Tropical Fish Breeding for Beginners

Many tropical fish tank owners will grow to love their hobby so much that it is only a matter of time before they get an itch to make babies! Breeding tropical fish can be very rewarding, but firstly there is a big decision to be made. Will you breed egg bearers or live bearers. There is a significant difference between the two, and the effort needed to be successful.

Egg bearing mothers will lay their eggs amongst the foliage and rocks in the aquarium. If the eggs manage to last to maturity they will then hatch. Live bearing mothers are fish that give birth to their young once they have already reached maturity. The babies will instantly be swimming around when born, tiny versions of their parents.

A beginner fish owner should definitely start with breeding live bearers. They are significantly easier to breed than egg bearers. You will have more success and learn a lot. Once you have more experience then venture into egg bearers if you so desire.

I can’t express enough, the need to keep the live young away from the rest of the community fish. The other fish will see the babies as a perfect found source and you will be very lucky if any manage to survive to adulthood. Even the parents will be likely to eat their own young the second they are born.

You don’t want your breeding efforts to go to waste so it is best not to tempt fate. Some young might survive if you have a lot of thick foliage in the aquarium, but it is much safer to use a special birthing tank. You will need to put the mother in there before she gives birth.

You will learn from experience when the mother fish is close to giving birth. Observe the fish closely and when her abdomen gets very swollen and black through her skin, she will be close to birthing her young. After the fry has been born, return the mother to the community tank straight away. Leave the fry in the guppy trap until they are at least half the size of the adult fish.

Live bearing fish are normally very easy to breed, they do not require too much attention and do most of the work themselves. Interestingly guppies will be pregnant several times from each insemination.

Breeding tropical fish is a very complex subject and this article only introduces you to the subject. If you serious about successfully breeding tropical fish it is advisable to do further research and even consult a specialist in the field.

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Tags: Breeding, featured, Fishes, tropical fish

Category: Exotic Fishes