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Onatopa
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#1 |
Posted 13 Jul 2008, 6:40 pm |
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The Black Neon Tetra is quite easy to breed indeed and I've read this in more than article. They don't know what they are talking about.
The key to success seems to be water conditions especially small and frequent water changes and their feeding. They usually breed in the morning and such is the case with my experience as I've just watched a single pair breed this morning. They did so in my fairly new (2 months) 38L Nano Cube community tank. So caviar was on the on the breakfast menu for most of the other fish... grrrr.
The water conditions at the time were:
Temp: 77F
KH 4.5°
GH 8°
pH 6.8
The tank was originally set-up using DIY diffused CO2 and 'Eco-Complete' with a heated substrate and lots of various plants (see attached picture below).
All the fish were fed Live California Blackworms (Lumbriculus variegatus) an hour or so before. After a short while, the male in his best breeding colors was "dancing" around the female, trying to entice her. The pair brush together and the female responded by scattering a few very tiny, clear, semi-adhesive eggs that are instantly fertilized by the male. This process was repeated every few minutes for about an hour as the female release more and more eggs. Each time they were consumed by the other fish only. It seems when they are spawning they will not touch the eggs. The trouble seems to come when they have finished spawning, for they then start to hunt for the eggs and eat them. In this case though, there were very few left.
This entire event was rather unexpected but I guess that makes me a new father of sorts now.  Feel free to contact me with any questions.
Good luck with yours.
~Ona
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Onatopa
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#2 |
Posted 13 Jul 2008, 6:43 pm |
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Correction -- The Black Neon Tetra is quite easy to breed indeed and I've read that it was difficult in more than article. They don't know what they are talking about.
~Ona
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mickey
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#3 |
Posted 14 Jul 2008, 5:27 pm |
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congrats on the eggs, good feeling when it happens 
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Onatopa
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#4 |
Posted 14 Jul 2008, 11:32 pm |
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Ya! ....it was quite cool Mickey and like I said, it was totally unexpected!
I'll add some finer details, for those who are interested and that is I added a bag of activated carbon the night before to clear up the tanins (that which makes the water brown) from a bag of 'Fluval' granular peat (which I removed the day before) I used it to lower the GH even more as I was aiming for 6 or 7° GH. We have fairly hard water here. But now I only use "distilled water" for water changes as my LFS doesn't have any RO water available at the moment.
Since then, believe it or not, I've actually recovered several (don't know exactly how many at this point) eggs from the filter media (the top piece of the floss in the first stage of filtering) and put them into a 16oz glass measuring cup the night before I went to bed to see what, if anything, was left. The tetras were breeding right near the intake to the filter. Low and behold, and to my amazement there were eggs captured in it because this morning I saw tiny hatchlings swimming around in the cup. They were in the filter for about 6-8 hours (me thinks I may just be very lucky).
I went out and purchased another female from 'PetSmart' (of all places, which is where I got my first pair) today AND she is even larger than the first and in prime breeding condition (colors/size) too and it looks like this may happen again in about 2 or 3 days 'cause the male has already started scoping the female out...what a stud! ~Grins B)
I'll let everyone know as the days progress if I'm successful again. This time though I've purchased a 10gal to try the breeding in and using a 25% water change using that water to start the new tank. No gravel. This will lower the GH even more as this is what seems to be the trigger for getting tetras to breed. Don't forget -- Darkness is also good. Think of what it would be like in the wild, and try to duplicate that. Mine breed in the morning, after feeding, under full-sunlight. One piece of Cabomba will be the breeding "mop".
congrats on the eggs, good feeling when it happens |
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mickey
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#5 |
Posted 15 Jul 2008, 12:16 am |
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have you considered setting up your own RO unit,not too expensive to buy.
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Onatopa
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#6 |
Posted 15 Jul 2008, 1:45 pm |
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Not as yet. I found them to be so, especially when my LFS gives it me. Their unit is just down and the moment.
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yeepage
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#7 |
Posted 26 Jul 2008, 4:42 pm |
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i was always in the impression tetra where hard to breed, i got neon and black tetra in one my tanks but not had any luck, guess if i was ulucky the othe fish got to the eggs first...
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Nerf
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#8 |
Posted 05 Jan 2011, 10:16 pm |
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Hi can u help me I need as much info on breeding black neon tetras as I can get. P.S. I'm new to keeping fish.
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Onatopa
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#9 |
Posted 05 Jan 2011, 10:33 pm |
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Read #1 - the beginning of this thread. That's all the info you need. Achieve those types of water parameters and you should be good to breed most tetras. Cardinal and Neon's having a few more items to get them to breed. Lot's of R.O. water should be the first thing you should have to lower the kH.
If you have specific questions I might be more helpful. Let me know and best of luck!
~Ona
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Nerf
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#10 |
Posted 05 Jan 2011, 10:37 pm |
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If I have a bristlenose. A. Golden algae eater and a snail will that afect the breeding in anny way
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Onatopa
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#11 |
Posted 05 Jan 2011, 10:58 pm |
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Additional Notes:
Most of the Tetras I like or have in tanks are from the Amazon rivers in South America. Most people don't realize what the water conditions are in a tropical rain forest or the tributaries of these rivers.
The water there is very soft!
Something like 2 degrees of hardness or sometimes less.
