Egg scatterer among fine-leaved plants or wool mops, rarely bred in aquaria; adults eat eggs and should be removed after 2-3 days.
Keep a group with several females and condition on live foods; pairs form on their own.
20-30 L tank with soft acidic water (pH 5.5-6.5), dense fine-leaved plants or java moss, dim light and a gentle sponge filter.
Soft acidic water, dim light and daily live baby brine shrimp; spawning is usually in the morning.
Adults are removed after 2-3 days and the first fry appear a day or two later; first foods are Paramecium or 5-50 micron dry food. No egg count found in the sources checked.
Feed infusoria, then fine fry food and newly hatched brine shrimp; fry are tiny and need very small food.
Adult males are noticeably slimmer (less stocky) than females; unlike its red relatives the sexes are coloured alike. In one Rio Negro form males have thickened anal-fin rays.
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.