Most of the danios used in aquariums are zebra.Danios are from places like India and Pakistan and can be found in any type of water environment you can imagine.In addition to being a popular fish in the aquarium, zebra danios are also very popular for breeding.The only downside to breeding is that the adults like to eat their eggs and babies, so you have to use some tricks to protect the eggs so they grow into adults!
Step 1: A man and a woman.
Make sure you can tell the difference between males and females when starting the breeding process.Males are usually skinnier than females, and their colors are more vibrant.The females will look chubbier if they start to produce eggs.Place the males and females into separate tanks once you have sexed them.If you have a hard time sexing your danios before they are conditioned, you may need to feed them premium live food for a couple of days before you can tell them apart.If you can tell them apart, you should separate them.
Step 2: Feed your animals high-quality food.
Feed the males and females high-quality live food while they are in their tanks.There are live foods for danios.Most aquarium stores have live food.Continue the process for a couple of weeks before attempting to breed.You can use frozen food if you can't get live food.As they are being conditioned, the female danios should grow rounder.They are developing a lot of roe and are ready to breed.
Step 3: While you wait, set up a breeding tank.
After a couple of weeks of conditioning, your adult danios will be ready to breed.During the first week of conditioning, set up your breeding tank.If you want to prevent the eggs from being sucked into the filter, your breeding tank should be between 5 and 10 gallons.Adding a water dechlorinator to the water is necessary if you use tap water for the tank.Keep the temperature between 72F and 82F by adding a heater to the tank.The spawning mop method is used for the configuration of your breeding tank.You will know how much water needs to be put in the tank once you know what configuration method you want to use.
Step 4: The breeding tank is where your danios will be moved.
The breeding tank you have set up should be moved once 1 to 2 weeks have passed.You should partner 2 males for every female you move over to.Danios breed within 24 hours of being placed in a breeding tank.Leave them for another 24 hours if they don't.If you don't see spawning for 48 hours, feed your danios live food and put them back in their conditioning tanks.Try again in a week or so.Spawning means that the female and male have fertilized the eggs.Since you can't tell if the eggs are fertilized, the best thing to do is watch for them at the bottom of the tank.You can move the adults back to their regular tanks if you see eggs.
Step 5: Once they have spawned, remove the adults.
If you see eggs in the breeding tank, you should remove the adult danios and put them back in their regular tanks.It will be very easy to remove a breeder net.If you used the marble or mop method, you need to use a fish net to move the danios.If the adults are in the tank with the eggs, it is a good idea to remove them.The babies are not really safe from the adults until they are all the same size.Once your baby has reached adult size, you can put the children with their parents.If you are planning to breed them again, you may want to keep a record of the different generations.
Step 6: marbles can be used to make a safe place for the eggs.
A 2-inch layer of glass marbles can be placed at the bottom of a 5 to 10 gallon aquarium to help protect the eggs.The aquarium should be filled with water until it reaches 1 inch above the marbles.The adults can swim around and the eggs can take a short fall in the marbles.Eggs will fall in between the marbles to be safe from adults.You would buy regular marbles in a dollar store or toy store.Glass "rocks" from a decorating store or Ikea can be used in flower arrangements or candle holders.Glass marbles are easy to find in this arrangement, which is an upside.The downside to this arrangement is that glass marbles have become more expensive in recent years.You have to catch the adults once they have bred, as they are not contained in one area.
Step 7: Hang a net to protect eggs.
A breeder net is placed inside the breeding tank to help protect the eggs and babies.A basket is attached to the rim of the tank as a breeder net.The adults can't get to the eggs because of the mesh in the basket.Once the breeder net is placed in the tank, fill it with water until the bottom is under water.If you are looking for a breeder net, make sure it is large enough to allow the eggs to fall through.Most pet stores and aquarium shops sell a breeder net.It is easy to take the adults out of the net with a breeder net.The adults will not need to be caught in the main tank.The eggs can get through the mesh if you have the right net for them.You can easily get help from someone at the aquarium store.
Step 8: A mop can be made out of yarn.
A mop is a bunch of yarn that is tied together.10 to 20 spawning mops are required for a 10-gallon tank.Put the mops at the bottom of the tank and fill it with water that goes no further than a couple of inches above the top of them.The yarn will float in the water and create a protective area for the eggs.The following instructions will show you how to make your own spawning mops.Place 2 dozen of these yarn pieces next to each other and fold them in half.You should have 48 strands of yarn hanging down.To hold all the pieces together, put a knot in the top of the bunch.You don't have to spend money on anything new if the spawning mops are homemade, which is an upside to this method.You have to physically make each mop.When it is time to move the adults out of the breeding tank, you will have to catch them.
Step 9: The eggs will hatch in 1 to 2 days.
Adults will usually hatch within a day of being placed in the breeding tank.You should be able to see the eggs if you use one of the methods.It takes about 1.5 to 2 days for the eggs to hatch after they have been fertilized.
Step 10: The fry can become free-swimming.
The fry that are born after the eggs hatch won't start swimming for a couple of days.There is no need to feed them until they start swimming.It will make your tank dirty if you put food in the water before they swim.Danio fry are very small and hard to see.To make sure you see them swimming, you need to carefully observe the tank.The Danio fry attach themselves to the side of the tank to stay in one place.They might be easier to see when they do this.
Step 11: Once they are swimming, start feeding the fry.
It is time to start feeding the fry once they have moved around the tank on their own.Danios usually eat baby brine shrimp, but it's too big for fry.You can feed them powdered egglayer fish food.Feed the fry lightly several times a day.Special fish food can be found at some pet stores and aquarium stores.If you can't locate it on your own, ask the salesperson.
Step 12: The breeding tank should have a sponge filter.
It is a good idea to add a bio sponge filter to the tank once your baby is able to eat on their own.The snails are great for keeping the tank clean.
Step 13: 25% of the water should be changed daily.
Change between 10% and 25% of the water in the tank every day in order to encourage your baby to grow quickly.Remove the water from the bottom of the tank and replace it with clean water.If you want to have fresh water at the right temperature, you need to set up a separate tank with a heater that is used as a breeding tank.Before putting tap water into the breeding tank, be sure to add dechlorinator to the water.
Step 14: Start giving your baby food.
Brine shrimp can be introduced to the baby Danios' diet as they grow.They will eat the shrimp around a week to 10 days after hatching.Give them some brine shrimp once a day, but keep feeding them the powdered egglayer fish food.As your baby grows, you can keep introducing new foods.Live daphnia, chopped tubifex worms, and frozen cyclops are some of the other foods that can be tried.
Step 15: The baby should be moved to a larger tank.
When your baby is half an inch long, it is time to move them to a bigger tank.How many babies you have in the breeding tank can affect the size of the bigger tank.Several hundred babies are usually produced by 2 to 3 female danios.Depending on how many females you put in the breeding tank, you may want to prepare this larger tank based on the number of babies you are expecting.It takes 6 weeks to reach a size of 1 inch.