Breeding the red rainbowfish
Egg scatterer: a pair spawns over several weeks among plants or mops, laying a few eggs each day.
Step by step
Group of 6+ with more females.
A 100 L tank with mops.
Frequent feeding and water changes.
A few eggs each day over several weeks; eggs hatch in 7-8 days.
Infusoria, brine shrimp; males show red later.
- Not enough space
- Poor water
- Eating eggs
Male or female
Males turn bright salmon-red and develop a much higher, rounded back; females are yellowish olive with gold-sheened scales and clear fins. Young are olive-green until males colour up at about 4-5 cm.
Can I breed it in my tank?
- Use a separate small tank with a sponge filter and spawning mops, so the eggs aren't eaten.
- Good for a first breeding project.
Day-by-day plan
Typical for egg scatterers
- 14 days beforeCondition the parents
Feed live or frozen food twice a day. Keep males and females apart if you can.
- Day 0Spawning
Eggs are scattered over mops or fine plants, often at first light. Remove the parents straight after.
- Day 1Eggs hatch
Most eggs hatch in 1–2 days. Keep the tank dim and remove white (fungused) eggs.
- Day 4Free swimming, first food
Fry use up the yolk and start swimming. Feed infusoria or liquid fry food several times a day.
- Day 8Baby brine shrimp
Switch to newly hatched brine shrimp or microworms. Start small, daily water changes.
- Day 21Crushed flake
Add finely crushed flake. Sort fry by size so the big ones don't eat the small ones.
- Day 60Ready to move
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.
Simulator: guided
Feed live or frozen food twice a day. Keep males and females apart if you can.
Simulator: try it yourself
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
- Without live or frozen food the parents aren't in breeding condition.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.