How to Breed Peacock Bass

Fully cycle your aquarium and maintain superior water quality. Most fish will only breed when they are stress-free. High levels of toxins in the water will stress the peacock bass and possibly kill the fry if they do spawn. Keep ammonia and nitrites at undetectable levels and nitrate as low as possible. Only fill the tank about two-thirds full. The temperature of the water should be about 77 degrees Fahrenheit and the pH should be 7.0 (neutral).

Add a layer of sand 6 inches deep to the aquarium. Peacock bass dig holes in the sand to protect the fry when they hatch.

Add several raised flat surfaces made from bog wood or slate. If the fish spawn, they will lay their eggs on one of the horizontal surfaces.

Add large plastic or live plants to the aquarium and secure them in the sand. This will help make the peacock bass feel safe and secure. You may want to dim the lights as well so they feel shaded.

Sex and pair your peacock bass in the prepared aquarium. Sexually mature males can be identified by a large hump on the head. Choose a breeding pair that is well-colored and healthy. Sick or disfigured fish will not likely produce viable fry.

Feed plenty of live foods such as goldfish, blood worms, flying insects and crickets. The peacock bass need to feel that the environment can support their young with plenty of available food.

Add very soft fresh water to the tank to simulate the rainy season. Add 5 percent of the total tank volume every day. Make absolutely certain that the pH and temperature of the water you add is the same as the water in the aquarium. Many fish in the Amazon breed just before or during the rainy season and adding fresh water every day may trick the peacock bass into thinking it is time to breed.

Watch for breeding signals and egg laying. If the pair of peacock bass are going to breed, the male will dig a hole in the sand near a horizontal surface. The hole will serve as protection for the fry when they hatch. The female will lay on average 5,000 eggs on one of the pieces of slate or wood in the aquarium near the hole.

Let the parent fish take care of the eggs and fry. Unlike some other fish, peacock bass will not eat their young. The fish will fan the eggs with their tails to keep off debris and algae. Any eggs that will not bear fry are removed by the parents. After a few days the eggs will hatch and the parent bass will usher the fry into the hole dug by the male.

Feed the fry a variety of small live foods three times a day. Examples of potential foods include mosquito larvae, blood worms and baby brine shrimp. As the fry grow, feed larger live foods such as small insects and other small fish. Don't forget to feed the parent fish as well.

Change half of the water in the aquarium every day or every other day. All the feeding will cause the water to foul very quickly and fry are sensitive to high toxins. It is critical that the water you add to the aquarium is the same temperature and pH as the water already in the aquarium. Fry are also sensitive to sudden changes in water chemistry.

Raise the fry until they are about 2 inches in length. At this point you could sell them to a local fish store.