Starting To Breed.

Reid. · Mar 29, 2008

sorry if this isnt the right section but couldnt see where else to put it.

ive not long (<3months) had my 1st fish tank setup but everythings going well as far i can see.

im picking up a 100ltr and a 50ltr tank 2moro and i have everything there to set them up too but i want to get into breeding.

what kind of fish would you advise to start with for breeding? i would love to work my way to breeding fish like bettas, plecs, barbs but i want to start with the easier sorts first until i learn a bit more.

any advise? any particular way i should set my tanks up? would i have to 'cycle' them again or could i use water from my current tank and sit the filter for the new tank in the old tank for a few days to help it start?

invader · Mar 29, 2008

If you want an easy fish to breed, you could try different types of livebearers (guppies, platties, mollies, etc) or you could try a fish that has more parental care, such as convict cichlids. Cons will breed if you just add water, basically. :lol:

So it won't present much of a challenge to get fry, but more of a challenge to keep them alive.

Good luck!

Darkerwhite2 · Mar 29, 2008

If your new, i would suggest the platies, i love them the breeded for me for a long time until i gave them all away, lol they were breeding me right out of time. But if your comfortable i would also suggest the convict cichlids, i had a friend breed them. He also was not trying to breed them but like invader said just add water

, They were really cool to watch their parenting skills and sometimes lack of lol. Anyway thats my 2 cents. Good luck.

Btw are you trying to breed as a way to get more fish or for profit?

Reid. · Mar 30, 2008

Darkerwhite2 said:
If your new, i would suggest the platies, i love them the breeded for me for a long time until i gave them all away, lol they were breeding me right out of time. But if your comfortable i would also suggest the convict cichlids, i had a friend breed them. He also was not trying to breed them but like invader said just add water , They were really cool to watch their parenting skills and sometimes lack of lol. Anyway thats my 2 cents. Good luck.

Btw are you trying to breed as a way to get more fish or for profit?

simply because i like baby fish lol!!

the fella at the LFS has said he'd be willing to take some babies in exchange for food/plants etc so i'll never be left with too many either.

anyone got a pic of a convict?

Tolak · Mar 30, 2008

The best way to go about this is to reverse engineed it, which it sounds as if you are already doing. Find what species the shop or shops are looking for, and back track from there. Each shop is different as to what their needs are, livebearers are a good first choice, guppys, platys, and swords are what are commonly known as your bread & butter fish. These sell well, so a constant supply is needed.

Convicts are easy to breed, but are by no means fish for a community tank. These will not sell as well as fish compatible in a community tank. Cons are nice looking fish, but very aggressive, especially when pairing & breeding.

invader · Mar 30, 2008

Here is the species profile on convicts, which shows a couple different pictures. http

/www.fishforums.net/content/Cichlids...onvict-Cichlid/

Darkerwhite2 · Mar 30, 2008

simply because i like baby fish lol!!

the fella at the LFS has said he'd be willing to take some babies in exchange for food/plants etc so i'll never be left with too many either.

anyone got a pic of a convict?

i agree with tolak then find a fish your lfs will want to take off your hands. And very true about the convicts they might be harder to sell than a live bearers but you know that is for the lfs to find out and soif they would like to keep taking them off your hands then hey keep the fry coming. lol like you can stop them in the first place :unsure:

Sounds like your starting to make your choice and move towards your goal. Good luck and i hope it goes well.

paul_219 · Mar 30, 2008

Well if u want also easy breeding fish u can to livebeares they are easy to breed.

Thomas 2507 · Mar 30, 2008

Just buy some Guppies, they are by far the easiest fish to breed.

Reid. · Mar 30, 2008

Thomas 2507 said:
Just buy some Guppies, they are by far the easiest fish to breed.

i already have pregnant guppies!

looking for something a little different and maybe not a livebearer.

i quite like the look of the convicts so im gonna read up a bit on them just now. any other suggestions?

Tolak · Mar 30, 2008

Dwarf cichlids such as apistos or rams are much more compatible in a community tank. They're not quite as easy to breed as cons, but not real difficult. Talk to the shops that are taking your fish, ask what they would like to see come in. Many shops are aware of the aggressiveness of cons, and won't take them in. An adult con with an attitude will wipe out a peaceful community tank.

Butch · Mar 30, 2008

Well many LFS would rather take livebearers and other fry in than convict cichlids. Livebearers are very fun projects. You can create colors or try fixed on one traits. Swordtails, mollies, platies, guppies and endlers.

IMO, I would stick with endlers as they are hardier than guppies.

I know this is not fish but maybe red cherry shrimp??? Just add water and java moss and you would have tiny shrimplets in no time.

Another opitions are wild type livebearers such as goodeids, gambusia, heterandria and limias. Goodeid and Heterandria don't eat their fry very much and don't overpopulated the tank easily.

Endlers, heterandria formosa (dwarf livebearer), mollies, wild type guppies, goodeids (there's different species of goodeids) and red cherry shrimp are very easy to breed and get cute babies out of them.

However the choice is yours.