How to Breed Blue Flame Tetras

Blue flame tetras, also known as Colombian tetras, are a small, brightly colored freshwater fish. They are a schooling fish, and are generally sociable and peaceful, making them a good choice for a breeding fish. The blue flame tetra is a characin type fish, also known as an egg laying fish. The blue flame tetras will lay their eggs at the bottom of the aquarium, and the eggs will then be left alone. Although they are relatively easy to breed, care needs to be taken in order to ensure that both the parent and young fish remain healthy.

Things You'll Need

  • Two conditioning aquariums
  • Live tetra foods
  • Breeding aquarium
  • Soft substrate
  • Water testing kit
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Instructions

    • 1

      Separate the males and females of your blue flame tetra school, placing the males in one aquarium and the females in another. Determine the gender of the fish by looking at their fins and overall size. Male blue flame tetras are often slimmer than the pudgy female tetras. Males also have an elongated dorsal fin. This will allow you to condition the fish before breeding, and then introduce a pair of fish when they're ready.

    • 2

      Feed the fish a nutritious diet of live foods, such as bloodworms or brine shrimp. The males should become more colorful, as the females gain weight. These signs will tell you the tetras are ready to breed.

    • 3

      Provide a breeding aquarium. This aquarium needs to be at least 10 to 15 gallons large, in order for the breeding fish to feel comfortable. The aquarium should have some type of soft substrate on the bottom, such as java moss, which will catch the eggs.

    • 4

      Use a water testing kit to test the pH of the aquarium water. The ideal pH for the breeding aquarium should be between 5.5 and 6.5. Use aquarium water additives to raise or lower this level, if necessary.

    • 5

      Raise the water temperature to between 78 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit. These higher temperatures will encourage breeding. You can use an aquarium heater if you need to raise the temperature.

    • 6

      Darken the breeding aquarium. You can place it in a dim room or partially cover it with a cloth. This dim lighting will encourage breeding, and will also protect the light sensitive baby fish after they hatch.

    • 7

      Place one male and one female tetra in the breeding aquarium. Although they sometimes spawn in groups, breeding one pair at a time allows you to keep a closer eye on the fish, and take them out as soon as they're done spawning.

    • 8

      Wait for the fish to spawn. Blue flame tetras often spawn the following morning, but it may take as long as a few days before they are comfortable with each other. The fish will lay their sticky eggs on the plants or substrate in the aquarium.

    • 9

      Remove the parent fish from the breeding aquarium as soon as they have spawned, to prevent them from eating the eggs.