Breeding / Rarely bred at home
Rarely bred at home · Hard
Breeding the striped headstander
Not known to have been bred in home aquaria, but apparently bred commercially in South America and Asia. In the wild, pairs spawn in densely weeded places.
Step by step
Pairing
Needs a large group in mature, stable conditions; pairing is hard to control.
Breeding tank
Roomy, planted tank with very soft acidic water (pH 5-6.5), subdued light and fine-leaved plants or a spawning mat.
What starts it
Rain-season style changes: soft cool water changes, a small temperature rise and heavy live feeding.
Eggs and young
unknown
Raising the fry
Infusoria then brine shrimp nauplii; survival is poor without very clean water.
Common mistakes
- Hard tap water
- Overcrowding the breeding tank
- Poor water quality
Male or female
Mature females grow slightly larger and are rounder-bellied than males.
Can I breed it in my tank?
- This species is rarely bred in home tanks.
- Hard: for experienced breeders.