Breeding Diary

[rob158]

I've been planing on trying to breed betta for some time so I went to pets at home the other day (22/03/13) and seen a male and female I liked the look of. So of course I got them! I think It will be very interesting (if every thing goes well) to see what colors they produce. I have put each in a 52L tank placed next to each other so the fish can see each other but have placed an envelope between them to let them have peace to get used to the new tank. The tanks are a bit bare, I want to put more plants in the female tank but I think I will leave the males as it is for breeding. There is just some java moss in each tank just now and I have ordered some almond leaves which I hear help the bettas health and breeding. There is also a bit of bubble rap for a nest in the corner of the males tank (around 3x4 inch) which he has already started to use. I have put this in so early so he is used to having a nest there. I have also got my microworms and have started an infusoria culture.
I hope to update this around weekly but this is whats happened so far. I'm going to be feeding them up for 2 or 3 weeks then I'm thinking of doing the half empty breeding method.
 
22/03/13: Day 1. PM :Just got back from pets at home. Put fish in tank and left untill morning.
 
23/03. Day 2. AM: Fish seem ok. Given first feed of 2 white worm each. PM: Tried feeding the fish fruit fly the male was not to keen on them just biting and spiting back out. The female seemed to like them and ate her one and then later the males which he did not eat. He was then given a baby white worm which was eaten.
 
24/03. Day 3. AM: Fish still ok. Given an adult white worm each. Going to look for some baby garden worms to chop up and feed them to the fish later.
 
 
 
I've been reading up on breeding for about a month and these will be my 6th and 7th betta I have had but i'm doing this diary so I can keep track of what i'm doing but also so people can see if i'm doing something wrong so do comment.

 
Here they are! I have named the male Kyle. I've yet to think of a name for the female.
 

20130324_20 by Robert wright., on Flickr
 

20130324_22 by Robert wright., on Flickr
 

20130324_27 by Robert wright., on Flickr
 

20130324_28 by Robert wright., on Flickr
 

20130324_23 by Robert wright., on Flickr
 

20130324_24 by Robert wright., on Flickr
 
 

20130324_25 by Robert wright., on Flickr

 

[RCA]

... i'm doing this diary so I can keep track of what i'm doing but also so people can see if i'm doing something wrong so do comment.

 
Nice looking colours on your veil-tail and thanks for the diary, always interesting to see.  Do you know where you are going to home all of the fry once they are grown?  Do you have 100 jars ready?  There is a lesser market for the veil-tails these days and therefore I personally would not breed them.
 
Do you have a grow out tank for the fry, with a sponge filter, which I understand are the best?
 
IAL are definitely great for Bettas, plus alder cones
 
Hope all goes to plan for you.

 

[kad191]

When my angels started breeding i was made up, but when i read up on it the tanks and food would out weigh the price i could sell them for, plus i didnt want 300l of tanks in my living room!
 
Keep up the diary and good look!!!

 

[Wildbetta]

Beautiful steel w/red wash pair you have there!!  Both of them look very healthy and active.  
 
I agree with RCA -- do you have an idea what you will do with 100+ fry? Veiltails are hard to sell unless there is something really special about their color and most people would rather buy the other tail types.  Your fry probably will be blue, red, or a mix of those two colors which are the most common colors avaliable.  Do you have your grow out tank set up?  Something about the size of the tanks your pair is in right now is a good size -- outfitted with a sponge filter and heater.  How about at least 100 containers of some kind for when you have to separate the fry?  You will need them sooner than you think. Do you have a mixture of live foods?  Microworms are great but there are reports of feeding them regularly past the first week causing the fry to not have ventral fins. BBS and vinegar eels are good betta fry food.  IAL or hardwood leaves are good for the tanks and help culture some microorganisms that the fry can nibble on between feeds.
 
Not trying to sound discouraging -- just like people to be informed before starting.  I do believe that keeping the journal is a great idea.  

 

[rob158]

Hi.
 
Thanks,
 
I was just going to take the male out of the tank the babies where in. I wasnt thinking of selling them I was going to give them away i'm not in it for money.
So where would I get a different kind?

 

[Wildbetta]

The plan you have for the tank is excellent and easier.  Do you have a tank for the male set up for when the fry are free swimming?  As for giving the fry away -- it is the same as people giving away other types of pets(dogs/cats), it is always a good plan but most of the time never works out the way you want especially when dealing with over 100 fish.  There are ways to limit the amount of fry you end up with.  If you remove the female early then you should end up with less fry.  As far as finding a different kind...not sure where you would find some in Scotland.  I know in the US I go on aquabid.com and look at all the nice bettas or I know a few breeders as well.

 

[snowflake311]

You might not get 100 fry with your first spawn. And there is nothing wrong with culling off the weak or defected fry. I think 70 fish makes more sence. Still a lot of betta fish to find homes for. You could sell them online for cheap just have people pay for shipping. Bettas are so easy to ship. That would be your best bet for finding mores for the fry.