Cardinal Tetras - Spawning Info please

[Haywire]

Background:

I'll soon have my RO set up in my fish room, and will soften my water in
the central system for my SA's and Discus. I've got about a dozen
cardinals some of which I've had for about 2 years and they are quite nice,
plump, and oh so definately female. hmm same goes for my rummy nose tetras
too.

Question:

What do I need to do to get the cardinals to spawn? A step by step walk
through would be great, or a link to a good cardinal site would be helpful.

Dan.

[NetMax]

"Haywire" > wrote in message
5.104...
> Background:
>
> I'll soon have my RO set up in my fish room, and will soften my water
in
> the central system for my SA's and Discus. I've got about a dozen
> cardinals some of which I've had for about 2 years and they are quite
nice,
> plump, and oh so definately female. hmm same goes for my rummy nose
tetras
> too.
>
> Question:
>
> What do I need to do to get the cardinals to spawn? A step by step walk
> through would be great, or a link to a good cardinal site would be
helpful.
>
> Dan.

I've no personal experience with Cards, but summarizing from Axelrod's
'Breeding Aquarium Fishes"
*start*
...they need clear soft (2-3 dH) acidic (5-6.8pH) water. They recommend
conditioning the males & females separately with shrimp & tubifex worms
(though in your case, they might already be nicely conditioned).
Breeding tank of 5 to 10g, 74F with light aeration, very soft water (1dH)
and 2 teaspoons of salt per gallon (to discourage bacterial growth). The
water should be 4 to 5 inches deep with a thin layer of peat moss.

Place the pair in the tank in the evening and allow only very soft
lighting the next day (how romantic ;~). Keep the eggs (300-500) in
darkness until they hatch (about 2 days) and then increase the light
slowly. The fry are free-swimming by the 5th day and should be fed
infusoria for 1 week and then go to newly hatched brine shrimp.
*end*

I'd add that if you have no luck spawning them (and they are a bit
tricky) try keeping your conditioned pairs in slightly warmer water (76F)
and when introducing them into the breeding tank, do not acclimate them.
The switch from 2-3dH to 1dH is supposed to stimulate spring rainfall, so
dropping the temperature suddenly is sometimes a very effective spawning
trigger.

hth, good luck
NetMax

[Haywire]

Thanks Max,

I was hoping you'd respond. Long time no chat. Will give it a shot.

hmm, right now they are in some real heat, 82-84 with my discus.