Egg scatterer bred in a separate, very dimly lit tank with soft, acidic water (pH 5.5-6.5, gH 1-5). Adults eat the eggs, so they are removed once eggs appear. Eggs hatch in 24-36 hours and fry swim freely 3-4 days later.
Buy a group of 8-10 and let them pair up. Condition with live and frozen foods.
10-20 L bare tank with soft, acidic water (pH 5.5-6.5, very soft), spawning mops or java moss, and a dim room. Cover the sides to cut light.
Soft, slightly acidic water, a cooler water change and dim light with morning sun.
60-130 eggs per spawn; they hatch in about 24 hours and the fry swim in 4-5 days. Eggs are very light sensitive.
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.
One breeding tank for the neon tetra, drawn to scale from the breeding guide.
Water: 21–25 °C · pH 5.5–6.5 · soft water · bare bottom
A plan from the breeding guide and an adult size of 2.5 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 neon tetra in numbers.
In total: 7 tanks, about 246 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.
Tip: Look from the side when they are well fed
From the checked notes: “Mature females are rounder-bodied and a little larger than males.” Numbers sit on the part of the body each difference is about. Tap a picture to see it bigger.
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.