[Nick16]

how easy are they to breed? i was thinking of getting some for my 40L tank after i have planted it. i have some in my main tank (around 5 or so) and have not had any fry. why? do they like cooler temps?

This post has been edited by Nick16: 21 December 2008 - 05:04 PM

[pippoodle]

Nick16, on Dec 20 2008, 09:03 PM, said:

how easy are they to breed? i was thinking of getting some for my 40L tank after i have planted it. i have some in my main tank (around 5 or so) and have not had any fry. why? do they like cooler temps?

its just cos the fry are soo small they get eaten up by their parents they are equivelent to a small dot with a 2mm string attatched when first hatched - i hardly ever have any survive in main tank - i see them but not for very long after they start free swimming they soon get found and munched - thats if the eggs even last that long

i got tips on how i did it here and fifefish followed my instructions and got fry so good luck
i usually find you need at least 6-8 minnows (more if possible) to get a good lot of fry

http://www.fishforum...opic=266066&hl=

as for temp i have bred them at many different temps and they breed well in the community tank 24-26 degrees but i only very rarely see the tiny fry and when the minnows are breeding the other fish are chasing them and eating the eggs behind them

cheers Sarahx

[Nick16]

looks good, how can you tell between male and females? i have about 5 in my community tank and when i set up my rio 240, i will have to transfer the fish from the 120. but i dont really want to as i just want 1 species of shoaling fish. so if i can put my WCMM in my empty 38L tank then that is cool. but i might get 1 or 2 more but i dont know how to sex them or what the ratio is between M and F.

EDIT:
i now know it is 1 male to 3 females. but how many do you think i could get into a 38L tank. filtration is sufficient with a fluval 2+ filter. and water changes are done 2X a week. thanks.

This post has been edited by Nick16: 21 December 2008 - 05:05 PM

[Nick16]

bump

[pippoodle]

the males are slim and the females are more rounded even when not pregnant/gravid they have a little belly on them
female this one is egged but you get the idea
male

[Nick16]

i found that out ofter researching. how many would you say i could get in my 38L? i currently have about 5. could i add 2 more females?

[Nick16]

bump - o - rino!

[Truck]

for breeding purposes 3 , 1 male 2 females, but condition them first.

or if its just like a small community id say 6-8

[Nick16]

its a small community, they will be the only fish of course, i have 5 so if i added 2 more females that will not be a problem, cheers truckasaurus

[Truck]

should be fine,, just keep on top of WC and youll be good

[Elrohirthehasty]

I think that you could be comfortable with 8 to 10 provided you keep up with water changes and that they are the only inhabitants.

[pippoodle]

i find the 3 females per 1 male rule not to be so good in egg barers as live bearers i have more males than females in my tank and am getting a lot of eggs as it seems to make the males more competitive and the females seem to carry more eggs this way than the more females per male rule in livebearers