How Do I Set Up a Breeding Tank?

How to set up a breeding tank depends, to some degree, on what type of fish you are breeding. Make sure you have a sexed pair of the fish that you wish to breed and a tank that provides 1 to 2 gallons of water per breeding pair. Keep the tank clean and the fish well, but not over, fed for the best spawning results. Select fish with rich coloring for attractive offspring.

Things You'll Need

  • Breeding pair
  • Aquarium
  • Heater
  • Cleaning pipe
  • Filters
  • Gravel
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up a 10- or 20-gallon aquarium, depending on the size fish you want to breed. For smaller fish, like guppies, a 10-gallon tank is appropriate. For larger fish, like oscars, a 20-gallon tank is better.

    • 2

      Put a thin layer of gravel in the bottom of the tank. Do not get it too thick. The thicker the gravel in the bottom of the tank, the harder it will be to keep clean.

    • 3

      Fill the aquarium with clean, dechlorinated water. Treat the water with chemicals that will reduce fish stress, tank bacteria and algae.

    • 4

      Set a tank heater. Attach it to the tank wall and adjust the temperature settings until it maintains a constant water temperature between 80 and 86 degrees.

    • 5

      Set up a filter and aeration system for the tank. Make sure that it is approved for use in a tank the size of your breeding tank. Using a system that is to small or too large for your breeding tank may make the system operate less efficiently. A system that is too small will not clean the tank well and a system that is to large will use unnecessary electricity.

    • 6

      Set a breeding net into the tank. These nets have holes too small for spawn to escape.

    • 7

      Avoid unnecessary decoration. Read specific recommendations for the kind of fish you are breeding. Some fish require plants to lay eggs in or to hide in before they are ready to breed. However, putting unneeded decoration in will simply give you more objects to clean and more obstacles to maneuver around when trying to catch fish.

    • 8

      Allow the completed tank to sit and run for no less than 36 hours before adding fish. This will allow the tank to stabilize and can reduce fish stress.

    • 9

      Add the male to the tank first. Allow him to remain there is solitary confinement for 12 hours before adding the female. Expect fish to live in the tank for two to three weeks before they begin to breed.