Breeding the cherry barb
Egg-scattering free spawner with no parental care; eggs are scattered among plants.
Step by step
Buy a small group and let them pair up. Males are red; females are paler.
30 L tank with fine plants or a spawning mop. Dim light.
Warm water, plenty of live food and cover.
About 200-300 eggs; eggs hatch in 24-48 hours and fry are free-swimming about a day later.
Feed infusoria or liquid food for days 1-3, then baby brine shrimp and microworms. Grow out with frequent water changes. Sort by size to cut losses.
- Leaving parents with eggs
- Too bright
- Not enough plants
Male or female
Adult males are smaller, slimmer and much more colourful (cherry red, especially when spawning) than females.
Can I breed it in my tank?
- Use a separate small tank with a sponge filter and spawning mops, so the eggs aren't eaten.
- Good for a first breeding project.
Day-by-day plan
Typical for egg scatterers
- 14 days beforeCondition the parents
Feed live or frozen food twice a day. Keep males and females apart if you can.
- Day 0Spawning
Eggs are scattered over mops or fine plants, often at first light. Remove the parents straight after.
- Day 1Eggs hatch
Most eggs hatch in 1–2 days. Keep the tank dim and remove white (fungused) eggs.
- Day 4Free swimming, first food
Fry use up the yolk and start swimming. Feed infusoria or liquid fry food several times a day.
- Day 8Baby brine shrimp
Switch to newly hatched brine shrimp or microworms. Start small, daily water changes.
- Day 21Crushed flake
Add finely crushed flake. Sort fry by size so the big ones don't eat the small ones.
- Day 60Ready to move
Most small fish reach about 2 cm in 2–3 months and can join the main tank.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Simulator: guided
Feed live or frozen food twice a day. Keep males and females apart if you can.
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.