Breeding the american flagfish
Cave spawner; the male guards the eggs in a pit or on a spawning mop.
Step by step
One male with 2-3 females.
Planted 60 L tank with a cave, flowerpot or spawning mop for each female.
Warm water and a well-fed pair.
50-100 eggs per spawn in the nest; incubation of 5-7 days.
Baby brine shrimp and powdered flake; fry are easy.
- Not enough cover
- Keeping males together
- Cold water
Male or female
- Male: Bright with a red-patterned side and a dark spot
- Female: Plain with a dark spot on the dorsal fin
- Males show red barring and are bolder
Can I breed it in my tank?
- Good for a first breeding project.
Day-by-day plan
Typical for cave spawners
- 21 days beforeSet up caves
Give one cave per pair or female, plus a varied diet.
- Day 0Spawning in the cave
Eggs are laid inside the cave and guarded, usually by the male.
- Day 4Eggs hatch
Eggs hatch in 3–7 days depending on the species and temperature.
- Day 10Fry leave the cave
Feed baby brine shrimp and crushed food. Plecos need wood and vegetables.
- Day 60Grow-out
Fry grow on in their own tank.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Simulator: guided
Give one cave per pair or female, plus a varied diet.
Simulator: try it yourself
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
- Without live or frozen food the parents aren't in breeding condition.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.