Breeding the emperor tetra
Egg scatterer, best spawned in pairs in a separate, very dimly lit tank with fine-leaved plants or mops and soft, acidic water (pH 6.0-7.0, gH 1-10, 24-26.5 °C). Adults eat the eggs, so remove them once eggs are seen.
Step by step
Buy a group of 6 or more and let them pair up. Males are larger with long fins.
40 L tank with soft, slightly acidic water, mops or plants and dim light.
Warm, soft water and good feeding.
Eggs hatch in 24-36 hours and fry are free-swimming 4-5 days later.
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.
- Hard water
- Leaving parents with eggs
- Bright light
Male or female
Males are larger and more colourful, with long extended dorsal, anal and caudal fins (the tail has a long middle ray), and a blue iris; females have a green iris.
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.