An open spawner, not a cave spawner: the female lays the eggs on the tank glass or plants, and the male guards and fans them.
Keep 2-3 males with several females; the male guards the eggs.
80-100 L tank with sand, smooth bamboo or pipe caves, and cool, well-oxygenated water.
A cool water change and good flow often triggers spawning.
About 100 eggs are laid on the glass or on plants (not in a cave); the male tends them and they hatch in 7-9 days.
Fry are tiny; feed biofilm, crushed spirulina flake, and microworms. Keep the water very clean.
One breeding tank for the royal farlowella, drawn to scale from the breeding guide.
Water: 24–28 °C · pH 6.5–7.2 · sand bottom
A plan from the breeding guide and an adult size of 26 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 royal farlowella in numbers.
In total: 3 tanks, about 400 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.
Mature males grow odontodes (bristles) along the sides of the head and snout; females lack them.
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.