Neon fish (Paracheirodon innesi) are easy to keep as long as the right conditions are in place. Before embarking on this project, you need to set up a special breeding aquarium, prepare water, and check the light cycle. You also need to know how to introduce the adult specimens and care for the young after the eggs hatch.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Creating the Right Environment
Step 1. Set up an aquarium for breeding
You need more than one breeding tank, so you need to get a second one if you don't already have one; for reproduction you can use one of dimensions 30x20x20 cm. You can also use one to keep males with females for mating, incubating eggs, and growing fry.
You can set up this aquarium in a similar way to the standard one; just keep in mind that the water you use must have little limescale, maintain a specific temperature and an adequate level of acidity for reproduction to occur
Step 2. Prepare the water
To breed neon fish, the water must maintain a temperature of about 25 ° C; it also needs to be sweet (low in minerals) and slightly acidic (with a pH of 5-6) for the fish to thrive. This type of environment is the one that most closely resembles the natural one of neon fish; if the water in the tub does not meet these requirements, you must:
- Take a thermometer to monitor the temperature;
- Check the pH every day using litmus strips (which you find on sale at pet stores);
- Mix one part of tap water with three parts of reverse osmosis treated water to soften it or use the rain one.
Step 3. Install a filter in the corner of the aquarium
The filtration system allows to eliminate the dirt and faeces present in the water, thus protecting the health of the fish; it also removes bacteria, improving the appearance of the aquarium. The angled filter is perfect for the breeding tank because it is delicate.
Step 4. Place the aquarium in a dark or low light place
The neon fish needs a dark environment to grow healthy, so you don't have to place the tank near a sunny window or in other brightly lit places; this does not mean keeping it in complete darkness, but find a place where there is only a little light each day.
You can also cover the back and sides of the aquarium with dark paper to block out excess light
Part 2 of 3: Introducing Neon Fish for Breeding
Step 1. Determine the sex of the fish
It is not absolutely necessary to define it before starting the breeding, because you can put several specimens in the aquarium and the mating should happen spontaneously. However, if you want to know the sex of your little friends, know that males and females have peculiar characteristics that allow them to be distinguished.
- Females tend to be larger and fatter than males;
- Some breeders also claim that males have a straight streak, while that of females is curved.
Step 2. Transfer the adult specimens to the tank
The best time is in the evening, so plan to put them in the aquarium at sunset; However, remember that the fish you want to mate must be at least 12 weeks old, otherwise reproduction is not possible.
Let them swim freely in the aquarium for a day or two; this period should be sufficient for them to spawn
Step 3. Change the conditions if nothing happens
If the neons do not mate, check the pH and temperature of the water, soften it a little more and adjust the lighting if necessary; it may take some time and several attempts before you get the ideal conditions for mating.
Reducing the hardness of the water should facilitate the process because it mimics the conditions of rainwater. If after several days the neons haven't spawned yet, try adding a large amount of softener
Step 4. Remove adult specimens from the tank
Fish eggs are small and difficult to see due to their translucent color, but you can see them on gravel or bottom plants; as soon as you notice its presence, remove the adult fish otherwise they may eat the eggs.
Step 5. Wait for the eggs to hatch and the babies to hatch
There may be 60 to 130 eggs, but not all of them hatch. After spawning, it takes about 24 hours for them to hatch; you can expect around 40-50 fry to be born.
The minnows look like tiny shards of glass swimming in the tank
Part 3 of 3: Caring for Babies
Step 1. Keep them in the dark
The small neons, also called fry, must remain in the dark for about five days after the eggs hatch; they are in fact sensitive to light and need a dimly lit space to grow.
- To do this, you can cover the entire tank with dark paper or a piece of cardboard to block out the light.
- When you feed the minnows you can observe them with a dimly lit torch, but only turn it on for short moments.
Step 2. Feed them special food
You don't have to feed them the same food you feed adult birds, instead you need to get a food made specifically for babies. Check that the package indicates that it is a specific food for fry; if you are not sure which one is appropriate for the new born, ask the clerk at the pet store.
After a few days you can start offering them small pickled shrimp, also available at pet stores
Step 3. Introduce the babies to the adult tank
After about three months, you can transfer them to the same aquarium as the other fish; however, do not do it before this period, as mature animals could eat, injure or attack the young.
Be aware that some neons may die regardless of your interventions; young specimens are more prone to disease and can injure themselves more easily
Step 4. Limit the housing concentration to 5 cm of fish for every 4 liters of water
This is a general rule for aquariums to determine how many specimens can be in the tank at the same time. The adults are about 5 cm long, so divide the aquarium capacity to find how many specimens you can coexist in the tank.
For example, if the aquarium is 200 l, you can keep 50 neon fish
Step 5. Find a new home for the excess animals
Since several individuals can be born from a single breeding attempt, you may end up with many more fish than you can handle. Ask friends if they are interested in keeping some; However, make sure they have the proper equipment and resources to care for the minnows.
You can also contact the pet store and ask if they are interested in purchasing some. Just keep in mind that they may pay you no more than 10-30 cents per piece; therefore you cannot make a lot of money, unless you sell it in large quantities
Advice
- Make sure the adult specimens are healthy before mating them.
- Keep aquarium tools clean to avoid exposing the fry to disease and bacteria.
