How to Breed Emperor Tetras
Emperor tetras are small, colorfully striped fish. They only grow to about 2 inches long, and are considered easy to care for, making them a good choice for a beginner fish keeper or fish breeder. Emperor tetras are a schooling fish, so they are generally friendly and peaceful, which makes breeding them simpler. Emperor tetras are a type of fish called characins, as most other tetra types are, meaning they lay their eggs near plants. The same procedures can be followed for breeding emperor tetras as you would use for many other tetra types.
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Instructions
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Separate the males and females into two different aquariums. You can determine the gender of the fish by looking at the size and coloration. Male emperor tetras are usually longer and somewhat slimmer than the females, which are short and slightly pudgy. Male emperor tetras also display brighter colors and longer fins, while females have short fins and muted colors. The male emperor tetra displays a blue adipose fin, which is the tiny fin located on the back of the fish between the dorsal and the tail fins. Females have a redder adipose fin.
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Feed both the male and female tetras a hardy diet of live foods, such as brine shrimp. These nutritious foods will prepare the fish for breeding. Continue feeding this diet until you notice that the male emperor tetras have become brighter or more colorful. The females should become plumper, filling with eggs.
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Select one male and one female fish to breed. Place them in an aquarium that has no other fish in it. This aquarium should be between five and 20 gallons, although the size is flexible. This breeding aquarium should be located in a dimly lit room, or partially covered with a towel to keep the light out. The dim lighting will encourage the emperor tetras to spawn.
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Place soft plants, such as java moss or artificial egg mops, such as clumps of yarn, in the bottom of the breeding aquarium. These things will provide a place for the fish to lay their eggs.
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Raise the temperature of the water in the aquarium so that it is between 75 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit, with 78 degrees being ideal. You may need to install a small water heater if the water is not warm enough.
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Wait for the emperor tetras to spawn. This fish will most likely breed within the next couple of days, if they don't breed as soon as the next morning. Keep a close eye on them, and remove the adult fish as soon as the eggs are laid. This will prevent the parents from eating the eggs.
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References
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