so the babies match mom. When the males reach sexual maturity they reverse the color combo. Mom will protect babies by hoarding them into her mouth. However the day will come when mom wants her due and the safe haven becomes a dinner spot. They are cool fish.