Egg-scattering free spawner with no parental care, spawning among fine-leaved plants or moss; remove adults so they do not eat the eggs.
Buy a group of 8-10 and let them pair up. Tiny fish, so use fine mops.
10-20 L tank with fine java moss, soft, slightly acid water and gentle filtration.
Warm water, soft water and good feeding with tiny foods.
Around 30-80 eggs; hatch in about 24-48 hours.
Feed infusoria or green water for days 1-3, then newly hatched brine shrimp and microworms. Keep light low early on. Grow out in a larger tank once fish are about 1 cm.
Males are more intensely coloured, especially in spawning condition; females are noticeably rounder-bodied.
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.