I have a 55 gallon aquarium that is going to be set up soon. I was wondering what will be the best way to arrange my fish tank for breeding, such as the plants, and decorative, and also, what group of fishes are known for being a good breeding group. I want to have a pretty outstanding group of fishes, that have many frys, so I can keep expanding my collection into my other tanks.
Best Breeding Fish
- Thread starter DKiM128
- Start date
Based on your needs, I agree with PumaWard. I think livebearers is probably the way to go in your case. They are very prolific breeders, and you will have many fish to add to your other tanks.
However, if you want to try something a little more challenging, I suggest Angelfish. Start with the basic silver angelfish, as they tend to be hardier than other varieties. I suggest getting at least 6 young angels, with the body size of about a quarter. Starting with 6 angels almost ensures that you will have at least one pair. They will grow quickly and will reach sexual maturity before long. As with most cichlids, they will choose their own mates. Prepare a seperate spawning tank ahead of time (preferrably a 20-25 gallon tall), making sure it properly cycled. Place long slender pieces of slate in your sqpawning tank, leaning against the side of your tank and your angels will almost certainly lay their eggs on it. I have also used extra large plastic Amazon Swordplants...the leaves are removable so I can move the eggs to a hatching tank with no problems.
Watch your angels for signs of a pair-bond. The pair will occupy a certain territory of the tank and they will defend it tenaciously. At this point, you should remove the pair and place them in the spawning tank, so they will spawn without worrying about having to defend their territory. You will need to decide if you want to raise the fry artificially in a seperate tank, or allow the fry to remain in the tank with the parents.
The eggs hatch in about 48 hours, and reach the free swimming stage in about 7 days. You can raise the fry on baby brine shrimp.
However, if you want to try something a little more challenging, I suggest Angelfish. Start with the basic silver angelfish, as they tend to be hardier than other varieties. I suggest getting at least 6 young angels, with the body size of about a quarter. Starting with 6 angels almost ensures that you will have at least one pair. They will grow quickly and will reach sexual maturity before long. As with most cichlids, they will choose their own mates. Prepare a seperate spawning tank ahead of time (preferrably a 20-25 gallon tall), making sure it properly cycled. Place long slender pieces of slate in your sqpawning tank, leaning against the side of your tank and your angels will almost certainly lay their eggs on it. I have also used extra large plastic Amazon Swordplants...the leaves are removable so I can move the eggs to a hatching tank with no problems.
Watch your angels for signs of a pair-bond. The pair will occupy a certain territory of the tank and they will defend it tenaciously. At this point, you should remove the pair and place them in the spawning tank, so they will spawn without worrying about having to defend their territory. You will need to decide if you want to raise the fry artificially in a seperate tank, or allow the fry to remain in the tank with the parents.
The eggs hatch in about 48 hours, and reach the free swimming stage in about 7 days. You can raise the fry on baby brine shrimp.
hm......if I want to stick with live bearers, what do you guys is that best selection of them. I mean for my whole aquatic economy, including the type of substrate, the aquatic plants, the algae eaters, and the fish themselves.
I vote for danios, since I'm breeding them myself, and wow is it ever easy. I put them in the tank and three days later there's fry everywhere! The fry are about a month old now and they look like mini-zebras. The thing about livebreeders is that a lot of females die before giving birth and then they only give birth once a month and if you don't want the babies that time then you have to kill them. Danios spawn every 11 days (on average) and if you don't want more fry then don't worry, because the adults will devour the eggs. I'm going to breed swordtails in two months, but I think they are a lot easier than guppies (IMO). Good plants are hornwort and ferns. No algae eaters!!!! They will eat the fry!
Good luck! If you need any other questions answered, feel free.
Good luck! If you need any other questions answered, feel free.
tricksterpup
It's SPRING!!! BUNNIE RABBITS
Bad myth... very bad myth..
There are many types of livebeares out there that do not fall under guppies, mollies, platys and swordtails. I am currently breeding endlers, merry widows, dwarf liverbearers at my location. I am now getting an shipment of Gambusia Holbrooki sometime this week.
A place that has a nice selection of live bearers is http://www.alloddballaquatics.com/
jim
I recomend fancy guppies if you go the livebearer path. They do breed once a month and If you dont isolate the females when they give birth, only 2 -5 fry will make it till you pull them out. This may seem like a bad thing but I want to fill my tanks more gradually.
anyway...
the setup. I would plant the tank with fast growing plants that will make it look like a jungle in a few months. stuff like anacharis, watersprite and that other one that always takes over ponds when released. I use masons sand as a substrate but looking back I should have used large gravel or marbles if I had known I was going to try breeding. I use an emperor 400 as a filter but a canister would probably be better.
anyway...
the setup. I would plant the tank with fast growing plants that will make it look like a jungle in a few months. stuff like anacharis, watersprite and that other one that always takes over ponds when released. I use masons sand as a substrate but looking back I should have used large gravel or marbles if I had known I was going to try breeding. I use an emperor 400 as a filter but a canister would probably be better.
If I had another 55 Gallon Tank, I'd breed Convicts in them. There is a much better market for them, (not good, but still better than most,) and they are a good fish for a begginner breeder who wants to be challanged a little.
If you really want to make money, try Discus. Visit this thread for more info on breeding. In it, I include some info from my perspective gained while working at a Pet Store.
If you really want to make money, try Discus. Visit this thread for more info on breeding. In it, I include some info from my perspective gained while working at a Pet Store.