What fish to try to breed?

[Hooked Newbie]

Hey folks! I want to try to breed some fish for experience sake. I have a 29G Long with only one Striped Raphael Cat (could be moved if need be) and a 20G with just 7 Juvie Spotted cories. I also have a 10G which is cycled and currently has some guppy fry growing out to use as a fry tank.

I'd like to breed something relatively easy to breed. (No more live bearers!)

Any suggestions? Tips, tricks, related advice?

[nmrsco]

you could try some relatively small cichlids, like apistos, kribs, convicts...

[silentskream]

african cichlids.. but the raphael cat would need to be moved.. and i dont think 29 gallons is enough unless you got the shell sweller variety.

the problem with breeding fish is that you pretty much always need several available tanks to hold the parents and the babies

[Hooked Newbie]

african cichlids.. but the raphael cat would need to be moved.. and i dont think 29 gallons is enough unless you got the shell sweller variety.

the problem with breeding fish is that you pretty much always need several available tanks to hold the parents and the babies

I should have mentioned that I have extremely low pH & soft water. I've been thinking about either Rams, Apistos, Plecos, Cories, or possibly Denzonii (can't find ANY info on breeding them though). Tanks I have or can setup (My "office" is being converted to a fish room).

[jm1212]

if you have soft water, go for convict or firemouth cichlids.

[jonnyfry]

kribs are easy to breed , i have soft water too (3*) and have had success with them . awesome parents to watch too until they young start to look tasty .

[silentskream]

convicts are common breeders.. but i think youd need more space.

personally if i had the soft water i would breed rams. i think they're my single favorite freshwater fish, but i have too hard of a time keeping them in my hard alkaline water.

[judgemax]

HN, Try breeding convicts, they adapt well, and are fairly good parents, you could use the 29, and have ample room, I have a breeding pair in 20L, and they are very prolific, they raise their young, and take very little extra care, ..its also fun to watch them threaten everything that comes near the glass, lmao, my male loves to posture at my dog, and charge the glass when the dogs around!

[Hooked Newbie]

Thanks for all the ideas folks! What about Jewel Cichlids (They're gorgeous fish to me)?

I almost want to go with convicts just to see my dogs get "chased"!

Rams are still really tempting too though.

[judgemax]

HN i have a breeding pair of jewels, and find that its a little more difficult, they tend to not pair as easily if there are not some one to defend themselves from in the tank, they also kill the young more readily if there isn't someone else to take the aggression out on. If you choose to breed them, I also find it helps to drop the temp a little, and take out about 25% of the water let it like that for about a week, and then fill back up, and slowly raise the temp, they spawn almost immediately after doing so! (may sound weird, but it works for me every time.)

I love watching the dog with the cons, its funny to see a staffy jump back, then lick the glass, the male con just goes after him every time, ..We sometimes end up watching and laughing way to long! :)

[Dangerdoll]

maybe this would be better in the cichlid area...

[bluekiller82]

Id stay away from the jewels. Convicts are the most common beginner fish for breeding and a 29 gallon is perfect for a pair. Once they start breeding they tend not to stop and you wont know what to do with all the fry.

[Hooked Newbie]

maybe this would be better in the cichlid area...


^^^
I guess she made up my mind for me on whether or not to breed cichlids or general freshwater fish.... :rofl: