They are like most the Melanotaenia sp. mop spawning is the easiest. Pull mops or remove the eggs individually into another tank. I personally use 10g bare bottom with a air-driven sponge and some plants, don't go crazy with light. They need very small foods after hatching, I have most success using 5-50 micron golden pearls and spirulina powder mixed. I don't use any live foods due to the hassle apart from occasionally BBS. Then just work them up to powdered flake. Like most of these species they take FOREVER to grow, so don't expect any quick money from these guys. It takes me 8 months or so to raise boesemani rainbows to about a 2" size.
Starting with parent fish from a good breeder and source can help sell the young fish a lot.
If you had been successful in breeding turquoise or Australian rainbow fish please let me know, I would appreciate tips or any kind of help I can get, I am very interested in breeding them, I have 10 of each and most of them are adults.
Thank you for your reply in advance.
They all breed the same manner as any Melanotaenia sp. If you are having specific issues you need to describe them. You cannot breed two Melanotaenia sp. in the same tank, ei. Australian and turquoise, they all have the high probability of cross breeding and producing hybrid rainbows which already plague a lot of LFS and chain stores. For this reason I never mix rainbows from the same genus.
Thanks for the replies.
I have a school of adult rainbows: 2 males and 5 females. They are actively courting almost daily.
Somehow, I accidently picked up a fry -- so tiny I could hardly see-- when doing water changes for the baby plecos. Anyway, this fry successfully made it in the fry tank eating I guess what was growing in the established fry tank. Today the fry is about 1 1/2 in. long and has been placed with the schooling adults. It is growing, but slowly. I was wondering if I should try to capture the eggs and grow these guys; but you are right -- It takes forever for these guys to grow!!
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