The zebrafish rerio are beautiful, unpretentious in their content, they are easy enough to breed. However, it can be difficult for a novice aquarist to determine the sex of fish.
Instructions
Step 1
Danio rerios do not grow more than 4-6 centimeters, they are very undemanding in maintenance, therefore they are well suited for those who are just learning to take care of the aquarium and its inhabitants. The main tone of the fish is silvery with dark bluish stripes. Because of the characteristic stripes, the fish was once called "ladies' stocking".
Step 2
Pay attention to the color of the fish. Male zebrafish tend to be brighter. Females are more faded, expressionless. In addition, males are usually larger with longer fins. Look closely at the color of the fins; in males, they can have a noticeable golden color. The same applies to dark stripes - in females they are with a silvery sheen, in males - with a golden tint.
Step 3
Look at the shape of the abdomen. Males are slender. In females, on the other hand, the abdomen is rounded. This is especially noticeable when fish hatch eggs. In the period before laying eggs, females stay closer to the bottom, they can hide from males. If you do not see the difference between the fish in your tank, then either they are not yet sexually mature or belong to the same sex.
Step 4
Breeding zebrafish is not particularly difficult. Just remember that in order to exclude closely related crossbreeding, pairs should be selected from more than one offspring. In practice, this can be achieved by purchasing fish from different vendors. Do not buy faded fish, this is one of the signs of closely related crossbreeding.
Step 5
When breeding, first separate the males and females, and after a few days, put several pairs of fish in a three-liter jar, preferably 2-3 females and 3-4 males. Lay small-leaved plants at the bottom, press them down with stones. On top, you can put a plastic mesh with a mesh size of 2 mm, this will protect the eggs from being eaten by fish. The water level above the net should be 5-7 cm.
Step 6
It is better to put the fish in a jar in the evening. Place the jar so that the rays of the sun hit it at dawn. Spawning usually occurs early in the morning. Immediately after it, the fish must be planted. Raise the temperature in the jar to 26-28 degrees. The fry appear in a day or two, the first food for them is ciliates.
