Aquarium Fish Breeding: How to Set Up a Spawning Tank

Before setting out on a fish breeding program, it is worth deciding what you are aiming for. Are you interested in making some money? If so, how much? Do you want to develop a new strain of a fish that you like? Is it just a challenge to see if you can do it?

If you want to make a little money, the more space you have at your disposal the better. A small back bedroom is a good place to start. An outdoor shed is fine if you can control the temperature. A similar space is probably needed if you want to breed a new line of fish. The need to keep fish separate and prevent the wrong pairs breeding means you need quite a few tanks.

A single tank will give you every opportunity to breed some new stock for yourself or to give as presents to friends.

Setting Up Your Spawning Tank

Tank Sizes

Either, a ten or twenty gallon tank is a good size for a spawning set up unless you are handling very large fish. Too big a tank makes it difficult to monitor everything that is going on and It is easy to lose track of spawners and fry.

A good lid is important because fish, in the excitement of breeding, can jump like crazy. For the same reason be careful not to overfill the tank with water.

Decorations

Decorations like stone formations and flower pots can be important as they give hiding places for fish. Some males will kill a strange female out of territorial impulses or simple bad nature.

Hiding places give the chance for fish to get used to each other before mating. They are also essential if you make the mistake of putting two males together. When nothing happens but a big fight, a hiding place will give you the chance to rescue the loser.

Some species also need to lay eggs on certain surfaces like rocks or plant material.

Advantages of Plants in a Spawning Tank

• ·Both plastic and live plants provide privacy and reduce stress for your fish.
  
• Some fish incorporate plant material into their bubble nests.
  
• Plants serve as spawning sites for many species of fish.
  
• Living plants help to keep down algae by using up nutrients in the water.
  
• Many fish benefit from plant material in their diet.
  
• ·Plants help to create a more natural environment and encourage breeding.
  

Plants have differing temperature, pH and water hardness needs just as fish do, so it is helpful to discuss with suppliers which plants are best for your project

Substrate (sand or gravel in the tank)

A lot of fish are very happy to breed in a tank with no gravel. Absence of gravel makes cleaning easier and monitoring of eggs and fry easier too. Some breeders insist gravel is better but if your fish breed OK without a substrate, why increase your troubles?

Having said that, some species dig nests and these absolutely need a substrate so it is important to check on individual species breeding requirements. A layer of fine sand is sometimes a good compromise. Fry don’t get lost or trapped so easily in sand.

Spawning Grates

These are a way of separating the spawning fish from their eggs or live offspring. While some fish actively care for their offspring, others won't discriminate between their own fry and a tasty blood worm.

A special spawning grate can be bought from a pet shop or some netting can be cut to fit the tank. As long as the eggs can fall through and the adult fish are kept out, that will do the trick.

Heaters, Filters and Pumps

Fry and eggs are more susceptible to water temperature and oxygen deficiencies than adults so don’t be tempted to think small fish need less air or less care on the temperature front.

Water movement can help persuade some species to mate but it is important to protect fry from powerful currents. In the worst case scenario, all the fry in a tank might be driven into a corner where they stick together and suffocate.

Sponge filters will stop fry from being sucked into piping and will generally introduce less turbulence.

Coarse air stones can produce enough turbulence to damage eggs and fry and should be avoided.

Water Issues

pH, temperature and water hardness are always important in fish care but doubly so in spawning tanks. Sudden, even small, pH changes can injure or even kill fry.

Generally, whatever pH and water hardness requirements your adult fish have will suit the fry so it is important to get good information on the species you want to breed.

If water temperatures soar above 85 degrees for any reason (strong sunlight on the tank, a noon-day shed etc) eggs will die. If the temperatures are too high longterm, eggs can develop too quickly, resulting in deformed or spindly offspring.

Cleanliness and Nitrogen Levels

Nitrogen from a fishes waste products are especially harmful to fry. It is usually worth changing about a quarter of the water in a spawning tank every day.

Feeding small amounts of live food rather than flakes that might go uneaten and rot helps with cleanliness. Many people remove any food that isn't eaten within a few minutes of being offered. Regular use of 'poop scoops' helps keep water clean.