Selecting the Parent Fish

Selecting the Parent Fish

Once males and females have been distinguished, a suitable pair or spawning group should be chosen. There are several important traits to seek in choosing the parent fish.

Choose fish that display good markings and color, that should produce attractive young.

Only use mature, healthy fish for spawning because unhealthy fish, if they will spawn, may produce unhealthy or deformed young.

Be sure that the pair is compatible. Many species cannot be put together in a breeding tank and expected to get along and produce young.

In fact with many cichlids, pairs form only after a group has been raised together for months if not years. In certain species, one partner will bully the other to death if there is not compatibility.

Avoid crossing different strains or color forms because the young are often unattractive.

Make sure that the pair are both of the same species because hybrids are sterile. With some cichlids and Killifish, females of different species look similar.