I recently got 7 Boraras uropthalmoides (Exclamation Point Rasbora, Sparrow Rasbora) for my planted "Mr. Aqua 3-Gallon Rimless Bow Front Aquarium." I love the little guys and would like to breed them, if I can. From what I have read they are fairly easy to breed. I would like some suggestions for my setup to encourage successful spawning and raising of fry.
I know it is best to try and separate parents from eggs/fry, but I have read that many people have success breeding this species in just one aquarium. I would like to try and breed my fish in the aquarium they are currently housed in. I am not concerned with the number of eggs/fry that make it to adulthood--I'd be happy if I just had 2 or 3 successfully make it.
I am in the process of culturing microworms to feed the parents and any potential fry.
My current aquarium setup:
Aquarium Maintenance:
Water Parameters
Ammonia: 0 - 0.25 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 0 - 5.0 ppm
pH: 7.4
GH: 6 to 8 degrees
KH: 3 degrees
Phosphate: 1.0 ppm
I appreciate any general information or experience you have breeding Boraras uropthalmoides. I'd love specific suggestions regarding my setup or maintenance routines to encourage successful breeding/raising of fry in the same aquarium as the parents. If it doesn't sound like I can do this successfully, I'd like to know some alternative methods.
Here is a short video clip of my aquarium: http://vid411.photobucket.com/albums/pp194/Christina_MacNaughton/IMG_2006_zps9kby9vuk.mp4
I know it is best to try and separate parents from eggs/fry, but I have read that many people have success breeding this species in just one aquarium. I would like to try and breed my fish in the aquarium they are currently housed in. I am not concerned with the number of eggs/fry that make it to adulthood--I'd be happy if I just had 2 or 3 successfully make it.
I am in the process of culturing microworms to feed the parents and any potential fry.
My current aquarium setup:
- Mr. Aqua 3-Gallon Bow Front Rimless Aquarium. With gravel and decor, I have a net water volume of about 1.9 gallons.
- Eco-Complete substrate, river rocks, driftwood pieces, white shell gravel
- Many live plants. Christmas moss tied to driftwood at the surface of the aquarium and Christmas moss "carpet" in some areas at the bottom of the aquarium. I'm hoping that the moss will provide shelter for developing fry.
- Finnex Stingray LED light set for 2 photoperiods from 7 AM - 11:30 AM and 4:30 PM - 9 PM. Black crochet mesh lid to diffuse the light and reduce its intensity.
- HOB filter with adjustable flow, rated at 16 gallons/hour. Purigen, bio-media, and 50-micron filter floss installed. Black pre-filter sponge covering the filter intake.
- 25-Watt heater connected to a heater controller. Temperature set at 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Other tank mates: 1 Nerite snail
- This aquarium has been setup for about 8 months.
Aquarium Maintenance:
- Water change routine: 30-40% water change/gravel vacuum every 3-4 days. I'm still finding a ratio of tap water to distilled water that I like. Right now I am trying 50% distilled and 50% tap.
- Additives: Seachem Prime added after water changes. Seachem Flourish Nitrate, 18.35 ppm dosed daily. Seachem Flourish Phosphorous, dosed as needed to maintain 1.0 ppm phosphate in aquarium. Seachem Flourish Iron, 0.65 ppm dosed daily. Seachem Flourish Potassium, 1.4 mL (~22 ppm) dosed daily. Seachem Flourish (comprehensive), 2 drops daily. Seachem Equilibrium, about 0.6 gram/week.
Water Parameters
Ammonia: 0 - 0.25 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 0 - 5.0 ppm
pH: 7.4
GH: 6 to 8 degrees
KH: 3 degrees
Phosphate: 1.0 ppm
I appreciate any general information or experience you have breeding Boraras uropthalmoides. I'd love specific suggestions regarding my setup or maintenance routines to encourage successful breeding/raising of fry in the same aquarium as the parents. If it doesn't sound like I can do this successfully, I'd like to know some alternative methods.
Here is a short video clip of my aquarium: http://vid411.photobucket.com/albums/pp194/Christina_MacNaughton/IMG_2006_zps9kby9vuk.mp4