How to Breed Zebra Fish Eggs

Zebra danios, also known as zebra fish, are among the easiest of all egg layers to breed. These fish breed readily in the home aquarium, and the fry grow into adults very rapidly. If you are new to breeding fish and are looking for an easy species to start with, the zebra fish is the perfect choice. But as with any type of fish, you need to set up the tank properly and have the right supplies on hand before you get started.

Things You'll Need

  • Fish food
  • Fry food
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Select an assortment of zebra danios at your local pet store and set them up in a well-planted aquarium with lots of driftwood, rocks and other places to hide and set up territories. The aquarium should be at least 10 gallons but more space is preferable if you can afford it and have the room.

    • 2

      Watch the fish closely for signs of pair bonding. Zebra fish select a mate and mate for life. Once you have identified the breeding pairs you can move them to separate breeding traps. Breeding traps are specially designed to allow the eggs to pass through the slots while preventing the adult zebra fish from accessing the bottom compartment. When the baby fish hatch, they remain in the bottom of the trap, while the adult fish stay in the top.

    • 3

      Observe the zebra fish for signs of eggs. The female will swell up when she is full of eggs, and she will generally lay those eggs on a flat rock, or on the leaves of a large plant. The male will immediately fertilize the eggs as soon as the female has deposited them.

    • 4

      Remove the adult zebra fish from the tank as soon as the eggs have been fertilized. These fish will readily eat the newborn fry, and they need to be removed to protect the newborn fish.

    • 5

      Watch for the fry to begin to hatch then add a quality fry food to the water to provide the nourishment those baby fish need.