Breeding the red-spotted copeina
Lays its eggs in a shallow pit the male digs in the sand; the male fans and guards the eggs and then the fry until they swim freely. It does not spawn above the water like the splash tetra.
Step by step
Keep a pair or group; the male leaps with the female to lay eggs on leaves above the water.
A tank with fine sand and soft, slightly acidic water.
Warm soft water and live food; males guard and splash the eggs.
Eggs hatch in about 24 hours; FishBase's model uses a fecundity of about 100 eggs.
After 3 days the male splashes eggs with water; fry fall into the water and eat infusoria then brine shrimp.
- No lid or overhang
- Hard water
- Disturbing the male
Male or female
Males are more intensely coloured than females and tend to develop extended fins.
Can I breed it in my tank?
- Takes some experience.
Day-by-day plan
Typical for open substrate spawners
- 21 days beforeLet a pair form
Grow up a group and let a pair choose each other. Give them a flat stone or broad leaf.
- Day 0Spawning
The pair cleans the stone and lays rows of eggs. Both guard them.
- Day 3Eggs hatch
Wrigglers hatch in 2–4 days and are moved to pits by the parents.
- Day 7Free swimming
Feed baby brine shrimp several times a day. Parents often herd the fry.
- Day 42Grow-out
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.
Simulator: guided
Grow up a group and let a pair choose each other. Give them a flat stone or broad leaf.
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.