Mouthbrooder: the male carries the eggs and young in his mouth.
A conditioned pair in a large tank.
700 L tank with plants and caves, tight lid.
Seasonal change and good feeding.
Hundreds of eggs.
Fry take baby brine shrimp then small fish.
One breeding tank for the golden snakehead, drawn to scale from the breeding guide.
Water: 16–25 °C · pH 6–7.5
A plan from the breeding guide and an adult size of 30 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 row of tanks on their own stands for breeding the golden snakehead in numbers.
In total: 3 tanks, about 3,500 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.
Females are slightly duller and more yellowish than males.
Typical for mouthbrooders
Usually one male with several females. Feed high-quality food.
The female takes the eggs into her mouth and stops eating.
After about 3 weeks the female releases fully formed fry. Many breeders move her to a quiet tank first.
Fry eat crushed flake and baby brine shrimp straight away.
Fry are a few centimetres long after about 3 months.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Usually one male with several females. Feed high-quality food.
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.