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ive seen my rosy tetras this morning doin what i think is the courting ritual for the rosies...2 males dancing (wiggling) near the female trying to catch her attention...the 2 males were dancing side by side and trying to nip the other. the female will swim away fromt hem...but they will dart after her...ive never seen my rosies this active in my tank b4...so i guess...romance is in the water!!!

It could be romance & you'll better make a breeding tank for the fry.


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Yeah, sounds like they are interested in spawning. If you notice a pair of fish heading off into a clump of plants, you'll know that they're actually spawning. Good luck, rosies are nifty tetras.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

I wish i had those tetras!!/:'

72 gallon bowfront:Tanganyikan Lake set up
75 gallon: A. Baenschi trio,Cyanotilapia Afra Cobwe(4), copadichromis trewavase, protomelas sp. tangerine tiger(breeding pair)

Step 1 : Read this article on Lemon Tetras. Rosies are not identical in behaviour, but pretty close. I suspect the 'jousting' behaviour of males (which you seem to have witnessed already) will differ in some details from that of Lemons, but from what you've said, the two species have a fair amount in common, as one might expect with several of the Hyphessobrycon type tetras with fairly deep bodies and high-contrast dorsal markings.

Step 2 : Get lots of Java Moss. If they're spawning, you'll need it if you want to stand a chance of saving some eggs and rearing some fry. While Rosies may not have the lurid egg-eating reputation of Lemons, expect them to try snacking on the caviar. Which also means that if you intend breeding them and saving a decent number of eggs to rear as fry later on, you'll need an egg trap of some kind.

Rosy Tetra fry should not be too difficult to raise, but may prove to be a challenge if you're a complete beginner at this. Which is why total novices are usually recommended to cut their teeth on easier species such as White Clouds and Zebra Danios.

Oh, and I'd say you're doing at least something right in your aquarium if your Rosies are getting frisky and spawning. That's always a good sign that things are right in an aquarium, when your fish spawn spontaneously, because unhappy and unhealthy fish don't do that! Happy and healthy fish do - and this means yours are happy and healthy fish. Congratulations!

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

well..i have planted java moss....but its in a community tank...i dont think any egg will ever see the day...but who knows...

Well, if you decide to set up a special breeding aquarium for your Rosies, points to remember are;

[1] Although they're probably not as ravenous as Lemons at egg-eating, an egg trap and forests of Java Moss or similar foliage. Willow Moss, Fontinalis gracilis, is a good alternative if you can get some that's been raised in a nursery and free of nasties - wild harvested Willow Moss is a no-no unless you let some Bettas and Blue Gouramis pick at it for a couple of weeks and eat any unpleasant intruders.

[2] Throw LOTS of live food at them to condition them for breeding, and they'll spawn readily. Live Daphnia and Bloodworm will go a long way toward producing sterling breeders in tip-top condition. And,they'll colour up beautifully into the bargain! Intersperse colour enhancing flake with the live food, and you'll end up with parent Rosies that literally explode with colour!

[3] Tank bred Rosies tend not to be too fussy about water chemistry parameters. If they're spawning in your community aquarium water, use that for the breeding aquarium.

[4] Remove parents from breeding aquarium once spawning is done. That way you'll lose a LOT fewer eggs!

[5] Once parents are removed, the breeding aquarium will become your nursery. Treat with an anti-fungal agent to help the eggs along. Tetra (the fish food company) manufactures an anti-fungal agent called FungiStop that's optimised for egg preservation.

[6] Fire up some infusoria cultures to feed your forthcoming babies with. Ideally, set these in motion 3-4 days before your adults spawn, and set several of them up in rotation. One gallon pickle jars full of old aquarium water, with bits of rotting banana skin and crushed fresh peas will soon develop a nice culture of micro-organisms that will be prime baby fish food. Intersperse infosuria feedings with Liquifry or similar for best growth results.

[7] Change small amounts of water in the nursery often. Instead of doing a 25% change once a week, say, change just 2 litres twice a day. That will keep your fry in nice, clean surroundings without subjecting them to adverse water chemistry shocks, and will enhance their survival prospects. Revert to a 'conventional' water change régime once the fry are about 4 weeks old.

And finally, best of luck with your Rosies if you do decide to set up a breeding aquarium and raise some Rosy rugrats!




Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002