Expert: Walter Hintz - 10/29/2008

Question
I took my 5 yr old grandson to our near by lake Aug. 17, we caught a what I thought was a minnow, in a cup, he has kept in alive in a fish bowl ever since. Today it is giving birth. Are fish asexual? or do they have long pregnancies?

Answer
Hi Doris
When you say it is giving birth is it laying eggs or giving birth to live fish? If a live bearer there are several  fresh water tropical fishes that are live bearers. A femal Beta looks a little like a minnow. You wouldn't expect them in a lake but I remember years ago finding guppies in a lake in Wyoming.  Somebody had released them.
Fish are not asexual and pregnancy rates very.  Can you take a photo of the fish to send me (waltjh@sbcglobal.net)