Okay, so, I’ve been getting really into this whole breeding thing lately. It’s way more involved than I thought it would be, but also super rewarding. I’m talking about breeding tropical fish, by the way, just to be clear. It all started when I noticed a couple of my guppies were looking a bit, well, plump. Figured they were pregnant, so I did some quick Googling and bam, I was down the rabbit hole.
First thing I did was separate the pregnant females into their own little tank. I bought a breeding box, which is basically a small container that hangs inside the main tank. That way, the fry (baby fish) would be safe from being eaten by the other fish once they were born. I also put some plants in there, just some cheap plastic ones from the pet store, to give the fry some hiding spots. It is important to give the fry somewhere to hide when they are born.
Setting the Stage
- Separate: Moved the pregnant females to a breeding box within the main tank.
- Decorate: Added plastic plants to the breeding box for the fry to hide in.
Then, it was just a waiting game. I kept a close eye on the females, checking their gravid spot (a dark patch near their tail) to see how close they were to giving birth. When the time came, it happened pretty fast. One morning, I woke up and there were dozens of tiny fry swimming around in the breeding box! I was so stoked, it was like being a fishy midwife.
The Big Event
- Wait: Monitored the pregnant females, looking for signs of impending birth.
- Witness: Woke up to find the breeding box full of newly born fry.
After that, the real work began. I had to feed the fry multiple times a day with special fry food. It’s super fine, almost like dust. I also had to do frequent water changes to keep the water quality pristine. Fry are delicate little things, and even a small amount of ammonia or nitrites can be deadly. I bought a water testing kit and tested the water every day.
Raising the Fry
- Feed: Provided special fry food multiple times a day.
- Clean: Performed frequent water changes to maintain water quality.
- Test: Used a water testing kit to monitor ammonia and nitrite levels daily.
It’s been a few weeks now, and the fry are growing fast. They’re starting to get their colors, and it’s amazing to see how different they all look. Some have bright orange tails, others are more yellow. It’s like a little rainbow in my tank. I’ve even managed to sell a few to the local fish store, which is pretty cool. Who knew I could make a little money from my new hobby? It is not easy to keep the fish alive, and I found that buying a small UV light helped. I also found that you can use a syringe to suck up fish poop from the tank, and it makes it a little easier to keep things clean.
Anyway, that’s my breeding story so far. It’s been a wild ride, and I’m definitely hooked. Next up, I’m thinking about trying to breed some angelfish. They’re a bit more challenging, but I’m up for it. Wish me luck!
