Introduction

If you have a freshwater aquarium, there may come a time when you will want to have babies (fry) from you adult freshwater fish. If this is what you want, then you may want to consider a rearing or breeding tank to mate your breeding pair.

You may not need a rearing tank for all freshwater fish. For example, those freshwater fish that take care of their fry will not need a breeding tank. tropical fish that raise their fry in their mouth are Lake Tanganyikan cichlid.

These will lay their eggs in the substrate, in a small depression created by the male. After the eggs are laid the female will then gather the eggs in her mouth till they hatch. After hatching the fry are well protected if they stay within the territorial range of their mother.

Fish that may be considered candidates for a breeding tank are freshwater fish that scatter their eggs. It is best you put the mommy and daddy fish in the rearing tank before the eggs are laid because it is must better to catch the mommy and daddy than hundreds of fry.

Another tropical fish that is a candidate for the rearing tank is those that are very protective of their nest after the eggs are laid, such as the Blue Three Dot Gourami. They lay their eggs under floating vegetation in the bubbles that the male creates.

After the eggs are laid the male becomes aggressive and may even attack the female. This is the reason why you may want to have them lay their eggs in a rearing tank and remove the female after she lays her eggs.

Setting Up Your Rearing Tank

You need to set up your rearing tank with protection of the fry your primary goal. For instance, you will want to have a tank heater that is protected to prevent hurting your fry. This heater should be set at about 82 degrees because your fry will want a warm environment.

Invest in a sponge filter that will prevent sucking up the babies. Several plants where your fry can hide is also a must.

The substrate should be thin because you will need to clean it often. The many fry you have will require daily cleaning and water change out.

The size of the rearing tank should be small, about 10 to 20-gallons.

Conclusion

If you want to successfully breed your tropical fish, you may want to invest in a rearing tank to raise the fry.