Widow tetras

[akudewan]

I have a (approx) 20 gal tank set up. This is what I've got:
5: Widow tetras.
2: Rosy barbs
1: Red tail shark

Now I'd love to see the tetras lay eggs and breed. But I've got zero experience in breeding. How can I tell which is male and which is female?

Oh one more thing, they just move around without schooling. Does that indicate anything?

 

[Tempestuousfury]

It indicates nothing! How dare you be so presumptuous!

They do this all the time. They only seem to school when in danger. It might also be that 7 (or 5, in your case) individuals isn't enough for them to swim around with in a school.

For most of us (being amateurs), it is too hard to tell the sex. However, I can see visible differences in the widths of some of my fish, so I presume the more plump ones are females. Most people go by those guidelines.

As for them breeding, I have not caught them at it, and I have had them for months. I believe they would need good water conditions, proper conditioning, and suitable (species tank) breeding tank. Or, rather, this would keep the eggs from being eaten, especially if you set the tank up to prevent the parents from eating their eggs.

Oooh! India, eh? I went to Pakistan over the weekend... They had ok fish, but red tails, bettas, and plain, colorless fish were the only fish I could find. How did you get those tetras and barbs?

 

[akudewan]

Thanks for replying Kenshin (Tempestuousfury).

Well, I guess I was kinda excited over the tetras, I can't really breed 'em yet. I'll try out livebearers first, and if my tetras do mate..then yay

I had taken a book from a library "All about tropical fish" It had pics of a lot of male and female fish species, but I couldn't make out the difference even after staring for hours!!

Oooh! India, eh? I went to Pakistan over the weekend... They had ok fish, but red tails, bettas, and plain, colorless fish were the only fish I could find. How did you get those tetras and barbs?

Well, thankfully I get a decent variety of fish here. Just gotto go to the right places. Though the situation is not really good. You can read this post for more details about my city: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?act=ST&f=1&t=66591

 

[DRD1812]

I have 6 black widows and one of my females is so fat it looks like she can hardly swim im expecting eggs any day now only problem is I would try and raise them but I dont know if they need to lay there eggs then the males fertilize or if its already done or if she'll only lay them if she has the right set up on the tank like plantation or caves etc.

 

[akudewan]

Congratulations DRD1812 Good luck with the eggs

 

[sylvia]

Females are larger and deeper-bodied. Males have white markings on the tail and are slimmer and smaller.