RE: [RML] Breeding question

Taylor, Ralph (taylorr at Marshall.edu)
Mon, 16 Mar 1998 09:21:24 -0500

Molly, I have several Bedotia gayei (Madagascar Rainbows) and do quite
well with breeding them. You must separate them. Put them in a 10 gallon
bare tank. A floating mop (several hundred strands of acrylic yarn
(about 6-8 inches long) suspended by a cork float will serve as a
breeding site for the fish. After a few days check the mop for the
presence of eggs. They are small clear eggs about the size of a pin
head. If you have several eggs you may remove the eggs from the mop by
lightly lifting them with your fingers and placing them in a small
container of tap water. It will take about 2-3 weeks for the eggs to
hatch. The fry are tiny and will need microworms or artificial fry food
for a few days and then can take baby brine shrimp after about a week. I
always include a wad of java moss or other plant material in the setup
so that the fry can also feed on the microscopic animals that live in
the moss. All rainbows grow slowly so don't worry too much if it seems
that it takes forever for them to attain any size. An alternative
method is to not remove the eggs and simply place the mop in a gallon
jar with the moss and a little aeration and let the eggs hatch
unattended. Have a good time with the fish! Good luck.
Taylorr at Marshall.edu
Dr. Ralph Taylor
Associate Dean, College of Science

270 Science Building
Phone: (304) 696-2338
FAX: (304) 696-3243

-----Original Message-----
From: DivaInanna [SMTP:DivaInanna at aol.com]
Sent: Sunday, March 15, 1998 1:46 AM
To: rainbowfish at pcug.org.au
Subject: [RML] Breeding question

Hi there, all! I have only been on this list for a few days and
was hoping
some one might have time to answer a few questions I have.

I have a pair of M. praecox, a pair of M. boesemani, and a pair
of Bedotia
Geayi. I have kept these and a few other species very
sucessfully for quite a
while. Currently they all share a 55 gallon with a few other
fish. I am quite
interesting in breeding them, but I have never done so. I know
it would be
wise to seperate them if I wish to breed...but I was wondering
how difficult
it would be to do even if I did seperate them and how much space
each species
would require.

I also appreciate any information any one might had on breeding
these
particular species, in general.

Thanks so much!

Molly