Egg-scattering free spawner with no parental care. Best spawned as 5-6 conditioned pairs in a tank with Java moss or other fine-leaved plants and an air-driven sponge filter; leave 4-5 days then remove adults. Fry are delicate and slow-growing.
Keep a group of 8-10 and condition them on live and frozen foods; pairs form on their own in the group.
10-20 L bare tank with soft, acidic water (pH 5.5-6.5), dense java moss or fine-leaved plants, dim light and a sponge filter on very gentle flow.
Soft acidic water, small cool water changes and plenty of live food; a dim, planted tank with morning light.
Eggs are laid in several small batches of about 20 among plants; they sink and hatch in about 24-48 hours (FishBase: about 36 hours). Fry free-swimming after 3-5 days.
Infusoria then newly hatched brine shrimp.
One breeding tank for the pearly rasbora, drawn to scale from the breeding guide.
Water: 23–27 °C · pH 5.5–6.5 · soft water · bare bottom
A plan from the breeding guide and an adult size of 4 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 pearly rasbora 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.
Adult males are smaller, slimmer and more colourful than females, especially in spawning condition.
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.