Bubble-nester. The male builds the nest in floating plants; the female is usually tolerated, may help defend the nest, and the pair can stay together. Adults do not usually eat the fry.
Condition a pair and place together in a spawning tank.
60 L tank with floating plants and caves.
Warm live-food conditioning.
Several hundred floating eggs per spawn; the fry stay in the nest until the yolk is used up, then need infusoria-sized food for a few days before Artemia nauplii.
Newly hatched brine shrimp after the yolk is used.
One breeding tank for the black paradise fish, drawn to scale from the breeding guide.
Water: 20–30 °C · pH 6–8
A plan from the breeding guide and an adult size of 8 cm. Tank shape is a standard 2 : 1 : 1.2 box, at least 6 adult lengths long. Check each step in the guide above.
A 120 cm rack for breeding the black paradise fish in numbers.
In total: 3 tanks, about 300 L of water. A litre of water weighs about 1 kg, so check that the floor and rack can take the weight.
Sizes are worked out from the breeding tank in the guide. Tanks fit a standard 120 cm rack when they can; bigger tanks go on their own stands.
Males are larger than females and have extended soft rays in the dorsal, anal and tail fins.
Typical for bubble-nest builders
Feed well, then let the female see the male through glass before putting them together.
The male wraps the female and places eggs in the nest. Remove the female after spawning.
Eggs hatch in 24–48 hours. The male catches falling fry and returns them to the nest.
Remove the male. Feed infusoria and keep the air above the water warm and humid.
Move on to baby brine shrimp and microworms. Change small amounts of water daily.
Males start fighting at about 8 weeks and need their own jars.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Feed well, then let the female see the male through glass before putting them together.
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.