Breeding Bettas

[samurai_beth]

Hello, I purchased 2 unrelated female dragon bettas from a good breeder. I was very pleased with them as they are stunning fish, but within a week I realised that one was a male, just an immature male. (they were around 4 months when I got them and he did look VERY much like a female)
Well, the breeder suggested I tried breeding them. I purchased them as pets but as I have plenty of tanks, I though it would be fun to give it a go. I did a lot of reading online and made sure everything was set to accomodate them.
They have been seperate sinse I realised one was male, in this time the female has become rather large, slightly rounded and the egg spot on her underside protrudes ALOT now.
I set up the tank then introduced them at around 10 am this morning. The male, luckily, has been very gentle with the female, he hasnt nipped her so far. He has been displaying almost constantly, showing off his fins and flaring. He has chased her a few times aswell. Dispite his best efforts she seems completely uninterested, avoiding him and trying to keep out of his way. Also, when he was alone he built bubble nests, sinse I introduced the female he has been obsessed with showing off to her and has made a very very poor attempt at making a bubble nest with just a scattering of bubbles. I dont know if it is because they are inexperienced or they are simply incompatable. Luckily there has been no fighting at all. (i've been watching them all day because i dont want to lose either as they are much loved pets)
Thanks for reading, anything you can tell me would be great.

 

[woodstock]

Well I know nothing about breeding bettas, but I just want to ask, how long have you had/owned bettas? I know some other people complain about "inexperienced people" (I'm not saying you! ) impulsively breeding just because. I've also heard it's pretty darn expensive, especially if you come out with a LOT of males.

 

[samurai_beth]

I won't lie, I have NEVER bred bettas before! That's why I'm asking for advice :$
I've owned bettas for 2 years now, I have only had 9 though. As you said, it's expensive as they must all be kept seperately. The female in question, is unusually timid compared to my others and is very very passive even towards other bettas, she untill now lived with another female in a 150 litre with 2 anglefish and 2 glass catfish.

Beth

 

[tom130691]

i thourgh you left the female until the nest was complete (people use foam ect as a base for him to build around)iirc

there is alot about it on here tbh
im also thinking about doing it in the future make sure you are prepared its not easy
have u got a worm culture going ect you will need one
also you have to remove the femal straight after she lays the eggs

 

[nessar]

You're not meant to just chuck her in the tank with him, you're meant to put her in a 'chimney' so they can see each other but not get to each other at first.
Also, beware you will need a separate tank for each male you get, thats a lot of tanks....

 

[woodstock]

Haha, okay good, so you're experienced with bettas. That was my main concern, as I just didn't want a brand-new fish owner start breeding so suddenly. Can't help much here, I've never bred either, lol, sorry! I'm a little confused, does she seem pregnant to you? If she's not, and she doesn't seem interested in breeding, I just wouldn't breed them. If she seems pregnant, then I'm lost.

 

[samurai_beth]

everything is set up and ready to go tanks food etc, they were introduced properly... just no result. luckily though no aggression.
hohum

 

[samurai_beth]

I think she just doesn't "fancey" him...
I think I might put her back in her original tank and try again in a week or so. I dont want to cause her to much stress and I dont want to risk things turning nasty in the night.

 

[nessar]

maybe hes not her type lol
if shes not in any danger you could keep trying

 

[samurai_beth]

maybe hes not her type lol
if shes not in any danger you could keep trying

Maybe I should take her to the breeders with me and let her pick one out herself. Like speed dating for fish

 

[aly_starh]

hi

Were they both conditioned well, and was she placed in a chimney glass for 2 days before being released?
Whats the spawning tank set-up like?

Just for ref. i have breed bettas before.

 

[samurai_beth]

hi

Were they both conditioned well, and was she placed in a chimney glass for 2 days before being released?
Whats the spawning tank set-up like?

Just for ref. i have breed bettas before.

hi there, tank set up is pretty basic, i have some gravel (not much) in the bottom of the tank. I mostly put that in to make it look nice as i placed them in the lounge so i could watch them more carefully. there is floating plants, heater, no filtration currently (its off). about 20 litre tank(just over).
he seems to have added to his lack luster bubble nest... but not a great deal. They were both well conditioned. they had frozen foods (bloodworm, brine shrimp, white mosquito lavae, daphnia) both kept in very clean but aged water. added indian almond leaves aswell but i'm not entirely sure if they did anything as both bettas were already very healthy.

 

[aly_starh]

That all sounds good apart from the gravel. Eggs might fall between them so he wont be able to pick them up.

Id say, leave the male in the tank. And put the female in a glass vase for 2 days. (in this time, he should start building the nest.

Release her, they will flare etc. If they dont mate on this day. Put her back in the chimney at night and release her the following morning. They will more than likely breed the nest day.

Hope that helps

 

[samurai_beth]

OK! he's this minute decided that he should build a bubble nest and is really going for it oooerr!

That all sounds good apart from the gravel. Eggs might fall between them so he wont be able to pick them up.

Id say, leave the male in the tank. And put the female in a glass vase for 2 days. (in this time, he should start building the nest.

Release her, they will flare etc. If they dont mate on this day. Put her back in the chimney at night and release her the following morning. They will more than likely breed the nest day.

Hope that helps

Thanks for that, i was worried about her at night, i didnt think to do that i just thought about moving her back to the large tank, i'm not used to my fish being in such small spaces! i suppose i should just leave the gravel alone now though and hope it will be ok. he's really going for his bubble nest now though and its made the female at least look at him.

 

[lilacamy931]

There is good advice here, ensure the water levels arent too deep for the male in the case of a successful spawn as he will exhaust himself chasing the babies. Ensure they are both conditioned well with meaty foods. The chimney is the best way from what I have read, it helps to get both into the mood and the male create that all important nest, once the female is out he should focus on her, hopefully the chimney is getting her in the mood, especially if she is full of eggs. The first spawn may or may not be successful depending on their previous experience..whether the male wraps properly, whether you remove the female soon enough so she doesnt gorge on eggs, also if the father is a good one and doesnt end up eating his own eggs or fry. Best of luck not the easiest of fish, go with advice above ensure there are microworm cultures getting mature now ready for the wrigglers to come. Also be prepared with the fry that you may end up with many and high ratio of males which all will need separating as they come of age and start turning on each other as well as some females that may need separating. Also you will need to consider homes in the long run, are there LFSs that will be willing to take these? Friends and family?

You should get some good tips on here, I can recommend aly_starh above (as having created her own spawn to very beautiful babies)