How to Breed Rose Minnows

Rose minnows, also known as rosy reds or flathead minnows, are a small type of freshwater fish primarily used as feeding fish for larger, predatory fish. They are easy to care for, hardy and breed readily in the home aquarium. You may want to breed your own rose minnows if you keep a fair amount of predatory fish to avoid a bunch of trips to the pet shop. However, breeding the fish requires only minimal experience and supplies.

Things You'll Need

  • Group of adult rose reds, mixed genders
  • 2 10-gallon aquariums
  • PVC pipe sections
  • Dechlorinator
  • Aquarium filters
  • Air stone
  • 1/4-inch airline tubing
  • Aquarium air pump
  • 2 adjustable aquarium heaters
  • Aquarium thermometer
  • Nylon net
  • 2 fluorescent aquarium lights
  • Flake food
  • Liquid fry food
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up the adult aquarium in an area away from direct sunlight. It should filled with freshwater until the water is about an inch from the top. It should have a filter and aquarium heater. Use the thermometer to adjust the temperature to around 72 degrees. Place a few pieces of PVC pipe in the tank. You do not need any other decor or substrate.

    • 2

      Add the proper dose of liquid dechlorinator to the tank and run the filter. The dechlorinator will remove any harmful chemicals like chlorine, and the dose required is typically on the packaging because it will vary with the product. Let the tank cycle for about two days and then introduce your group of adult rose minnows. The best ratio for breeding many fish is one male to three females, as he will breed with all of them.

    • 3

      Feed as much flake food as they can eat in two minutes once a day. Change about one-fourth of the tank water once per week. Turn their fluorescent light on for about 14 hours a day. There is no specific way to induce breeding, so it's essentially a waiting game. Your fish should begin to lay eggs on the PVC pipe after a few weeks.

    • 4

      Set up the fry tank, such as an other 10-gallon aquarium, in the exact same manner as the adult tank. You do not need to use PVC pipe or a filter, however. Connect the air stone to the air pump via an airline tubing. The ends of each side of the tube should squeeze snugly over small ports on the air stone and air pump. Place the stone in the tank. This will circulate and oxygenate the water without the use of a filter, which could suck up and kill fragile fry.

    • 5

      Transfer the fry into the fry tank with a nylon net as soon as they are born. This will protect them from becoming food for their parents. Do not move the eggs, as contact with the air will instantly kill them. The eggs should hatch within a week of being laid.

    • 6

      Feed the fry a diet of liquid fry food and change about one-fifth of the water once a week to compensate for not having a filter. The fish will be ready to eat crushed flake food after they are around a half inch long, and they can be used as feeders whenever you desire.