Freshwater

In This Chapter
Getting the conditions right
Chapter 20
Let’s Spawn!
Figuring out what breeding type your fish are
Protecting those newborns (and their parents)
Caring for fry
Selecting breeding traits
Deciding which species to breed
Breeding your fish is a great way to advance your fishkeeping skills. After
you learn the basics and have successfully bred your first fish brood,
there’s no reason why you can’t begin thinking about selling the excess offspring
to a local dealer, trading them to friends, using them as feeder fish, or
buying more tanks to house them. You may get lucky and find a dealer who
needs a regular supply. This little bit of extra money can help offset some of
the expense incurred with your hobby (and offset your spouse’s financial
wrath at the same time).
Simply ask your local dealer if he or she would be willing to trade equipment
or purchase your extra fish at a cost that will satisfy both buyer and seller.
You can also run an ad in your local newspaper and sell your fry to other
hobbyists.
Before you actually sell your new fish, you should decide which ones you
want to keep for further breeding. There may be a particular fish in the new
brood that has a slightly different color or pattern that is pleasing to your
eye. You usually have to wait for the fry to grow up a bit before they develop
their colors and patterns. Make sure their markings are no longer changing
before you make any final decisions.
Some fish breed in your community or species tank without any help from
you. For example, if you have a bunch of male and female guppies in a community
tank, chances are they will breed on their own, as long as the aquarium
is clean and has good water conditions, without any extra work on your
part. Some species are simply more willing to breed in captivity than others.