Captive breeding is rarely reported. In spawning the female leads the male into dense plants and he wraps around her as she releases a cloud of eggs, which are scattered and not guarded.
Keep a group of 6+; males have longer pectoral fins.
A large tank or pond with plants and fine gravel.
Cooling in winter, then warming in spring.
Unmated females hold about 150-18,000 eggs (more in larger fish), and they spawn several times a season. Hatch time not found.
Infusoria, then baby brine shrimp.
One breeding tank for the dojo loach, drawn to scale from the breeding guide.
Water: 18–23 °C · pH 6.5–8 · gravel bottom
A plan from the breeding guide and an adult size of 28 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 row of tanks on their own stands for breeding the dojo loach in numbers.
In total: 3 tanks, about 1,215 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.
Mature males have larger pectoral fins with a thickened second ray; females are heavier-bodied and a little larger.
Typical for egg scatterers
Feed live or frozen food twice a day. Keep males and females apart if you can.
Eggs are scattered over mops or fine plants, often at first light. Remove the parents straight after.
Most eggs hatch in 1–2 days. Keep the tank dim and remove white (fungused) eggs.
Fry use up the yolk and start swimming. Feed infusoria or liquid fry food several times a day.
Switch to newly hatched brine shrimp or microworms. Start small, daily water changes.
Add finely crushed flake. Sort fry by size so the big ones don't eat the small ones.
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.
Feed live or frozen food twice a day. Keep males and females apart if you can.
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.