Breeding Tetras

Ten steps to breeding tetras.

By Al Castro
Recognition of success in the organized aquarium hobby of today puts considerable emphasis on the ability to breed one's fishes.
Most hobbyists start their efforts at breeding and raising fish with the livebearing species (such as guppies, mollies or platies) and
then "progress" to egglaying species, perhaps by purchasing a tank full of Malawi mbuna. (There really is not much difference
from the breeder's standpoint because in both cases the hobbyist simply feeds the fish and collects the babies as they are seen.)
Real progress comes in the next step, in which the hobbyist switches to either the substrate-spawning cichlids or to killifish. But
something seems to cause the modern aquarist to stagnate at this point. There seems to be very little enthusiasm for going further
or trying "new" types of fishes.
In my earlier days (not really prehistoric times), the step after the livebearers was to some "simple" egg-layer such as the white
cloud mountain minnow or a danio or even a barb (all members of the minnow family or Cyprinidae). After success at this
plateau, we felt we could scale the heights and try to breed tetras!
Reminiscing about those early days of my aquarium hobby, I recall just how impressed I was when I heard that someone had bred
a species of South American tetra. The idea still bears some of the same connotations, but now I know the truth.
Breeding tetra fish is not so much a nearly impossible task that can only be accomplished by someone of vast skill and
determination as it is a sign of someone who is willing to pay attention to detail and to give nature a chance to take its course.
Although I have not spawned all of the known tetras (far from it), I have had the good fortune to have had more than 40 species
spawn in my tanks, and I have been able to raise to maturity most of the fry resulting from almost all of these species. I have also
had my share of failures. From this experience, I have learned that there are ten simple things to keep in mind which will allow
almost anyone to succeed with most tetras. I'll share these with you in the hope that you will be less likely to put up with the
occasional failures I had to.
There are two groups of five steps each in my system. The first five steps are part of the advance preparation to spawning a
species.
First, buy young breeding stock. Young stock has had less chance of being contaminated by disease or of having been harmed by
poor water conditions or water quality. Young stock also has the added useful quality of being less expensive. The dealer's tanks
containing these fish are not labeled "breeding stock" or "jumbo," and therefore do not command that extra high price.
Second, buy several fish at once. I buy at least a dozen of any prospective breeder, but the number generally exceeds 25 for any
species I am particularly interested in breeding. Most pet shops will give a discount for quantity purchases (again lowering the
initial investment). But the real reasons for buying several fish are that you have a safety margin in case you lose a fish or two
while raising them to maturity, and you have a choice of fish from which to choose for your breeding stock once the actual
breeding is to take place.
Third, maintain good aquarium conditions. This sounds too obvious to include here, but it is too important to ignore. Remember
that the quality of the breeding stock has a direct bearing on the viability of the spawn, and the quality of the breeding stock is a
direct result of the conditions under which it has matured. Most tetras that we encounter in the hobby originate in soft, acidic
waters with no traces of ammonia, nitrite or nitrate. The closer we can match these conditions, the better the breeding stock will
be.
Fourth, feed a variety of foods. The more varied the diet, the greater the number of vitamins and amino acids available to the fish
as they grow and mature into adults. The nutritional needs of fish are often greatly undervalued by many aquarists. While the
manufacturers of prepared foods generally provide excellent products, their claims that these foods supply everything a fish needs
should be accepted with caution. It is better to be safe, providing additional types of foods, than it is to give less than is needed.
Live foods should be an integral part of the diet of any potential breeding fish. The vitamins, minerals and trace elements in live
foods can make all the difference is a breeding program. In addition, the "challenge of the hunt" seems to give an extra sparkle to
fish that is missing with fish that receive only prepared, freeze-dried or frozen food. Of course, this may just be the "romantic" in
me talking!
Fifth, choose pairs carefully. The important factor of this step is the word pairs. They should be adults (although recently matured
fish may give limited success), but they must be a pair (a male and a female). Many times, after trying to determine why a fellow
hobbyist was unsuccessful in attempting to breed a species of tetra, I found that the hobbyist did not know how to tell a male
from a female and was working with two fish of the same sex. A little research is sometimes necessary to learn how to tell the
difference for some species. Let me give you a few generalizations that may help.
Mature females are usually a little larger than the males. They are also a little more plump around the belly area. Females
generally have shorter dorsal and anal fins and lack ray extensions on any of the fins. Colors are slightly less vivid.

