Week 1: Health Check
Confirm both fish are disease-free. Treat any parasites, fin issues, or bloat before starting. Quarantine any new additions for 14 days.
Verify sex. Many beginners try to breed same-sex pairs.
Week 2: Separation
Separate male and female into different tanks or use a clear divider. This builds courtship readiness when reunited.
Continue high-protein feeding — both fish 3 to 4 meals daily.
Week 3: Diet Intensification
Shift 60% of feeding to live or frozen foods: blackworms, daphnia, brine shrimp, mosquito larvae.
Add vitamin supplement Vita-Chem to thawed frozen foods weekly.
Week 4: Introduction and Trigger
Reintroduce the pair to a prepared breeding tank. Apply an environmental trigger (cool water change, photoperiod extension).
Most conditioned pairs spawn within 5 to 10 days of introduction.