How should I condition my zebrafish to prepare them for breeding?
For beginners it is important to be aware of the value of seasons. You should allow your fish to rest at 78oF with 6-8 hours of light a day for a few weeks, then increase the temperature to 80oF with 8 hours illumination per day for a week, then 82oF for 10 hours/day; finally 84oF for 12-14 hours/day, while at the same time, increasing the number of water changes, the quality of feed, and the quantity of live food. All of these conditions help to ensure that your zebrafish will be in prime breeding condition. Be sure to keep sexes separated. When you are ready for them to breed, place them together in tank at night. Fish will loose their prime condition in a few weeks and they will need to be put back into the resting mode for about a week. For large batches I use 7 styrofoam shipping boxes available free at most tropical outlets. Green colored nylon netting from fabric stores is draped inside the box and pinned to the top. It helps to sew the corners together to prevent fish from gett