Mature males are generally a little smaller in length and slightly more slender than females of the same age. Males frequently
have elongated fins or extended rays on the fins. Colors on the fins and body are noticeably more brilliant.
When looked for in individual fish, these differences can sometimes be difficult to see, but when a large group of similarly aged
fish that have been raised together is inspected, the differences are often startling. Some fish make it much simpler for the
aquarist by exhibiting major differences that are discernible with only casual examination.
The emperor tetra, Nematobrycon palmeri, can be sexed at about two weeks of age! If a flashlight, held slightly to the side of the
aquarist's head, is shined on the fry, the eyes of the females will reflect a pale green coloration and the males will reflect a
sparkling blue color. Black phantom tetras, Megalamphodus megalopterus, on the other hand, must be approaching maturity
before their distinguishing characteristic appears, but it is just as obvious. The adipose fin, that fleshy little lump behind the
dorsal fin that seems to be there only to make people ask questions, is a different color in each sex the female's is red while the
male has a black adipose fin. There are other species with equally recognizable differences, but I'll let you find them yourself.
There is one other good method of distinguishing a pair of tetras let them tell you. If you have a small school of the same
species of tetra, and two of them always swim together, slightly apart from the others, it's a safe bet that they are a pair. They
should be your first choice as prospective breeders because they are already demonstrating a special compatibility for each other.
Half of the battle is won when you have this situation.
The next five steps relate to the process of spawning the fish and raising the fry. Thus, step six is to condition the breeders. Once
the prospective parents are determined, they can, in theory, immediately be placed in a breeding setup. It is far better, however, to
isolate the fish from each other and all other members of their species. While in their own tanks, each member of the pair is given
an especially rich and nutritious variety of foods to ensure that the female's ovaries are stimulated and filled with eggs and the
male is full of milt with which to fertilize them. This final conditioning usually takes about two to three weeks and allows
sufficient time to make any other preparations that are deemed necessary.
Seventh, set up the spawning tank. Up to this point, we have been trying to give the fish as much swimming and living space as
possible. Now, however, it is better to think about using a small tank 2 to 5 gallons in capacity because it is easier to control
aquarium conditions during the limited time of the spawning period. I normally use a 5-gallon, all-glass aquarium because it is
small enough to easily lift but big enough for the largest South American tetras to spawn in. The tank must be thoroughly cleaned
to ensure that there are no stray particles of organic material to decompose and foul the water. I use hot water and a scrub brush,
but no chemicals.
The water that is used in the spawning tank may well be the most important part of a successful spawning. Adults tetras are quite
flexible about the conditions in which they live. The eggs and fry do not allow the aquarist the same leeway. Start with the softest
water possible. My tap water, which can vary from 35 to 75 ppm (parts per million) carbonate hardness, works fairly well at its
lower point, but proves unsatisfactory in the upper range. If my water is too hard to start with, I will dilute it with distilled water.
Many aquarists use a water softener, which I feel is unsatisfactory because of the high sodium ion concentration that results. An
alternative method, "reverse osmosis," is an excellent way to obtain soft water.
Once water with sufficient softness is located, I run a filter filled with pre-boiled peat moss to make the water slightly more acidic
and to lessen the hardness even further. I do this in the largest tank that I have at my disposal, because I can always find good
uses for extra water. After filling the breeding tank, some water is used in the conditioning tanks to acclimate the breeders to the
spawning tank water chemistry. The remainder is reserved for water changes after the fry are hatched. I find that the best water
chemistry is a hardness of under 30 ppm carbonate hardness and a pH between 6.0 and 6.5.
There may be short period of delay at this point. I find that it is important for me to be able to spend the morning with the
intended "bride and groom." The day before the spawning, I re-clean the spawning tank, put in a raised plastic grate (cut to
exactly fit the bottom of the tank) that prevents the parents from getting to and eating any eggs that may fall to the bottom, fill the
tank with conditioned water, heat the water to 78 degrees Fahrenheit and add a suitable spawning site. (The normal site is a clump
of fine-leaved plant, such as Myriophyllum, which I have frequently used with good success, but more commonly I use an
artificial spawning mop made of synthetic knitting yarn because it is easier to clean and will not break down or decompose in the
spawning tank.) I then cover the tank and wait until evening.
The eighth step is to spawn the adults. The pre-conditioned breeders are added to the spawning tank in the evening, the female
first and the male at least a half hour later. The tank is covered to prevent jumping and then a cardboard box is put over the entire
tank to keep out all light (this is done so that I can control the morning light of the next day to fit my needs). The normal
spawning in the wild takes place at "first light." The same holds true in the aquarium. My cardboard box has a special cutout of
approximately one-third of the front panel that can be removed easily to allow limited visibility and "first light" at any time of the
day.
In the morning, when I am ready to spend a little time with the fish, I remove the cutout and allow daylight to reach the fish. If
the light intensity is low, the breeders will generally start their courting dance within 15 minutes. If the light is too bright, it may
take as much as an hour before anything seems to happen. The actual spawning differs from species to species (which is what
makes the whole process so interesting), but generally starts with the male doing a dance around the female.

