The zebra danio (Brachydanio rerio) is one of the most common types of ornamental fish used to fill an aquarium. The zebra danio is native to countries like India and Pakistan, and can be found in almost any type of water (from fast-moving rivers to stagnant ponds). In addition to being a popular aquarium fish, this fish is also often bred. The only problem with breeding is the habit of adult zebrafish eating their own eggs and chicks so you'll need to use some tricks to protect the eggs so they can hatch and grow into adults!
Step
Method 1 of 3: Setting Up an Ideal Breeding Area for the Zebra Danio
Step 1. Separate the male and female fish
Start the breeding process by recognizing the differences between male and female fish. Male zebra danio fish are usually thinner than the opposite sex. The color of the male fish is usually brighter. If a female zebra danio begins to produce eggs, her body will appear fatter.
- After identifying the sex of the zebra danio, place the male and female fish in separate tanks to prepare for the breeding process.
- If you are having trouble distinguishing the sex of the fish you are trying to separate, you may need to provide them with high quality live food for a few days before separating them. Once you are able to recognize the differences between the sexes, separate the males from the females.
Step 2. Provide high quality live food for zebra danio fish
When the male and female fish are in separate tanks, provide high quality live feed. The zebra danio's live diet includes water fleas (daphnia), bloodworms, and mosquito larvae. You can usually buy the feed at the nearest ornamental fish shop. Feed it for 1 to 2 weeks before starting to breed zebra danio fish.
- If you can't find live feed, you can use frozen feed as an alternative.
- The female zebra danio will become even more rounded after being specially cared for! This is a good sign indicating that they will lay many eggs and are ready to mate.
Step 3. Set up the breeding tank while waiting for the fish to be ready to mate
After the fish have been conditioned for 1 to 2 weeks, the adult zebra danio fish are ready to be bred. For better results, set up a breeding tank in the first week of conditioning the fish. Breeding tanks can be filled with 5 to 10 gallons of water, and must be equipped with filters and air stones (to prevent eggs from being sucked into the filter). If you use tap water to fill the tank, be sure to add a dechlorinator to the water. Attach the heater to the tank and keep the temperature between 22 °C to 27 °C.
- You can use marble, breeding nets, or spawning cloth to complete the setup of the breeding tank.
- Once you know what tool to use, you can start measuring the water that needs to be put in the tank.
Step 4. Transfer the zebra danio to the breeding tank
After 1 to 2 weeks, transfer the fish to the prepared breeding tank. We recommend that you enter the male and female fish in a ratio of 2:1. Usually, zebra danio fish will mate after being placed in the tank for 24 hours. If within 48 hours the fish have not spawned, separate the male and female fish again into their respective tanks and continue to provide live food. Rebreed fish after a week or so.
Fish mating occurs when the female zebra danio releases eggs and the male zebra danio fertilizes them. Since you can't tell if an egg has been fertilized, just watch for any eggs sinking to the bottom of the tank. If so, you can be sure that the zebra danio is mated and that you can transfer the adults back to their respective tanks
Step 5. Separate the mated adult fish
Once the zebra danio eggs are seen in the breeding tank, separate the adult fish and place them in their respective tanks. If you use a breeding net, this process will be easier. If you are using marbles or spawning cloth, you will need to use a fishing net to catch the fish you are moving.
- Since adult zebra danio fish always try to eat their own eggs, it's a good idea to separate the adult fish from the tank containing the eggs. Baby zebra danio fish are not safe from adults until they are large enough.
- Once the baby zebra danio has the same body as the adult fish, you can place “boys” with “fathers” and “daughters” with “mothers”. However, for genetic reasons, you may want to separate the fish into separate generations if you want to breed them again.
Method 2 of 3: Protecting the Eggs in the Breeding Tank
Step 1. Use marbles to make a place that can protect the fish eggs
One way to protect zebra danio eggs is to place a 6cm pile of marbles at the bottom of an aquarium filled with 5 to 10 gallons of water. After that, fill the aquarium with water until it reaches a height of 3 cm from the surface of the marbles. This will give the adult fish enough swimming space and allow the eggs to fall safely between the marbles.
- The eggs will fall between the marbles so they are safe from adult fish.
- The marbles in question are ordinary marbles that can be purchased at toy stores or cheap goods stores. You can also use glass “stones” sold at decor stores or IKEA which are commonly used to decorate flower arrangements or candle stands.
- The advantage of this method is that it is easy to apply because marbles are very easy to find. The drawback is that glass marbles are now getting more and more expensive, so this method may cost a lot of money. Another drawback is that you have to “catch” mated adult fish because they are not concentrated in one area.
Step 2. Hang the breeding net to protect the fish
Another way to protect zebra danio eggs and babies is to install breeding nets in the breeding tank. This net is basically a basket that can be attached to the rim of the tank. The mesh netting on the basket allows eggs to enter and prevents adult fish from entering. After the breeding nets are placed in the tank, fill the tank with water until 2.5 cm of the net is submerged in water.
- When purchasing a breeder net, make sure it is large enough to accommodate the fallen zebra danio eggs.
- You can buy breeding nets at most ornamental fish and aquarium stores.
