Tank ideas for a serra breeding project

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Diogenes

Diogenes

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Oct 9, 2008
2,407
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68
Birmingham, AL
So when we move I'm planning on getting a huge tank and trying to do a serrasalmus breeding project. I'm going into my last semester of school, and I'll graduate in december, then we'll be moving and I'll be looking for a place with a good fish room.

I found this article on OPEFE and he used a 220g tank but it doesn't say how many fish were in his shoal (maybe I missed it).

Also I found this BBC article that says they breed in slow moving waters (much like an aquarium) on floating waterweeds such as water hyacinth. Does anybody know the scientific name of water hyacinth and if it is available in the aquarium trade? What size tank? Filter? Powerheads? Do piranhas eat their young or raise em? I want to figure it out now so I know what kind of budget I'm working with.

I think I want to try it with S. spilopleura.

Comments? Suggestions? Advice? Pics?:banhim:
 
if you wanna breed macs, you could get away with using a 125... you'll definitely want to remove the eggs tho, otherwise the little ones will be eaten in a hurry. just make sure that you have your fry tanks set up well in advance, use sponge filters for the fry tanks and run them in your main tank prior to the spawn to make sure that they are established before you move them to the fry tanks along with the eggs.

water hyacinth should be easy to find if you wanna use it as a floating plant, check with pond supply places or in the aquatic plants section at your local nursery, they are used in ponds a lot as a natural filter.

check out primetime3wise's thread over on p-fury, he documented his mac breeding project really well, so that should help answer some questions you have.
 
JoeDizzleMPLS;3108020; said:
if you wanna breed macs, you could get away with using a 125... you'll definitely want to remove the eggs tho, otherwise the little ones will be eaten in a hurry. just make sure that you have your fry tanks set up well in advance, use sponge filters for the fry tanks and run them in your main tank prior to the spawn to make sure that they are established before you move them to the fry tanks along with the eggs.

water hyacinth should be easy to find if you wanna use it as a floating plant, check with pond supply places or in the aquatic plants section at your local nursery, they are used in ponds a lot as a natural filter.

check out primetime3wise's thread over on p-fury, he documented his mac breeding project really well, so that should help answer some questions you have.
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cool. thanks joe.
 
hmm.. when i watched this documentary "Piranha: wolf of the water" They had a massive tank to study piranha breeding habits and it showed a piranha guarding its eggs at all times, and very defensively i might add. But this was a pygo tank so mabie serra might act differently and not guard there young? Im no expert on breeding tho, just ttying to help :)
 
they will guard their nests very aggressively, but once the eggs turn to little fish, they become food
 
I think the tough part is getting a mix of male and female, once you do then just let nature take its course.
that would be a cool project, best of luck and make sure you document it here :D
 
haha if they protect the nest so vigorously he should have a good time getting the eggs out. i can see the parents shredding any net that comes near. good luck man, make sure you post some pics and keep us updated
 
He can just suck the eggs out with a python or other gravel vac.
 
jp80911;3108828; said:
I think the tough part is getting a mix of male and female, once you do then just let nature take its course.
that would be a cool project, best of luck and make sure you document it here :D
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Ofcourse I'll document it here. you guys will be privy to every step I take I'm sure. I'll probably need the advice.

jp80911;3108899; said:
He can just suck the eggs out with a python or other gravel vac.
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anybody know how you make breeding mops and whether or not they're worth it?

tscharf;3108859; said:
haha if they protect the nest so vigorously he should have a good time getting the eggs out. i can see the parents shredding any net that comes near. good luck man, make sure you post some pics and keep us updated
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net? shoot man....if I'm breeding adult spilos then you better believe I'll come with some chainmail to get the eggs if I have to be anywhere near a shoal of pissed off serras.
 
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