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Oviparous

REPRODUCTION OF OVIPAROUS ANIMALS

Tetras and Cypriniformes (scattered eggs)

Process:

  1. Males chase females
  2. The female lays eggs among the plants, and the male fertilizes them as he passes by
  3. Parents do NOT care for the eggs or the young—they eat them if they can
  4. The eggs hatch in 24–48 hours
  5. The larvae remain motionless for 2–3 days, absorbing the yolk sac.
  6. They begin to swim and eat freely

To breed tetras at home:

  • Small breeding tank (10–20 L) with no substrate and very little light
  • Artificial substrate (wool mop, nylon mesh) or dense plants where the eggs can fall
  • Soft, acidic water (osmotized with a pH of 6.0–6.5) — stimulates reproduction
  • Add one plump female + 2 males
  • Remove the parents immediately after laying
  • Total darkness — tetra eggs are sensitive to light

Corydoras

Process:

  1. The female collects the male's sperm with her mouth
  2. It carries the sperm through its gills to the pelvic fins in a "pouch"-like structure
  3. It lays a few sticky eggs on the glass, plants, or decorations
  4. Repeat the process several times over the course of 1–2 hours
  5. The eggs hatch in 3–5 days

Stimulation:

  • Partial water change with cooler water (simulates seasonal rain)
  • Temperature drop of 2–4°C
  • Eat heartily in the days leading up to the event

Larval rearing:

  • Remove the eggs from the main aquarium (including scales and plants with eggs on them)
  • Incubate in a container with gentle aeration and a few drops of methylene blue (antifungal agent)
  • The larvae eat infusoria, Artemia nauplii, and fry meal.

Cichlids (Guardians and Caregivers)

Cichlids make exceptional parents.

Substrate-dwelling cichlids (Apistogramma, Discus, Scalara)

Process:

  1. The couple forms a bond (courtship)
  2. They clean a surface (rock, leaf, ceramic): the laying substrate
  3. The female lays 50–500 eggs
  4. Both (or just the female) will fan them with their fins and remove unfertilized eggs or fungus.
  5. When the larvae hatch, the parents move them to "holes" they have dug
  6. Within 5–10 days, the young are swimming on their own, but their parents continue to protect them
  7. Duration of care: 2–6 weeks, depending on the species

Discus — special case: The young feed on their parents' slime coat during the first two weeks. It is essential not to separate the family.

African mouthbrooding cichlids

Process:

  1. The male digs a nest in the sand
  2. He woos the female with dances
  3. The female collects the eggs in her mouth
  4. She continues to collect eggs that the male fertilizes (the spots on the male's anal fin mimic eggs)
  5. The female incubates the eggs for 21–28 days WITHOUT EATING
  6. When releasing her young, the female takes them back into her mouth if she senses a threat

Care during breeding:

  • The brooding female may be harassed—isolate her
  • Remove the fry after 2–3 weeks in the breeding tank (remove the female; the fry will come out of her mouth)

Betta splendens

Process:

  1. The male builds a bubble nest on the surface (under a floating leaf)
  2. Courts the female (spreading fins, vivid colors, chasing)
  3. The male embraces the female (amplexus)
  4. The eggs float to the surface; the male picks them up with his beak and carries them to the nest
  5. Repeated mating until 300–500 eggs are laid