when will i see my new neon tetras?

Question

i think i saw eggs of my neon tetra(i think it's pregnant).
i saw it 2 days ago.
when should i expect to see the frys?
how big are they??

Answer 1

Neon tetras can begin breeding by about nine months of age. Neons will breed in tanks with other fish but due to the likelihood that the eggs will be eaten, they are most often breed in a small tank with a pair or small group of neons. A few breeders suggest adding 2 teaspoons of salt per 2-5 gallons in the breeding tank (each source I have has a different recommended amount from 1 teaspoon per gallon up to one per 10 gallons). A pH between 5 and 6 as well as very soft water are often necessary for successful breeding. A good breeding temperature is 75 degrees F.

Neons often spawn in the morning. While spawning, neons will chase each other through any plants. While all the neons may spawn in one day, the actual act is done between a pair. The male and female intertwine, and the female may become vertical. Each female produces 60 to 130 eggs all over the plants and ground. The eggs are not sticky. The parents should be removed so they do not eat the eggs. The eggs are light sensitive so keep the developing eggs out of direct light. Eggs are prone to fungus especially in light (for more information on egg fungus, check out my fish health page. The eggs hatch in about a day. After the fry are free-swimming in about four to five days, they can be fed strained egg yolk, infusuria, other microscopic live foods, or Liquifry (which is mostly yolk). Provide subtle lighting over the tank once the fry are swimming so they can see their food. Often, some fry will not survive.

One aquarist whose neon tetras spawned indicated that it may have been triggered by allowing the nitrates to build up in the water and then doing a 50% or so water change. His neons spawned the next day. These neons were fed live brine shrimp too. The pH was about 6.7 and the temperature was about 76 degrees F. Of course, the water was soft (dKH of about 5). Another aquarist says they tried letting the nitrates build up and then did a huge water change, and his neon tetras spawned within a week too.

Also, visit my breeding and fry care page for more information on how to care for fry (tank setup, feeding, cleaning, etc.).


This of course will happen if the Eggs are Fertilized...........

Answer 2

I VERY seriously doubt your neons are breeding, they are VERY difficult to breed. Water conditions are 24oC (75F) 1-2 dGH (VERY soft water) 5-6 pH, low lighting, dark bottom and even then it's difficult. Eggs hatch in 24 hours. Even if you did create mating conditions, its difficult to hatch the fry.

If you saw eggs 2 days ago and now you see no fry, either they were not neon eggs or they were not viable. Sorry.

Answer 3

It's very unlikely that your neons bred in captivity. Are you sure they are not snail eggs? Do you have other fish in your tank?

Answer 4

idk