Egg layer: eggs are fertilised in one mass, hang from the female's vent for a while, then are wiped off singly or in small clumps on fine-leaved plants or spawning mops. Adults ignore eggs but eat free-swimming fry.
A group of 6 or more.
A 20 L planted tank with java moss or spawning mops.
Warm water and live food.
Batches of 10-20 eggs every few days, or daily in good condition; incubation typically 1-3 weeks depending on temperature.
Feed infusoria, then baby brine shrimp.
One breeding tank for the orange-fin ricefish, drawn to scale from the breeding guide.
Water: 23–27 °C · pH 6–7.5
A plan from the breeding guide and an adult size of 3 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 orange-fin ricefish in numbers.
In total: 6 tanks, about 204 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 are much more colourful, slimmer, and have longer dorsal and anal fins. Females also show red-orange fin and body markings, only duller; in males the genital papilla is a short tube, in females it is two-lobed.
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.