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By Laura Muha
T.F.H. Publications,
Neptune City, NJ, 2005
152 pages, softcover |
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Another installment in the popular Simple Guide series,
Breeding Freshwater Fishes is the definitive handbook for aquarium hobbyists who want to move from accidental spawns to successful fish breeding. Answers why to breed, how to breed, and what to do after breeding - all in Simple Guide style.
In the first half of Breeding Freshwater Fishes, readers learn about fish biology, aquarium environment, specialized equipment, adult nutrition, and fry care. The second half is an "encyclopedia" of 37 popular fish species. Each entry provides detailed breeding and care instructions.
Look for the bold, yellow boxes throughout the book. They contain everything from tips and definitions, to instructions for making a spawning mop. Add to that a fun-to-read writing style and fabulous color photographs and you get another "must-have" Simple Guide. |
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Freshwater aquarium fish reproduce either
by laying eggs or giving birth to live fry. |
Egg-layers
Egg-layers release eggs and sperm into the water. Fertilization takes place when the sperm comes into contact with the egg. Depending on the species of fish, the eggs can be laid in a variety of ways.
Neon tetras and other egg scatterers release their eggs to float freely in the water. More particular species look for the perfect |
spot - on a plant or in the substrate - to deposit their eggs. Mouthbrooders, like the
chocolate gourami, incubate the fertilized eggs in their mouths. Some fish, called bubble nesters, build saliva nests to hold the eggs. Other fish, called pit nesters, dig nests in the substrate. |
Live-bearers
Female live-bearers give birth to live fry. They are generally easy to breed and can deliver 100-plus fry at one birth. Female live-bearers do not care for the newborn fry and may even try to eat them. Live-bearers include
mollies,
guppies,
platies, and
swordtails. |
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PRODUCTS RELATED TO:
Stocking Your Aquarium
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