For the last 5 months or so, I have been unsuccessful in attempts to breed zebrafish.
Water pH and temperature are kept constant and at appropriate levels. The light/dark cycle is appropriate. Males and females (sexually mature but = or < 2 years old) are sexually isolated in groups of 6 for either 3 days or 1 week. They are fed a diet of dry food in the early A.M. and P.M, as well as brine shrimp early P.M. Breeding tanks contain either rocks or marbles and mock aquatic plants. Fish selected for breeding are transferred to breeding tanks around 6 P.M. at a 2:1 F:M ratio. The water in housing and breeding tanks is continually filtered and cycled.
Is there anything I am missing?
Maybe the age is the reason, so you could try to perfom an outcross with wildtype fish that are younger and fertile. This should be done regularly anyway. You might also try to keep the fish as female/male mixture (e.g. 6 couples) and isolate them only overnight. Then bring them together in a breeding tank in the morning.
Isolate males and females for 3 days at least and bring them together at the fourth day
Zebrafish spawn best at around 6month. I would not keep my fish until 2years. 1.5max
I think you can try with other feed like live polychaete/ clam or their meal.
Contact for more information from Prof. Pancharatna Karnatak University,Dharwad
Hi, from my experience, breeding fishes with similar sizes has the highest rate of success. I believe this allows easier interaction between the fishes and thus better breeding outcome. You have mentioned that your attempts to breed zebrafishes have been unsuccessful. I would suggest you to also swap breeding partners. Zebrafishes have different preferences for their breeding partners, so try putting different partners. It has worked for me.
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