There are dozens of different kinds of tropical fish for breeding to choose from, so the first question you must ask yourself is what kind of fish you would like to breed. Why is this important? Well, for one, there are basically two different kinds of tropical fish when it comes to reproduction. There are those that produce live births, which are minnow babies, and those that lay eggs.

Many professional breeders advocate for beginner breeders to start with live bearing fish, especially if the individual has little to no working knowledge of tropical fish or breeding experience of any kind. There are three main kinds of live bearers, referred to as guppies, platys, and mollies.

One of the most important first things to remember when breeding live fish is to keep the newly born babies, which are called fry, away from other fish, or community, in the tank. Other adult fish don’t consider fry to be living fish and instead find them to be a tasty treat. If you don’t separate the babies from the rest of the fish, odds are they won’t have much of a chance to survive very long. You breeding effort will end up being in vain. Also, don’t assume that the fry’s mother will not dine on them either. It’s best to separate and isolate them from all adult fish upon birth.

When you plan on getting into fish breeding, it’s a good idea to have another tank available, clean with a filtration system and the same water that’s in the main tank ready to go once the babies are born. One difference that needs to be taken into account is water temperature. While adult tropical fish do fairly well in a consistent climate, there are certain water temperatures that are optimal for breeding among certain species of tropical fish. If you have a particular species you plan on breeding, bring your primary tank to that temperature to help the process along.

Also, baby tropical fishes are much more susceptible to the minute fluctuations in temperature. Decide which kind of tropical fish you are breeding and study the ideal water temperature for their fry. Maintain this secondary tank to that temperature and check it daily as the mother appears closer to giving birth.

Breeding your fish can be a fun and educational experience for people of just about any age, though it is not recommended that children partake in this unsupervised, since tropical fish require more care and are sensitive to changes in its surroundings than most freshwater fish. It is also a good idea to have a plan in place for what will happen with the baby fish that result from breeding. They can make ideal gifts for friends and relatives, complete with a tank and supplies to get started.

Also fish breeding can be a lucrative hobby for some, as long as they understand the market and where to find others willing to buy them. Check with you local government officials on any rules and regulations regarding commercial breeding of tropical fish.

Fish breeding can also be a great way to increase the size of your tropical fish family. Just remember to upgrade the size of the tank to accommodate the new additions.