Paternal mouthbrooder that forms lasting pairs: the male holds the eggs in his mouth; the female lays infertile eggs to feed the free-swimming fry and both parents guard them for several weeks. Start with 6-8 young fish to let a pair form.
A pair in a quiet tank.
200 L tank with caves and lids.
Warm water and live food.
The male holds the fertilised eggs for about 3-5 days (some up to 10 days). Egg count not found.
Fry take baby brine shrimp.
One breeding tank for the ceylon snakehead, drawn to scale from the breeding guide.
Water: 16–24 °C · pH 6–7.5
A plan from the breeding guide and an adult size of 10 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 ceylon snakehead in numbers.
In total: 3 tanks, about 1,000 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.
Adult males are slightly slimmer and have more intense colour in the unpaired fins than females; colour gets stronger in breeding fish.
Typical for mouthbrooders
Usually one male with several females. Feed high-quality food.
The female takes the eggs into her mouth and stops eating.
After about 3 weeks the female releases fully formed fry. Many breeders move her to a quiet tank first.
Fry eat crushed flake and baby brine shrimp straight away.
Fry are a few centimetres long after about 3 months.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Usually one male with several females. Feed high-quality food.
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.