Tropical Fish Breeding

Breeding fish is one of the steps to become an expert aquarist. Once fish are kept healthy enough to spawn, the beginner knows completely that he can try to keep more exigent fish. Constantly record your successes and failures. When it comes to Tropical fish breeding, you must know how to achieve the aim. The following account cites about the same.

How to Sex the Fish ?

An important step in sexing the fish is to determine its sex. Bulk of fish can be classified as sexually dimorphic or sexually isomorphic. In sexually dimorphic species, the sexes can be easily differentiated by primary and secondary differences. In sexually isomorphic species, there are diminutive, if any, obvious sexual differences. Often, the only way to differentiate between the sexes is the shape of the genital papilla, which is visible only around spawning times. In some sexually isomorphic species no known external sexual difference is recorded.

How to Select a Parent Fish ?

When you have distinguished among males and females choose an appropriate pair or spawning group. You can follow the given traits in this regard-

1. Select a fish displaying good markings and color so that she could produce an attractive young.
2. Use a mature and healthy fish for spawning.
3. Be sure about the compatibility of the pair.
4. See that the pair is of the same species or else hybrids are sterile.
5. Keep away from crossing different strains or color forms for the reason that the young are often unattractive.

Feeding /Conditioning the Parent Fish

The Parent fish should be conditioned before being placed for spawning. It means feed them with a variety of foods to keep them in best condition for spawning. Several species can be conditioned by use of a well-balanced flake food, although others should be conditioned on live foods like brine shrimp, flying insects and insect larvae. Thus, the fish are keen to spawn.

How to Stimulate Spawning

Water Conditions: It is vital that the water conditions are same as that fish find in the wild. An appropriate tank set up can provide right environmental conditions to the fish.

Stimulating the rainy season: Several species of fish spawn in rainy season. If you can stimulate rainy season in the aquarium, the species that are tough to be spawned can be induced to do so. Water chemistry, its height and its temperature is affected by the rains. Thus, reduce the tank level to half of its normal height and add 5% of the tank volume daily. Make sure that the added water is very soft and slightly cooler than the tank temperature. For stimulating rain, a drip system or spray bar can be used for many hours a day and storms can be stimulated by flashing light in a dark room. Stimulate thunder by recorded sounds or playing the same. Repeat the process till the fish show signs of spawning preparation. All species may not be stimulated to spawn by this method.

Food: Without feeding your fish properly, you can’t completely create the natural conditions. Mosquito larvae and fruit flies are some of the live foods that make a difference in spawning accomplishment a lot.

Target Fish: You can use target fish to reinforce the bond between a pair. Target fish may belong to the same species or can be another one of the same species in the tank with the breeding pair. This will make the pair chase the target fish instead of fighting among themselves. Be careful to use the target fish in a big tank that holds ample hiding places so, it is not harmed.

Rearing the Tank

Rear the tank by a heater, a sponge filter and plants. Cover three sides of the tank with dark paper. Water should be same as used during spawning. Spawn the tank according to reproductive strategies of particular fish. Regarding raising of the fry regular water changes, generous feeding and encouraging water conditions play a significant role, so be particular about them. Separate deformed and unhealthy fish. Thus, you can successfully do tropical fish breeding.