Biparental guarder with floating eggs: pairs embrace like gouramis, build no nest, and both parents defend the floating eggs and fry. Well-fed pairs breed at least yearly from about 18 cm; fry must be size-sorted weekly to limit cannibalism.
A conditioned pair in a large tank.
600 L tank with plants and a secure lid.
Seasonal temperature change.
Several thousand floating eggs per spawn; they hatch in 24-36 hours depending on temperature and the fry swim freely about 24 hours later as 6-7 mm black 'tadpoles'.
Fry feed on baby brine shrimp and microworms; parents guard them.
One breeding tank for the northern dwarf snakehead, drawn to scale from the breeding guide.
Water: 15–25 °C · pH 6–8
A plan from the breeding guide and an adult size of 35 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 northern dwarf snakehead in numbers.
In total: 3 tanks, about 3,000 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.
Males develop longer dorsal and anal fins and many more silvery spots on body and fins; adult females look rounder-bellied.
Typical for open substrate spawners
Grow up a group and let a pair choose each other. Give them a flat stone or broad leaf.
The pair cleans the stone and lays rows of eggs. Both guard them.
Wrigglers hatch in 2–4 days and are moved to pits by the parents.
Feed baby brine shrimp several times a day. Parents often herd the fry.
Move fry to a grow-out tank before the parents spawn again.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Grow up a group and let a pair choose each other. Give them a flat stone or broad leaf.
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.