The challenge

Most freshwater tropical fish if kept healthy and fed nutritious foods will reproduce in captivity. Although over-feeding is the number one problem - especially with inexperienced hobbyists - to breed fish they need nutricious food in excess of their normal needs - to condition them to spawn.

The secrets

1. You need a male and a female ... and in some cases several of each or of one or the other (check the literature)
2. Temperature, surroundings, water chemistry and lighting should be as per the literature on the particular species you are attempting to breed.
3. Diet .... the most desirable and nutritious of foods for conditioning fish to spawn are usually live foods .... in some cases earth worms and in others live brine shrimp. There are some excellent dry & frozen foods on the market that will also do the job. A mixture is ideal.

Observe

You must familarize yourself with the breeding habits of your fish (read, read, read!), noting and logging any changes in behavior and referring to the literature on your fish for guidance. Many fish "color up" and the female becomes noticeably laden with eggs as they approach breeding condition.

Be prepared

• to remove the parents when recommended as some fish eat their fry or eggs
• to feed the fry as directed
• to remove the fry to a nursery if desirable (have ONLY a sponge filter already running)
• to remove other tank inhabitants if needed to protect the fry

Summary