Spawns from early spring: the female leads the male into dense plants, where he wraps around her in a complete ring as eggs are released. It matures at 2-3 years. Conservation hatcheries breed it by hormone injection and stripping, incubating eggs at about 18 °C.
Natural pairing in spring from a group.
Large pond or tank with soft vegetation and winter cooling.
Cold winter followed by a warm spring rise.
Very high fecundity, about 100,000-150,000 eggs per female, laid among dense plants. Hatch time not found; newly hatched fry have external gills for 10-12 days.
Fry hatch in 4-7 days and need infusoria then brine shrimp.