Nano Tank Breeding Project Ideas – Nano Aquarium Breeding Guide 2023

Why Start a Breeding Project?

Who doesn’t enjoy seeing fry (baby fish) in their aquarium? It is great to see that your hard work and effort have paid off. Most fish will breed if kept in the right conditions and are cared for over time. Sadly, a lot of the time the eggs or fry get eaten, sometimes before we even know it. Therefore, a breeding setup really rewards you, as when setup correctly you will be able to save almost all the fry you breed. Breeding fish and shrimp can also be a nice way to make some money on the side! For example, crystal red shrimp retail for around £4-£5 each, which adds up when you have 50 to sell. Keep in mind you would expect to sell at around half retail price directly to other hobbyists and even less if you are selling to retail shops.

Shell dwellers – Shell dwellers like Multifaciatus are very easy to breed. Multifaciatus are the smallest cichlids in the world. Unlike other fish, multis do not eat their young. Instead, they form large harmonious colonies. You can breed these fish in a tank as small as 10 gallons. Go for a good layer of sand and get as many escargots shell as you can. Don’t worry about aquascaping, the shell dwellers will move the sand and shells however they see fit. Go for an air driven sponge filter in this setup to avoid any fry getting pulled in. For me, it took around 9 months before I saw any fry but every month, I see a new batch of fry which is always exciting!

Endlers – Endlers are a very popular community fish, they are very similar to guppies but slightly smaller in size. Males have brightly coloured tails and they come a variety of colours. Aim to keep at least two females for each male as the males will spend a lot of time chasing the females. Because of this provide plenty of caves and densely planted areas for females to retreat to, this will also give the fry somewhere to hide. Endlers are live bearing fish meaning they do not lay eggs, instead they give birth to multiple fry at one time. Endlers are prolific so if you have a female endler, assume she is already pregnant when you buy her. Again, a sponge filter is the best choice for filtration to stop small fish getting pulled in.

Mountain cloud minnows – These great little fish are perfect for beginners! They are hardy, stay small and are active, they do well in tanks as small as 10 gallons. These fish are egg scatterers, so you have two options for breeding them. Plant the tank densely with lots of moss and live plants and wait, over time you will notice fry start to appear, the moss will give them a great place to hide as they grow. The most efficient option is to have a separate tank with moss in and move your conditioned breeding pair into the tank for 24 hours, then remove them. This allows the eggs to develop in the tank undisturbed. Males are generally slimmer and have longer fins, females have rounder bodies. The best thing about these guys is that they do not need a heater!

Cherry shrimp – A shrimp tank can be a fun change from the normal pace of fishkeeping. Setup a 5 gallon or larger planted tank, cycle it and dedicate it to cherry shrimp. Always use a sponge filter, this stops shrimplets getting pulled in, sponger filters also offer a grazing area for your shrimp. Get some shrimp food, keep your water parameters in check and in a few months, you will have a colony of cherry shrimp. You can even try some of the more demanding species such as crystal red shrimp down the line, these will require you to remineralise RODI water for good breeding conditions.

Pro tip: For the best results setup a species only tank. This avoids interferences from other fish on your breeding group. Also be patient, most fish may need a few months to settle in before they start breeding.

AQUAnatur

AQUAnatur was created by an established UK aquarium installation and maintenance company near London which has been running for over 25 years! Our team are very experienced and happy to help offer advice with any aquarium questions. We are always available via phone or email Monday-Friday, feel free to contact us, we would love to help! AQUAnatur supply a range of aquariums and aquascaping products. If you have a question, please leave a comment or contact us via phone or email.

By Alasdair McPhail