breeding pugnax

[nibbles]

i was there 2 weeks ago.. someone gives them plants to sell.. its like a carpet that covers the floor of the tank... its really nice looking and really green.. last time i was there they asked if i wanted his # so i could meet him there someday to pick some up.. but my mom didnt want to go there in the first place.. and specifically said ''we wont be coming back here for awhile''.. so i said no..

but when i told her in the car shes like.. oh we could have come back next weekend

ive never seen the rufus guy.. but ive only been there twice

 

[chatterbox]

they look prety dull.is that the sand making them dull

 

[nibbles]

lol nope... they are a whitish color, with black/grey marble on them.. and the outer most part of their bottom fin is a bright purple.. their body shines purpley sometimes in diff lighting.. they are cool tho , cant wait to breed em

 

[juliethegr8t]

Ya know, it's hard to tell from these photos, but they look more like falx to me. Pugnax are bigger, and their heads just look out of proportion. Falx have that same reddish line at the bottom of the anal and lining the caudal also. Even if they are falx you should get some babies though, they're like mouthbrooding rabbits. How long have you had them?


Here's a shot of one of my male falx when he wasn't really colored up (they get much darker, striped, and get a greenish anal line when excited). He's actually brooding here too.

 

[nibbles]

omg julie.. it is almost exactly the same as that lmao..

but.. i had a disaster... i didnt put a lid on, only left 3 inches from top of tank, but of course, he jumped out.. i found him totally brown lying on the ground, put him back in some water, watched him for a few mins.. he didnt move.. so i went upstairs and sat outside for 5 mins thinking about how stupid i am for not putting on a lid, but when i came back down to take another look, he was spasming a little.... so i started picking the crap off him... he had tons of hair all over him, tons of hair and gooo in his gills, but after about 15 mins i got it all off, and he is swimming fine.. he isnt breathing too fast, but i guess thats a good thing.. i put in some cycle and some water conditioner, along with some salt..

stupid me has no stress coat and i thought either the water conditioner or cycle would have something in it to help, so i chucked em both in lol..

tomorrow at work im gonna pick up some stress coat definately..

i really dont know if its a pug or a falx.. either way im happy, always wanted a mouthbrooding betta.. the female was spazzing out.. her tank is like 3 feet across the room diagonally from the male, and im guessing she saw him on the floor, or jump out, because she was swimming up and down back and forth in her 20g tank... other than that, she sits at the bottom amongst the plant and doesnt move... the seller told me they dont like being apart

anyways.. the fish mystery continues, i will try to get some pics of the female tomorrow... she has more white on her..

pray for my falx-pug

 

[juliethegr8t]

Alright, that makes me almost 95% sure that they're falx. Falx are NOTORIOUS jumpers. They'll ALWAYS jump if you leave the lid off, so don't do it again. Also, if the lid isn't heavy, put something heavy on it. And I mean heavy, not just decent normal fish weight. I lost a male falx that way, and almost the other male - he actually hit the lid, and popped out. My female has also jumped over the divider several times, and onto the floor once. So watch it.


Anyways, falx are easy to breed, so in a few weeks you should try it.

 

[nibbles]

my parents gonna pick me up some wood and some mesh tomorrow, so when im off work i can make a good lid... i put the male in a 1/2 gallon container with a tight fit lid... i thought the current might stress him out in his 5g tank..

right now i put (drawing a blank) . . silver.. saran wrap.. WHAT IS IT CALLED

whatever.. you know what i mean lmao.. i have that over her 20g tank.. with 2 shoeboxes on both sides so she shouldnt be able to get out.. her tank has about 4 inches from top of tank, and she is very calm.. sits at the bottom amongst the plant, staring at me oddly..

do they like strong currents? when i thought they were pugs, bkk told me about strong currents.. if they dont like the current im gonna have to use the 5g filter in the 20g so they can chill... im gonna have to pick up some pots for their breeding tank, and im gonna get a few more live plants..

im gonna try 2 weekends from now to breed them.. this weekend im goign away, and microworms should be here thursday.. so by then i should have a new culture going so i can feed the babies.. doesnt daddy keep the fry in his mouth for 14 days after they hatch in his mouth anyways?

bah now i have to research falx..

i feel like im copying you.. first you got the croakers.. then i did
then you got the falx.. now i did..

but i dont get to go to a betta show

edit: omg hes in a foul mood.. he is completely brown-red, and spazzing .. i tapped the side of his roundish container, and he flew up the sides smacking the lid like 10x in a row.. i turned the light out and left him alone.. he is extremely pissed off lol... o man.. this is baaaaad

 

[juliethegr8t]

Foil?


You are copying me, you loser!! Totally kidding, but it is funny! You're gettin all my rare fish so I'm not so special. Grrr! You better not get foerschi now! Anyways, they are not big fans of major current, but as they are mouthbrooders, they do come from an area that isn't stagnant. I've found that mine like a medium current, not too strong, but enough to keep things moving as long as there are places to rest. They do like pots, and often spawn in them. The fry won't need microworms, as they are bigger than egg layer fry, but they'll work fine for awhile.

Also - wait at least two weeks after this incident with the male. He'd probably spawn then, but wouldn't do as good of a job taking care of kiddos while he's brooding, if he's not up to par. They need to be conditioned just like any other betta before spawning also, just fyi. Remember that dad doesn't eat for two weeks when he's brooding (another reason to wait after your guy's crazy day).

Ask away if you have more questions, I've learned quite a bit about these fish and they're some of my favorites. Now I'm on to foerschi.

 

[GuppyDude]

hey, iv gotta question, how do u create a current? just stick a large filter and one end of the tank and let it blow water?

 

[juliethegr8t]

Any filter makes a current....

 

[GP]

hey, iv gotta question, how do u create a current? just stick a large filter and one end of the tank and let it blow water?

Buy powerheads, increase the filter's speed, lower the water so when the water drops in it makes more of a current, etc.

 

[rollntider]

are they air breathers also?

 

[nibbles]

yes TIN FOIL.. i thought of it like 15 mins after i went to bed .. im planning on trying them together next weekened.. thats like 11 days or something...

i COULD get some foerschi or whatever theyre called.. ive been emailing a wild betta breeder and he has tons of different kinds.. but i only wanted them cause they are mouthbrooders, and since these wilds are mouthbrooders, i dont think ill spend the $60 to get 2 pairs of whatevers...

i have a 5g and 20g set up now... the male in the 5, female in the 20... which tank would be better for spawning them in... im guessing the 20 but i thought id ask anyways

edit: just got an email from seller saying they are falx .. they look almost the same as the pugnax pics o well

edit again: nevermind all that.. the male died overnight

 

[juliethegr8t]

Sorry to hear that nibbles. Are you going to get another male?


rollntider - Yes, they are. All of the Betta species are, but a lot of them aren't as dependant on it. Especially the mouthbrooders, as they come from fast-flowing streams instead of the stagnant water of the rice paddies.

 

[cutecotton]

sorry to hear about that

julie: i'm curious about tehse flax, where did you get them? also..if the male is holding babies in his mouth how does he breathe?