Aquarium Fish - The Rearing Tank
This is normally modest in size, as it is used to isolate a pair of reproducing fish and their future offspring. There is no need for a bed, except for some species (the Cichlasomas, for example). A rearing tank must be heated but only moderately filtered. Avoid any systems which may “swallow” the eggs and the fry. Aeration is not obligatory. Fill the tank with water taken from the parents’ aquarium, which can then be gradually modified to obtain the precise characteristics required by the reproducing fish (pH and hardness). A support should be provided for the egg-laying, and this can be either natural (plants, rocks) or artificial (PVC). More detailed information on this subject, family by family, can be found below. REPRODUCTION STRATEGIES Reproduction ensures the survival of a species, and nature has planned several strategies for it. In the case of small eggs produced in large quantities, these are often transparent, in an attempt to hide them from their predators. As for large eggs, if there are only a few their parents protect them most of the time. In both cases, the aim is to reduce the number of losses as far as possible. In an aquarium, the intervention of the fishkeeper considerably increases the chances of success, and the survival and proliferation of a species is normally guaranteed. Reproduction techniques for aquariums These vary according to the different families of fishes, and they will be discussed in greater detail in the “Catalogs of Fishes” (pages 75 and 126). However, it is possible to advance some general precepts on the subject here. Choosing the reproduction site Reproduction can occur spontaneously in a mixed tank, or in a specialized or “regional” aquarium. This often happens with novice aquarists, unaccustomed to spotting the approach of egg-laying in a female. In such cases the future of the fryis a matter of chance. Some of them will serve as prey for the other inhabitants of the tank, and the survivors are sure to have problems in getting enough to eat. since they have to compete with adults. This is why it is advisable to use a tank specially intended for reproduction. Choosing the reproducing fish Although it is sometimes difficult, at the best of times, to distinguish between males and females, it is easy enough to spot a female’s swollen stomach and the attentions bestowed on her by one or several males - signs of the approach of the mating season. It is therefore time to transfer the fish in question into the rearing tank prepared for this purpose.
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