Bloodfin Tetra Breeding Guide
How to breed Aphyocharax anisitsi: conditioning, a planted spawning tank, non-adhesive scattered eggs, a fast 24-hour hatch and a large fry yield.
Overview
Aphyocharax anisitsi is a hardy egg-scattering characin. It is quite fecund for its size, and a successful spawn can produce several hundred fry. The eggs are not adhesive, so many fall to the tank floor, which influences how the spawning tank is set up.
Sexing
Males tend to be slimmer than females and develop small hooks on some of their pelvic and anal fin rays as they mature. Females become full of eggs when in condition.
Conditioning
Condition the fish as a group on a high-quality diet of frozen and live foods. When the females are full of eggs and the males show peak colour, select the fattest female and the best-coloured male for spawning.
Breeding Setup
- Separate small spawning tank with clumps of fine-leaved plants such as java moss as the spawning substrate
- Small air-powered sponge filter for adequate aeration
- Water parameters are not otherwise critical, but very alkaline water should be avoided
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Spawning typically occurs the morning after the conditioned fish are introduced to the spawning tank. Eggs are deposited among the plants but are not adhesive, so many fall to the floor or even float.
Egg & Fry Care
Remove the adults after spawning, as they will eat the eggs. The eggs hatch in about 24 hours. Feed the fry infusoria-type foods for the first few days, then microworm and/or brine shrimp nauplii as they grow.
Common Challenges
Because the eggs are non-adhesive and many settle on the bottom, prompt removal of the adults is essential to protect the spawn, and the very fast 24-hour hatch means first foods must be ready in advance.