Start with health
Only consider mature fish that are active, eating and free of obvious disease or injury. Quarantine new stock before placing it in a breeding system.
Use a varied appropriate diet
Quality prepared foods can be combined with suitable frozen or live foods. The mix depends on whether the species is insectivorous, omnivorous, herbivorous or specialized.
Protect the water
Rich conditioning foods decay quickly. Feed portions the fish consume, remove excess and increase maintenance as required.
Watch body condition
A rounded female is not automatically carrying eggs or fry; bloating and disease can look similar. Males can also lose condition through constant courtship.
Rest the adults
Repeated spawning can exhaust fish. Provide recovery time and stop when body condition or behaviour declines.