Anyone Breed Red-eye Tetras?

[JazzyB]

Does anyone here have any experience in breeding Red-eye Tetras? Aside from the fuller body of the female are there any other methods to sex the fish? What characteristics do the fish exhibit during mating?

I ask because I have a trio of red-eyes and two seemed to have paired. They kind of "shimmer" and at times circle one another. The odd fish out is often chased away by the two that have apparently paired. Looks like I may have to add some additional red-eyes to keep everyone happy.

Some feedback would be appreciated.

 

[yashinfan]

Females are larger and have a more rounded abdomen than the males. When attempting to breed them, a separate breeding tank should be set up with slightly acidic, very soft water (4 dGH or below). If floating plants are provided, as the breeding pair will often lay eggs among the plants.

Once spawning has occurred, the mating pair should be removed, as they will consume the eggs and hatching fry. One to two days after they are laid, the eggs will hatch. The fry can initially be fed commercially prepared fry foods, then freshly hatched brine shrimp, and eventually finely crushed flake foods.

http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/characins2/a/redeyetetra.htm

BYE

 

[Dragon_Lord_Tia]

oh we call them head and tail light tetras here ive bred them before as feeders i just got a realy planted tank and threw about 20 inthier and they bred about 2 weeks later

 

[mrkeeg]

Are you talking about african red-eyes, or the more common SA red-eyes?

Keegan

 

[JazzyB]

I'm talking about Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae (Red-Eye Tetra) from South America. They are quite common in my locality and most I believe. I think they're a great fish and would love to know of any firsthand experience breeding them.

For example, planted tank? single pair? what size tank? substrate? etc.

 

[yashinfan]

You don't have to have plants but it is recommended. Yes, one pair, the more fish in the breeding tank the more eggs that will be eaten and the harder it is to take them all out afterwards. Tank size? I'd say a 10 gallon, but remember that you're gonna have a whack load of fry living in the tank eventually. Substrate should not be gravel, it needs to have large gaps so the eggs will be out of reach of the adults.

 

[JazzyB]

What type of behaviour does this species of fish exhibit when pairing and mating?

 

[yashinfan]

The only way you'll know they are a pair is when they have mated. As long as they haven't already mated in your current tank, any male and female will spawn together. After that they usually form pairs and will be loyal to eachother (not spawn with another fish)