Guide to Spawn Healthy Barbus Fish at Home
Summary: spawning Barbus fish requires ideal tank and water conditions. Here is the handy guide to doing that.
Tiger barb is one of the most popular Barbus fish species for the aquarium. Spawning Barbus fish type like tiger barb is easy for beginner fish breeders, but it requires good preparations. Barbus fish is hardy and easy to breed, but a little aggressive. Fish breeders must make sure to create the best water condition, male-to-female fish proportion, and ideal tank condition to get the best tiger barb fry.
Preparing Breeding Tank for Barbus Fish
An ideal tank condition is important to encourage breeding and reduce aggressive behaviors. Here are the preparations you need to breed Barbus fish, especially tiger barbs:
• Prepare ideal tank size
Tiger barbs can grow to 2.5 inches (about 6.4 cm) during maturity, so you need proper tank size to accommodate them, especially for breeding. 30 gallons are the recommended minimum tank size for these fish, but for breeding, you can use 15 gallons capacity.
• Set the correct water temperature
Ideal water temperature to encourage breeding is about 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius). Keep the water pH maximum 6.5 or slightly less, and make sure the water is soft (5dh).
• Add hiding spots
Female fish will want to hide their eggs in safe spots, so fish breeders need to add plants and rocks in the breeding tank.
• Prevent fungus and bacteria to grow in the tank
Bacteria and fungus are big threats toward newly-hatched fry and their parents. Fish breeders can add malachite green to the water to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungus. Make sure not to overdo it, and check the water condition once more before putting the fish in.
Once the tank is ready, it is time to pick the right fish for breeding purpose.
How to Spawn Tiger Barbs Properly
Tiger barbs are ready to breed when they reach at least 1.5 inches (about 3.9 cm). Male fish usually show redder nose tips, while female fish becomes plumper than usual. Males usually will approach the females and start nodding his heads repeatedly, to show that they are "interested." When you see these signs, it is time to move some fish to the breeding tank.
Ideally, you should put one male and female in a breeding tank, because one female can spawn more than 500 eggs. Add one female fish first to let her adapt with all the nooks and crannies. Several hours later, add one male fish. Wait until the female finishes laying the eggs before removing them (adult tiger barbs can eat their eggs). If everything goes well, the eggs will hatch around two days.
Spawning Barbus fish may sound easy, but it still requires works. Make sure to follow the guide carefully to get a satisfying result.
http://fishkeepingadvice.com/tiger-barb-care/
http://thefishdoctor.co.uk/breeding-tiger-barbs/