Once she accepts his overtures and follows him to the actual spawning site, there is a side-by-side trembling that results in a
small number of eggs being laid and fertilized. A rolling or tumbling motion scatters the fertilized eggs over the selected
spawning site. In some cases, the eggs are placed in selected locations. This sequence is repeated several times until all of the
eggs are laid and fertilized (the number of eggs can vary from less than 50 from some species to more than 1000 in other
species).
Up to this point, the aquarist has only watched the fish do what comes naturally. The next step in the natural process is for the
tired breeders to replenish some of the energy that was expended during the spawning. They do this by eating anything that they
can find that is small and organic, like maybe eggs! Nature prevents excessive egg-eating by allowing natural water movements
or currents to drift the exhausted parents away from the eggs, but the confines of the home aquarium keep the fish within eating
distance of the eggs. The aquarist can eliminate this problem by returning the breeders to their conditioning tank and feeding
them. If hungry breeders are left with their own eggs, it is not unusual for them to eat each and every egg produced during the
spawning. The only ones that are missed are those that fall into the plastic grate on the tank bottom or are hidden in the spawning
site.
After removing the parents, change at least 50 percent of the water with some of the extra water prepared for the breeding tank.
This is done to remove any waste products deposited by the breeders or any extra milt produced by the male in the spawning
attempts that might decompose and harm the eggs. After the water change, place the cardboard box back over the tank for at least
36 hours. To varying degrees, all tetra eggs are sensitive to light too much light can destroy an entire spawn.
After the 36-hour period, remove the panel in the cardboard and check for fry. They will look like very tiny splinters of glass that
spiral around the tank or stick to the side. If they are not seen, replace the panel for another 12 hours and then check again. If no
fry are seen after three inspections, carefully remove the cover and check the condition of the eggs. Do not use a bright light! If
the eggs are covered with fungus or are milky-white, they are infertile or dead and you will have to start again. If the eggs are
black or if you can see an embryo inside, put the cardboard cover back on the tank and continue your periodic inspections until
the eggs hatch.
Step nine is to feed the fry. The eggs and resulting fry of tetra spawnings are quite small. Any fish food that is given to the fry
must be small enough to be eaten by them. The food must be in sufficient quantity to feed all of the fry, yet not so much that it
can decompose and foul the water. Prepared commercial foods provide the necessary nutrition needed by the fry but can be very
difficult to use in proper quantities.
Small live foods, frequently referred to as "infusoria," are easy to culture and come in a variety of types and sizes that will
provided a varied diet. In addition, excess food will remain alive for later feedings, whereas prepared foods will decompose,
polluting the water. The use of infusoria, however, must be planned for in advance of the actual spawning to ensure that the food
is available when it is needed. Infusoria is used only for a relatively short period of time, three days to three weeks, depending on
the growth rate of the species. When the fry are large enough to eat other foods, they should be weaned over to the new foods
gradually rather than simply stopping one type and starting the next.
The two best foods at this stage are newly hatched brine shrimp nauplii and "microworms." The brine shrimp nauplii are readily
obtained in the form of packaged eggs available in most local fish stores or by ordering direct from suppliers. The eggs are easily
hatched by following the directions supplied with the eggs. Do not add the hatching solution (salt water) to the fry tank siphon
the nauplii into a very fine net and rinse with freshwater before using as food for baby tetras. The microworms, tiny nematodes
that are scientifically known as Anguilula silusiae, are not as easy to find. Starter cultures are frequently available from mailorder suppliers of live foods, but it is better to try to find another hobbyist who has some and can show you how to properly
maintain this food supply. If you belong to an aquarium society, some of the members, particularly those who are active and
older, can often provide a starter culture and valuable information on maintaining it. When the fry outgrow these foods, they can
be considered young adults and fed the same foods as the breeding stock.
The tenth and final step is to maintain proper water quality for the fry. This may seem like a repetition of step three, but there is a
difference here. Although the problem is the same, the magnitude is much greater because of the increased number of fish. You
should change water as frequently as possible, carefully siphoning the bottom of any accumulated debris. A sponge filter can be
very effective in this setup. Move the fry to a larger aquarium as soon as they are able to eat newly hatched brine shrimp and
microworms. Carefully maintain the water temperature in the larger tank to prevent chills and the frequently accompanying
disease, ich (white spot), while slowly weaning the fry from the breeder tank water to your normal aquarium water. Plan on
splitting the spawn into smaller, more manageable groups as they grow. Two 20-gallon aquariums are generally enough for
raising most tetras to a saleable size, but some species require several more.
As you can see, none of the ten points are difficult to accomplish. They are simply common sense aquarium techniques that,
when combined, can add a new and enjoyable facet to your aquarium hobby. Then you too will be ranked among the "elite" of the
aquarium hobby.