- The advantage of using breeding nets is that the process of removing adult fish is very easy. You don't need to catch adult fish in the main tank. The downside is that you have to find a net that fits perfectly so that the adult fish can't get through, but the eggs can get in between. You can overcome this shortcoming by asking an aquarium store clerk for help.
Step 3. Make a spawning cloth from knitting yarn
Spawning fabric is a series of acrylic knitting yarns made in a mop-like shape. For a 10-gallon tank, you will need to use 10 to 20 spawning cloths. Place a spawning cloth at the bottom of the tank and fill the tank with water. Make sure the water is only a few inches higher than the top of the spawning cloth. Some of the yarn will float in the water and create an area that protects the eggs, much like seaweed.
-
You can make your own spawning cloth in the following ways:
- Cut a few strands of knitting yarn about 60 cm long.
- Place 2 dozen cut knitting threads side by side, then fold them in half right down the middle.
- You now have about 48 strands of knitting yarn hanging. Fish the top of the group of threads that had been folded to unite.
- The advantage of this method is its high economic value because spawning cloths can be made with materials that are not used at home (either your own or those of your family members). The downside is, you have to make it yourself. Another drawback is that you have to catch adult zebra danio fish when they are about to be removed from the breeding tank.
Method 3 of 3: Caring for a Newly Hatch Zebra Danio
Step 1. Watch for eggs that hatch after 1 or 2 days
Adult fish will usually lay eggs a day after being introduced to the breeding tank. Depending on the method you use, you should be able to see the eggs after the fish have finished mating. Once fertilized, the eggs will usually hatch after 1.5 to 2 days.
Step 2. Observe the free-swimming chicks
Although the fish eggs will hatch within 1.5 to 2 days after fertilization, the chicks need several days before they start swimming. When you can't swim, you don't need to feed them. Putting food into the water when the chicks can swim will only contaminate the fish tank.
- Zebra danio chicks are so small and transparent that they are difficult to see. You will need to observe the tank closely to make sure the chicks can swim.
- Fish that can't swim usually stick to the sides of the tank so they don't move. If the fish does this, you may be able to see it more easily.
Step 3. Start feeding after the chicks start to swim
Once the chicks start swimming in the tank, you should start feeding them. Zebra danio fish usually eat food such as shrimp fry, but the feed is too large for the young fish. Instead, you can give a special fish powder feed or insufficient. Feed the young fish several times a day.
You can find specialty feeds at ornamental fish stores and aquarium stores. Ask the store clerk if you can't find the feed in question
Step 4. Put the filter sponge and snail into the breeding tank
Once the zebra danio has started feeding itself, it's a good idea to add a natural filter sponge to the tank along with some snails. Snails are very useful for cleaning up leftover feed and keeping the tank clean.
Step 5. Change the water in the tank by 10% to 25% daily
To help baby zebra danio grow faster, change the water in the tank by 10% to 25% daily. You must change the water at the bottom of the tank and add clean water of the same temperature.
- To get fresh water at the right temperature, you need to prepare a separate tank equipped with a heater to store the special water supply for the breeding tank.
- If you are using tap water to fill a tank of water reserves, be sure to add a dechlorinator to the water before adding the water to the breeding tank.
Step 6. Start feeding the baby zebra danio shrimp fry
When the baby starts to grow, you can start adding shrimp feed to the tank. Fish will usually start eating shrimp after one week to 10 days. Start feeding the prawns once a day, but don't stop feeding the powdered feed twice a day.
You can keep feeding baby zebra danio new food. Some of the feeding options to try are frozen cyclops, chopped tubifex worms, and live water fleas
Step 7. Move the baby zebra danio to a larger tank
Once the baby fish are about 2.5 cm, transfer the fish to a larger tank. The size of the “larger” tank depends on the number of baby fish in the breeding tank. 2 to 3 female zebra danio fish can produce several hundred chicks.
- Depending on the number of females put into the breeding tank, you can predict the number of baby fish that will be born in order to prepare a tank with sufficient capacity to accommodate all the babies.
- The zebra danio usually takes 6 weeks to reach a size of 2.5 cm.
Tips
- When the zebra danio eats, pay attention to the amount of feed eaten rather than the amount of feed given. Add a little feed. If the fish eats it all up, add a little more. If the fish can't finish the feed in a few seconds, they're full.
- The feed that falls to the bottom of the tank will not be eaten by the zebra danio. Therefore, you should use feed that floats on the surface of the water.
- The reason for using less water in the tank is to shorten the distance the eggs fall to the bottom of the tank. The female fish will eat her own eggs. Therefore, the sooner the eggs fall to a safe place, the better.
- The zebra danio can jump out of the water so the tank should be covered with a net or other cover.
- In general, it is recommended to use a tank of at least 10 gallons to house adult zebra danio fish, but a larger tank is much better.
- Adult zebra danio fish like to live in water with a pH of 6.5 to 7.2 and a temperature of 22 °C to 27 °C. Adult zebra danio fish can grow to a maximum length of 5 to 8 cm.
- Adult fish like to live in groups, at least with 5 other fish. Flocks of fish with less than 5 tend to behave aggressively and are prone to stress.
