Longfin Tetra Breeding Guide
Breeding the Longfin Tetra (Brycinus longipinnis): sexing by the male dorsal fin, soft acidic spawning and rearing several hundred orange eggs.
Overview
The Longfin Tetra (Brycinus longipinnis) is a robust African alestid ranging across West Africa from Gambia to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon. In general care Seriously Fish gives it a range of about 22-26 C, pH 6.0-7.5 and hardness around 5-19 dH, while the breeding tank uses softer, more acidic water. It is an egg-scattering tetra without parental care; well-conditioned adults are spawned in a separate tank and removed once eggs are laid.
Sexing
According to Seriously Fish, adult males develop a long, flowing dorsal fin, are slightly larger than females, and have a characteristic convex profile to the anal fin.
Conditioning
Condition the sexes separately on lots of live and frozen foods. Select the best-coloured male and the fattest female once the females appear ripe and plump.
Breeding Setup
- Dimly lit spawning tank with floating plants for cover and fine-leaved plants such as java moss as a spawning medium.
- No substrate required.
- Temperature about 24-26 C (75-79 F), pH 6.0-6.5, general hardness around 2-5.
- Gentle aeration from a small sponge filter; high dissolved oxygen is important for the eggs and early fry.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Several hundred orange eggs are produced and scattered into the plants. As with related alestids, the adults will take the eggs and should be removed once spawning is complete.
Egg & Fry Care
Eggs hatch in about 4-6 days, with the fry becoming free-swimming 1-2 days later. Start the fry on infusoria or a liquid fry food, then offer brine shrimp nauplii or microworm after 2-3 days. High dissolved oxygen is critical for early survival.
Common Challenges
Maintaining high oxygen and clean, soft, acidic water through the egg and early fry stages is the main demand, alongside the usual need to remove the parents to protect the eggs.