A beginners guide to breeding Tetra in the aquarium

Breeding tetras
Most fish keeper will at one time or another want to dabble in breeding aquarium fish, most people start of
with the easiest such as guppies or any of the livebearers and after having had success with these want
to move onto something more difficult and usually try their hand with mouth brooding African cichlids and
then maybe moving onto substrate spawning cichlids but if you want a real challenge I would suggest you
try your hand at breeding one of the tetras.
There is a lot more involved in breeding these little guys than just putting adult fish into water and
retrieving the fry when they are free swimming. Having bred many species of tetras I would like to pass on
some of the thing that I have found to work for me and hopefully make it a little easier for you.
Firstly buy younger fish and separate the males from the females I usually purchase six males and ten or
twelve females, I use 50 liter tanks to house my future breeding stock, water conditions vary from species
to species for the actual breeding but for growing and conditioning breeding stock I find water with a ph of
6.5 and hardness of no more than 70ppm at a temperature of 26 decrease is fine, use live foods such as
black worm, mosquito wrigglers and newly hatched brine shrimp, I also feed frozen blood worm and on
occasions a good quality flake food.
Before you start you need to get an infusoria culture going, infusoria is a microscopic creature and a
perfect first food for the tiny tetra fry, starting the culture is simply done, I use a 20 liter plastic bucket that
has a lid, you can use a much smaller container if you are only breeding a small number of fry. Half fill
your container with water from an aquarium ideally use the water when you do a gravel clean, throw in
one over ripe lettuce leaves for every 4 liters of water and put the lid on, after about a week the water in
the bucket will be teeming with infusoria but be warned when you take the lid of its not a nice smell, to
keep the culture alive I feed it one teaspoon of powdered milk per 4 liters weekly, there is no need to
aerate the water but it needs to be kept warm.
Preparing the breeding tank is very important tetras are egg scatterers, and notorious egg eaters so we
need to take precautions to prevent this, using your childs glass marbles to cover the bottom of the tank
this will allow the eggs to fall down in-between them stopping the adults from getting to them, I have made
up breeding grids from cutter guard with a 3 mm mesh this covers the entire bottom of the tank and held
up about 10 mm from the bottom, eggs and newly hatched tetra fry are light sensitive so cover three sides
of the breeding tank to cut down the amount of light entering the tank, next slowly adjust the water in the
tanks with your breeding stock to a ph of 5.8 and a hardness of 30 to 40ppm and raise the temperature to
28 decrease. Lower the ph by using a commercially available ph down. Softening water can be done by
using rainwater, RO water or filtering water through peat moss if you use the peat moss method take into
account that this will also lower the ph.
Siphon water from you breeding stock tanks into your breeding tank to a depth of about 8 there is no
need for any filtration in the breeding tank during the breeding process, put in a generous amount of java
moss this gives the breeders something to spawn in and it also harbours microscopic creatures in its
leaves which the newly hatched fry will feed on. Put some of the females into the breeding tank
depending on the size of your tank as to how many you put in, my breeding tanks are 14 x 12 x 10 and
I use 2 females, allow the females to familiarize them selves with the tank I usually give them about 2
hours before adding the same amount of males.
Cover the top of the tank with piece of polystyrene foam this will stop the fish jumping out and cut down
the amount of light entering the tank, tetras spawn at first light so before turning on lights use a flashlight
to check the tank for eggs if there is no sign of eggs cover the remaining side of the tank with some sort of
material that will allow some light into the tank if possible check the tank every 3 or 4 hours for a spawn if
there has been no spawn on the first day I uncover the front of the tank to allow the morning light into the
tank the next morning I give my breeders 3 days if they dont spawn I remove them and start again with a
different group of fish, once the fish have spawned remove the breeders and cover the tank completely,
eggs hatch after about 36 hours so keep the tank in darkness for 2 days use your flashlight to check if the
fry have hatched you should see what looks like tiny splitters of glass attached to the inside of the tank
keep the tank covered for the next 5 to 7 days.

36 to 48 hours after the fry hatch start adding some of the water from your infusoria culture into the
breeding tank to start feeding the fry I use about of a cup twice daily after feeding infusoria for about 5
days a small amount of newly hatched brine shrimp should be introduced and once the fry are eating
shrimp which will be evident by their big and orange bellies you can stop feeding infusoria and now is the
time a small sponge filter was put into the tank.
Tetra fry need clean water I usually siphon any uneaten food with a very small siphon hose every second
day removing about 10% of the water and topping up with fresh prepared water at about 3 weeks the fry
are moved into a larger tank and I supplement the brine shrimp feedings with a very finely crushed up
flake food but only very small amounts progressively cutting down on the amount of shrimp and
increasing the amount of flakes.