| Common Name | Butterfly Tail or Peacock Tail
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| Species/genus |
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| Keeping | These are basically like Ryukins or Wakins but the tail portion is more
spread out like a butterfly. Some say that these are not really a variety of Gold fish, but a variant of
Ryukins or Wakins. Some have high backs like Ryukins and some have normal backs like Wakins. Their description is more like a fan tail. They also can live
from 5 to 10 years. They can live in ponds where the temperatures will not drop too low. They can grow
from 3 to 6 inches, tail excluded.
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| Breeding | Select a pair of healthy male and female. You can have multiple males
and females breed together as a mass. Have a 20 Gallon breeding tank with some plants and a sponge filter which
does not produce a very strong water movement. Water level to be not more than 6 inches. Clean conditioned water should be provided. After introducing the male and female condition them with live foods for a week. Then make
a 40% water change with cool fresh water. You can add some ice to the water to make it cool before adding it
to the tank. The drop in temperature will stimulate the fish to breed. The male chases the female
vigorously, but not violently. The female is pushed to a corner and the male shimmies around the female.
Eggs and sperm are released and eggs get fertilized. Eggs are colourless and sticky. They normally stick
to plants. Parents may eat the eggs so remove them after spawning. Males can be identified by small tubercules
near the Gill covers during breeding period. Normally male will be less rounded than female and will
chase her around mostly.
Eggs will hatch after 4 or 5 days. Eggs can be spoiled by fungus, spoiled eggs are white milky coloured.
So keep the gentle filter action and add a few drops of methylene blue to the water. Fry may need freshly
hatched brine shrimp to start with. They grow fast and soon should be able to eat powdered flakes and other
vegetable matter. Good quality fry can be obtained only if the parents are strong and healthy.
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| Origin | Temp | Water | Temper
| Size | Tank | Food | Breeding
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| Japan | 60-75°F | 7.2-7.6 pH
| Very Peaceful | 3-6 inch | 20G Tanks
| All, worms | Egg layer
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