What's the breeding season for chili rasboras

[OMG_FL]

I have some chilli rasboras that I got last April
Since it was my first time keeping them I only got a few
After keeping them for 2-3 months I wanted to get some more
But I couldn't find them anywhere not even the store I brought them in the first place so I contacted most of the stores that import them and had no luck
Finally I asked the store I brought them from when or if will they come back
They said they ask their exporter and the his answer was to wait untill the breeding season comes cuz since most micro rasboras are collected from the wild in limited quantities they can't get them again until the breeding season comes
Well I've waited for a full year (this should be the breeding season since they came around these days last year) but I'm not sure if the store was bs me
Anyone got info on this breeding season ???

 

[SammyTargo]

First question:
You mentioned above-- not explicitly though... Are your chilis wild caught? They are often much harder when not captively bred.

Second question/statement:
The chilis need pristinely adapted water conditions in order to breed, and as an extension, also a properly set up tank. There should be too much vegetation in the volume of the tank, in order to allow maximum breeding surface area. Are your water parameters the required amount?
Proper parameters (for maximum efficiency specifically):
pH: 4.5 - 5.5 (0.25 - 0.5 range)
Temperature: 26°C - 28°C
General (GH): 5 - 35
Carbonate (KH): 0 - 18

Third statement:
In most of our environments within our homes, we rather simulate breeding season to stimulate the fishes' natural breeding behaviours rather than to follow the seasons as they go in the wild... For most people, it is virtually impossible to use the actual season as an indicator for most fish, with some exceptions for fish that breed based on climate pressure (e.g., barometric pressure scale for loaches).

Fourth thingy:
They eat their fry... I have had experience with these guys literally cleaning up their fry on remotely full stomachs.

All in all, I am probably over-complicating the process, but that is just what I do. I bred fish in a manner that meticulously follows my procedure and which aimed for practical and efficient results, as I provided for many people on deadlines. You shouldn't stress and enjoy the process. For me, all of my breeding methods were learned through trial and error and self experimentation, not any guides.

Final note - You might be better off breeding a separate cousin of the chilis, as they have always proved much easier... I do not know you, and haven't had a chance to familiarise myself with you (along everyone else) on this forum; I don't know how much experience you may have in the hobby, or breeding fish. Anywho, I always found galaxy rasboras (celestial pearl danios), and the collectives of danios like zebras and leopards to be much easier to breed from a personal standpoint.

 

[GaryE]

Generally, the issue wouldn't be breeding season, but catching season. @OMG_FL - you have Sri Lanka as your location so you know the wide region's seasons better than I, but google says Indonesia's rainy season is on now. Usually, when the water's deep and overflowing its banks, small fish are impossible to catch. As the water levels drop, wild fish are harvested.

Most breed when the rains start, but no one responsible fishes then as it destroys stocks.

Bororas brigittae is extensively farmed, so they're technically available year round if the wholesaler deals with farms. It's an inexpensive fish that's usually shipped in big numbers, so it could be he'd have to order 1000 to sell you 10... and he may not want to do that. I'm a world away from you, but here, until recently you would see these fish rarely. Now, with the popularity of nano fish, they and the similar species in the Bororas group have become very common.

 

[OMG_FL]

Idk if he was telling the truth about wild caught suff but after waiting for more than a year they'll finally be available

 

[OMG_FL]

First question:
You mentioned above-- not explicitly though... Are your chilis wild caught? They are often much harder when not captively bred.

Second question/statement:
The chilis need pristinely adapted water conditions in order to breed, and as an extension, also a properly set up tank. There should be too much vegetation in the volume of the tank, in order to allow maximum breeding surface area. Are your water parameters the required amount?
Proper parameters (for maximum efficiency specifically):
pH: 4.5 - 5.5 (0.25 - 0.5 range)
Temperature: 26°C - 28°C
General (GH): 5 - 35
Carbonate (KH): 0 - 18

Third statement:
In most of our environments within our homes, we rather simulate breeding season to stimulate the fishes' natural breeding behaviours rather than to follow the seasons as they go in the wild... For most people, it is virtually impossible to use the actual season as an indicator for most fish, with some exceptions for fish that breed based on climate pressure (e.g., barometric pressure scale for loaches).

Fourth thingy:
They eat their fry... I have had experience with these guys literally cleaning up their fry on remotely full stomachs.

All in all, I am probably over-complicating the process, but that is just what I do. I bred fish in a manner that meticulously follows my procedure and which aimed for practical and efficient results, as I provided for many people on deadlines. You shouldn't stress and enjoy the process. For me, all of my breeding methods were learned through trial and error and self experimentation, not any guides.

Final note - You might be better off breeding a separate cousin of the chilis, as they have always proved much easier... I do not know you, and haven't had a chance to familiarise myself with you (along everyone else) on this forum; I don't know how much experience you may have in the hobby, or breeding fish. Anywho, I always found galaxy rasboras (celestial pearl danios), and the collectives of danios like zebras and leopards to be much easier to breed from a personal standpoint.

As you mentioned chili's are relatively hard to breed and I don't really feel like putting that much effort into breeding them since I don't have that much time nor the motive to do so
I just wanted to know when I'll be able to buy them again
Even though the seller said that the supplier gets wild caught fish since it's easier for him rather than breeding from what u're saying it might not be exactly true
Sure he can easily catch some in seasonal pools in the monsoon season but in large quantities??
Either way it looks like I'll be getting some chillis soon

 

[GaryE]

If you ever look to breed them, all you really need is softwater. I bred Bororas because of my tapwater, which is quite soft. That and small foods in a planted tank of 80 litres. The fry appeared in the single species tank in pretty good numbers.

I'd claim incredible skill and planning, but I didn't know I was breeding them til I caught some for a friend and realized I had many more than I'd started with.

 

[OMG_FL]

Got them last week
Doing quite well
Way less shy and eating after the 1st day since I added them to an existing school
Btw they are infact wild caught