The chinese algae eater is known by some other common names such as algae eater, sucking loach, and indian algae eater. They are native to streams in parts of Indochina.

One caution is in order about the Chinese Algae Eater. They tend to become agressive towards other fish in the tank as they get older. So keep that in mind if you are thinking of getting some to place with your other fish.

Another thing to consider with these fish is that they may not do a very good job of removing algae from your tank. So its probably not a good idea to get these fish in the hopes of keeping your tank free of algae.

If you like a challenge, then trying your luck at spawning the Chinese Algae Eater may  be something you want to try. Just don’t forget its probably better to keep them in a tank by themselves especially as they get older.

If you have discus ready to lay eggs there are a few ways in which you can give them a helping hand. The first way you can tempt them to lay is to feed a rich diet of frozen bloodworms for about a week. Feed it everyday as well as their other meal. This should condition the female and get her ready to breed.

Other foods that are good for breeding discus are white worm, adult brine shrimp and chopped up crab sticks or prawns. Make sure you buy frozen food as there is less chance of disease. Another way to encourage your discus to breed is by doing a 25% water change, but drop the temperature by a couple of degrees of the water going in. This imitates there natural habitat and can trigger spawning.

This is a little trick I use on all my young pairs when trying to get them to spawn. Make sure all the pH and hardness is the same making only the temperature different. The third trick in getting your discus to breed is by separating them for a couple of days before reintroducing them. To do this you can add a tank divider or move the male to another aquarium. Make sure the female gets plenty to eat when the male is away.

When you reintroduce the discus just keep a close watch over the next 24 hours as males have known to be aggressive towards the female. They should start the courtship over the next couple of days and hopefully lay eggs after. There are more ways to encourage your discus to breed as well as many more tips on breeding and caring for discus fish on my site www.discus-fish-secrets.com About The Author Rob owns Discus Fish Secrets website helping begginners and advanced fishkeepers with discus problems including keeping and breeding them. Please visit the site for more information on breeding discus Written by: Rob Clarke

Two weeks before breeding tetras, separate males and females within the same tank. This is done simply by putting a clear divider between them, which not only gives you control of breeding but also stimulates spawning behavior since the fish are kept within sight of each other. Breeding tetras is also encouraged during the pre-spawn period by feeding them with high-quality live foods.

When ready to breed tetras, you will get the best results by using a separate breeding tank, prepared with a peat filter and clean, aged water in which clumps of fine-leaved plants have been strategically placed.

 Three ways to complete your tank for breeding tetras are:

1) Drape the tank with nylon netting to allow the eggs to fall to the tank floor away from hungry adults.
2) Cover the tank floor with marbles to hide the eggs and protect them from cannibalism.
3) Plant fine-leaved plants or artificial spawning mops in seed trays filled with coarse gravel to trap the eggs and prevent them from being eaten.

Females should be placed in the breeding tank earlier than the males, usually the night before breeding. In addition to allowing her to settle in, it also puts the male in the position of having to court her on her own turf. This technique can deter any aggressive tendencies he may display.

After introducing the male to the breeding tank, its best to watch his introductory moves. Males often show aggressive behavior during spawning. If the male attacks a female, remove her and re-separate the pair. Another female can be tried or alternatively, two to three females can be introduced to the breeding tank to keep the male from focusing his attention on only one.

Remove adult fish from the breeding tank immediately after breeding tetras. If you are interested in Tetra Fish, on our site we have a free e-book available about these wonderful creatures. Linda Paquette is author of Tetra Fish and Cichilds at aquarium-guides.com