Controlled Spawning of the Neon Tetra

Abstract

The neon tetra Paracheirodon innesi is one of the most valuable species in the ornamental fish trade. Most neon tetras available in the United States are imported from Southeast Asia, where they are farm raised, or from South America, where they are collected from the wild. In this study, we describe a method for artificially breeding the neon tetra that can be adapted to domestic commercial production. Broodfish pairs were routinely spawned in acidified, soft water at 25°C (pH, 5.5–6.5, adjusted with phosphoric acid; total alkalinity, 3.2 mg/L, and total hardness, 6.0 mg/L, as CaCO₃). The water was also conditioned with humic acids (0.04%). A spawning substrate (nylon brush) was available for egg deposition. Fish reared in the laboratory had a significantly higher number of larvae (82 larvae/female) than broodstock collected from the wild or cultured abroad (28 larvae/female). The domestic population reached sexual maturity at 5–6 months of age, and broodfish pairs produced an average of 82 larvae every 2 weeks over a period of 1 year. Rotifers and boiled egg yolk were the first larval feeds. Thereafter, fish were fed nauplii of brine shrimp Artemia sp., shaved cattle liver, and formulated diets. At approximately 1 month of age, larvae obtained their adult body coloration. The described method can be adapted for domestic commercial production of neon tetras.