
Egg scatterer that is quite tricky to breed; spawn in a dim tank with fine-leaved plants or mesh in very soft, acidic water (pH 5.5-6.5, gH 1-5) and remove the adults, which eat the eggs.
Buy a group of 8-10 and let them pair up; condition for two weeks on live and frozen foods.
15-20 L bare tank with very soft, acidic water (pH 5.5-6.5), spawning mops or java moss, a sponge filter and low light.
Soft acidic water, a slightly cooler water change and dim light with gentle morning sun.
100-250 eggs
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.
One breeding tank for the false rummynose tetra, drawn to scale from the breeding guide.
Water: 22–26 °C · pH 5.5–6.5 · soft water · bare bottom
A plan from the breeding guide and an adult size of 5 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 120 cm rack for breeding the false rummynose tetra in numbers.
In total: 5 tanks, about 207 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 females are noticeably rounder in the body than males.
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.