About Keeping & Breeding Tetras

Tetras are a type of freshwater fish that come in a variety of species. They are common as pets and are well suited for life inside an aquarium. To keep and breed tetras, it's important to follow four essential guidelines. Doing so should create new generations of healthy tetra.

  1. Proper Diet

    • A large part of keeping and breeding tetras is feeding them a healthy diet. Ensuring that the fish receive their necessary vitamins and nutrients improves the odds of successful breeding. Feed tetras a vitamin-enriched flake food with plenty of minerals and omega-3 fatty acids. Follow the feeding instructions on the package to ensure they get the right amount of food each day. It's also helpful to add some live food such as brine fish to diversify the tetras' diet and optimize their health.

    Separate the Sexes Before Breeding

    • You can breed tetras more effectively by separating males and females approximately two weeks prior to the event. Doing so stimulates the tetras and serves as encouragement for breeding. To do this, place a clear divider in the middle of the aquarium.

    Place Fish in Separate Breeding Tank

    • Designate a separate tank for spawning purposes. Use one that's between 2 to 5 gallons and thoroughly clean it out beforehand. Place female tetras in the breeding tank the night before, while leaving males in the regular tank. Then place males in the breeding tank the day you want the tetras to mate. This strategy is ideal because it allows females to get acquainted with their new surroundings before introducing the males. It's also helpful to line to bottom of the spawning tank with marbles to conceal the eggs and prevent adults from eating them.

    Remove Tetras After Breeding

    • It's important to remove all adults after mating has occurred and the eggs have been laid. This will prevent adults from cannibalizing the eggs. Hatching should occur within one day after the eggs have been laid.