Aquarium neon: breeding at home

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Neons are especially popular with aquarists. Watching a flock of these bright fish is very exciting. But breeding neon at home is a rather difficult process. And yet, doing it is very interesting. Being involved in the emergence of a new life is very exciting. How to organize everything?

General Requirements

In neon reproduction in the natural environment begins during the rainy season. A large amount of soft liquid, which is practically distilled, enters the reservoirs. In an aquarium, it is necessary to imitate these natural climate features. Then the neons will start spawning. Reproduction of aquarium neons should not be carried out too often. They usually spawn twice a year. The rest must last four months.

To awaken the natural instinct, it is enough to add soft water with a sour reaction more often. To know how the liquid meets the requirements, you need to conduct tests. They are sold in pet stores.

Ideal water parameters for spawning:

• hardness in the range of 2-40 units;
• temperature - 25 °С;
• acidity - no more than 7 units.

Water should stand in an open vessel for one to two days. Requires a daily fluid change of 10% of its volume in the reservoir.

Fish nutrition should be as balanced as possible. The diet needs live food. They contain a lot of protein necessary for the development of your pets.

Manufacturers' Choice

By the beginning of the spawning season, it becomes clear which of the fish is female and which is male. Of course, experienced breeders are able to distinguish between them in the dormant period. However, during the beginning of neon breeding, a newcomer will also be able to recognize by gender:

• females have a rounded shape, their abdomen is enlarged;
• the female has a blue stripe slightly curved in the center of the body;
• The swim bladder in the male moves to the anus.

The brightest, most active fish should be transplanted into separate containers. Males and females are kept separately for one to two weeks. Individuals must be at least eight months old. One female needs to provide two or three partners.

Preparing the spawner

Reproduction of neon is best done in a separate small tank. They are called spawners. Today there are cast tanks. For one family, a spawning vessel measuring 25 x 15 x 15 centimeters is suitable.

Small-leaved plants, such as Javanese moss, should be placed at the bottom. So that they do not float, they can be pressed with a heavy stone. Important,so that there are no snails on the vegetation that will eat caviar. The role of protection can be played by a tangled mesh, a plastic washcloth. There should be no soil at the bottom.

It is better to pour distilled water, with an acidity of 5, 5-6 units. A decoction of alder cones or peat will help to acidify it. Although there are specialized preparations. Prepared water is heated up to +26 °С. In the spawning area, weak aeration is switched on. In the evening, the launch of the "parents" is held. It is better to darken the container. The breeding process will start in the morning.

Spawning

Females are ready to spawn every week, while males are only capable of being active every two weeks. Therefore, they need twice as many. When Neons are breeding, they do not need to be fed.

The spawning process consists of the following steps:

• fish swim in pairs above plants or their artificial substitutes;
• make turns, rushing towards each other;
• fish rub their sides, bending their bodies;
• male presses fin to female's back;
• the female spawns and the male pours milk on her.

The games last three to four hours. So that from violent actions they do not jump out of the spawning place, it should be covered.

Fertilized eggs sink to the bottom. The couple is no longer interested in each other. It happens that the "parents" begin to eat caviar. Therefore, they should be removed from the tank in a timely manner.

In the spawning tank, the water level drops to 10 centimeters. A disinfectant is added to it, for example,methylene blue. The temperature rises to +28 °C. Aeration is left, but not strong. The larvae will appear in 24-36 hours.

Fry care

The breeding process of neon fish does not stop at spawning. The offspring needs care. In the first three to five days, the larvae live without food. They have enough elements that are in the yolk sac. This is an orange spot in the abdomen. After a few days, it disappears, the fry begin to swim. Then they need food.

The first food is zooplankton, which is sold in pet stores. You can give the fry grated hard-boiled egg yolk.

Young stock tank should be shaded. Feed should be added to the only illuminated area. The fish will swim towards the light and eat all the food. Without this trick, they will starve to death without finding food.

After two weeks, the fry can gradually increase the amount of lighted area. At the age of one month, they should live in a tank with natural light. As they grow, you can move on to larger feeds. Artemia crustaceans, small cyclops, special concentrates for fry will do.

Monthly fish should start preparing for the transition to the general aquarium. Their maturity can be guessed from the cherished neon stripes that appear at four weeks. For two to three weeks, they need to change the water, making the indicators of hardness and acidity the same as in adults. Only then can the “move” be made.

Reproduction incommunity aquarium

Viviparous fish can be bred in a common tank. What about little sparkling neon lights? Reproduction of neon in an aquarium with other fish in 99% will lead to failure. Caviar will be eaten or die from non-compliance with ripening conditions. In order for the larvae to hatch, you need high temperature, no light and complete safety. In addition, they cannot find food without a light prompt. Therefore, one cannot do without a separate spawning ground.

Propagate neon at home is possible, although somewhat troublesome. If the aquarist enjoys this, it will not be difficult for him to create suitable conditions for future offspring. Joy will be boundless when he althy beautiful offspring are born.