Breeding Bettas

[David]

I am currently considering buying a female for my male betta (who is currently housed in my 46 gallon alone LOL) to mate with, but do you think he can build a bubble nest without it being swept away by the current produced from the filter?

 

[Wisperian]

Its gonna get poped turn off the filter and it wont pop

 

[cutecotton]

do you plan to breed in the 46G? i'd be afraid that in such a big tank the bettas would eventually lose sight of each other and never come around to mate.

 

[David]

ok thanks and should I remove the female from the tank afterwards or should I leave her in since its a really big tank?

 

[David]

oh maybe you're right... I guess I'll use my five gallon then. But they can live in the 46 afterwards right? They won't be too aggressive towards each other will they? or will they just constantly be spawning if the situation is not controlled? I don't know as I am new to bettas I just got my first male today.

 

[cutecotton]

umm i wound't suggest breeding in the 46g, maybe if you can get a 10g that would be good.

PLEASE do read the pinned article at the top of this forum regarding breeding bettas. Wuv has put together a walkthrough very nicely for beginners

 

[cutechic]

You should always remove the female after they have finished spawning but, like cutecotten said, you shouldn't breed them in such a large tank. Try reading the article posted by wuv on betta breeding, here. Remember: breeding bettas takes a great deal of time, effort, and money. I'd suggest doing a lot of research before you begin.


Edit: Cutecotton beat me to it.

 

[David]

yes I agree... I have been researching for several hours now... as soon as I brought Charlie home (as I've decided to call him) I've been hooked. He seems so happy to be out of that cup and into that immense aquarium.

 

[cutecotton]

well, a 10g would be best for a beginner.

but seeing that your'e still very new to bettas, i recommend doing LOTS of research before jumping into spawning becuase it does take a lot of time and effort, and isn't just like breeding livebearers!

Check out the pinned article, and some websites to see what ur really looking for, that'll give you a rough estimate of what you'll need to breed them.

basically what cutechic said darnit you beat me to it.

but yeah bettas are highly aggresisve fish, so breeding them must be done carefully becuase of their aggression or else you'll end up with wounded males and feamles

 

[David]

Yes on second thought I'll just stick with enjoying Charlie's beautiful colours and exquisite finnage for now After reading that article I see I am not up for it quite yet. Lets just see if I can keep him alive for several months I have had experience breeding guppies and other livebearers (who hasn't) and I have even bred my angels before, but breeding bettas seems to be quite a bit harder. It's okay for me to buy a female one for the 46 though isn't it? They won't bother each other will they? If there's a prob i"ll just move poor Charles into the 5 gallon. Should be big enough (I hope).

 

[cutecotton]

well, under normal circumstances i really wouldn't suggest putting a female and a male together even in such a huge tank. I believe someone else in teh forum has done so, but you're running quite a big risk.

do you plan to put any other fish in there?

it really dependosn your betta's temperament, each one seems a bit differnet. Some just won't tolerate another betta in there at all, but some seems okay

 

[David]

Also I am going to be stocking this aquarium in the near future... what do you suggest I get? Would gouramis be good mates for the betta? I really want a pair of dwarf gouramis they're purdy

I also want some cardinal tetras and clown loaches is that okay? What else is good?

 

[cutecotton]

gouramis are not good tankmates with teh bettas they uusally get in argumetns becuase they both breathe on the surface of water. Bettas are hard to find tankmates for, but i would avoid any fin nippers, which would be fast and schooling fish like tetras and things.

Bottom feeders are okay, i don't own any clown loaches but i heard they do grow to be very big. I think the "peaceful" fish would do well with the betta, such as platties, guppies, mollies.

You know, i think it would be much easier for you if you moved Charlie to your 5G, i'm sure he'll be equally happy there. At least he would have to make exhuasting trips to teh surface for air

 

[David]

I'm really into anabantids all of a sudden maybe I should make this a gourami tank even though I was planning for a discus tank oh well...

 

[David]

yeah I'll probably move him into my 5 gallon... I really don't want any more livebearers I've had it up to here with them. Yeah clown loaches can grow quite large (up to 12 inches in wild but rarely more that 6 or 7 in captivity), but they are generally peaceful and soo cute