The pH is close to or right around 5.0 pH. That quite acid.
Granted, these are wild-caught types of water parameters and are not usually necessary to get most of the fish (we're talking about) to breed. And, many of the fish we purchase in this today (petstore, LFS) are farm raised specifically for the pet industry.
They are raised in much different conditions (it's easier, and less expensive). Most of these fish can be acclimated though to conditions that more closely match those of most modern cities. But getting them to breed will be much more difficult if not impossible.
So, the softer the water the more you will be imitate their natural conditions. The same is true of the pH. Never use chemicals to do this! Do it naturally. Injection of CO2 lowers pH. Sometimes dramatically (depending on the water softness). By knowing the kH of the water and the pH of the water you can know how exactly how much CO2 is in the water. For someone that grows plants, like myself, this is important information to have. I use a formula to calculate this. It's on my website. Tag me if you'd like to check it out.
That's all for now. HAPPY Fish Keeping!
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Onatopa
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#12 |
Posted 05 Jan 2011, 11:07 pm |
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I have a bristlenose. A. Golden algae eater and a snail will that affect the breeding in any way?
No, it will not affect their breeding. It's all in the water!!!!
You are still talking about Black Neons, right?
The snail will find and eat the eggs. Of that you can be assured!
The catfish is a scavenger...he too will eat eggs.
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Nerf
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#13 |
Posted 06 Jan 2011, 4:49 am |
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Ok thanks for that And yes I am still talking about black neon tetras
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mickey
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#14 |
Posted 07 Jan 2011, 10:43 am |
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Bit surprised they preferred the water without the tannins, normally adding these encourages spawning. Any Tetra is not that difficult to breed if like you have posted, they are given the correct conditions.
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Onatopa
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#15 |
Posted 07 Jan 2011, 11:00 am |
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Bit surprised they preferred the water without the tannins, normally adding these encourages spawning. Any Tetra is not that difficult to breed if like you have posted, they are given the correct conditions.
Oh, the tannins help, make no mistake...it's the only way, for example, I've found to get Blue Rams to breed. I can and do get them to breed monthly now...much easier than tetras. It kinda depends on which tetras...some are more picky than others. Some are easier that others to breed.
If I add tannins I use one of two methods. By using Brightwell Aquatics "Blackwater" (you can use other extracts) or I use Indian Almond leaves (Cattapa leaves). This is the best way to get most fish to breed. These leaves are also the trick the breeders use to induce spawning.
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mickey
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#16 |
Posted 07 Jan 2011, 11:40 am |
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Tell me about it, I have bred fish for over 30 years so theres not many tricks I don't know about.
Pay my site a visit the addy is in my signature, I am sure there are a lot of people qwho are interested in your breeding projects
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Onatopa
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#17 |
Posted 07 Jan 2011, 11:47 am |
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Tell me about it, I have bred fish for over 30 years so theres not many tricks I don't know about.
Pay my site a visit the addy is in my signature, I am sure there are a lot of people qwho are interested in your breeding projects
I could do that. Where in England are you located?
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mickey
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#18 |
Posted 07 Jan 2011, 11:48 am |
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newark,notts
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Onatopa
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#19 |
Posted 07 Jan 2011, 12:07 pm |
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newark, notts
Right-on! I have a good friend in Market Harborough, is reason I ask. Not exactly close-by I guess, but it's still nice to know where folks are. You on Facebook Mickey?
~R
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Nerf
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#20 |
Posted 08 Jan 2011, 8:07 pm |
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How do u tell the diference between male and female black neon tetras
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Nerf
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#21 |
Posted 08 Jan 2011, 8:11 pm |
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And what time of the year do they breed
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Onatopa
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#22 |
Posted 08 Jan 2011, 10:49 pm |
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How do u tell the diference between male and female black neon tetras
The female Black neon is rounder and plumper than the male. When she is ready to breed you will see a increase in her girth.
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Onatopa
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#23 |
Posted 08 Jan 2011, 10:52 pm |
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And what time of the year do they breed
When they are old enough (usually 6 months old) and the female is ready. Many fish will breed once every 30 days or so depending on the water conditions and how often you change water.
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Onatopa
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#24 |
Posted 08 Jan 2011, 11:01 pm |
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@Nerf - with the last two questions you've posed, allow me to give you some advice. Do some searching online about breeding. There is a significant amount of info about breeding Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi.
They are a typical Egg scatterer, requiring soft, acidic and very clean water. Failures in breeding are in most cases due to unsuitable water conditions.
The water conditions as I've already stated are:
Temp: 77F
KH 4.5°
GH 8°
pH 6.8
Achieve these water conditions and they will probably breed.
Happy fish keeping
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Onatopa
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#25 |
Posted 08 Jan 2011, 11:18 pm |
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@Nerd - I'm not sure you know what you are trying to do :(
YOU ..are the time of the year!
YOU control the amount of LIGHT the tank gets (lights should be on a timer).
YOU determine when water changes occur (these simulate a fresh springtime rain showers).
You are Master of their domain. You control their life, their destiny (when and what they are fed).
Your job will be to duplicate the day to day cycles that happen in a river or stream in South America.
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Nerf
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#26 |
Posted 09 Jan 2011, 3:57 am |
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Ok thanks
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Onatopa
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#27 |
Posted 09 Jan 2011, 12:02 pm |
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You're welcome
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