First Time Betta Breeding Experience

[ThePiggy]

A few months ago, I bought a blue and red male crown tail betta (Rahziel) He's happy and active. He builds bubble nests all the time. From doing a little research online, I realized that was his way of saying that he's happy and ready to breed. So, I went out and got a pretty female (Darla) They each have their own tank. I enriched their diets with live food. In no time at all, Darla's tummy swelled (I assumed with eggs) and Rahziel built his biggest nest yet!

Three days ago, I put Darla in with Rahziel and supervised them for an hour. Nothing much happened except Rahziel biting big gashes in Darla's tail. So, I separated them. I gave her a couple days to get better, until she didn't look stressed out anymore.

I put her back in today. For the better part of an hour he would chase her a bit then build his nest more, but he wasn't tearing her apart, so I left them together. Two and a half hours into it, they finally did "the embrace" that I've read about. At first I was worried because she wasn't dropping her eggs. But, ANOTHER two hours later, they started dropping!

Now, at this point, I thought Rahziel was supposed to pick up the eggs and put them in the nest. But, it was actually Darla who started doing it! She picked them up off the bottom and spat them into the nest in a bubble, all while dodging Raz's advances. Eventually, Raz started doing it too, and they are both currently picking them up and placing them in the nest.

Does anyone have any pointers or comments on how I'm doing things? This is my first time, so I'm not confident yet. I'm just crossing my fingers and hoping things turn out right. I got brine shrimp eggs because I read that newly hatched brine shrimp are good food for the fry once they are free swimming. I also have a container I've been keeping infusoria growing in. I've heard good and bad things about both, but I'm not sure what other choices I have.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a heap!

 

[Syphoniera]

A few months ago, I bought a blue and red male crown tail betta (Rahziel) He's happy and active. He builds bubble nests all the time. From doing a little research online, I realized that was his way of saying that he's happy and ready to breed. So, I went out and got a pretty female (Darla) They each have their own tank. I enriched their diets with live food. In no time at all, Darla's tummy swelled (I assumed with eggs) and Rahziel built his biggest nest yet!

Three days ago, I put Darla in with Rahziel and supervised them for an hour. Nothing much happened except Rahziel biting big gashes in Darla's tail. So, I separated them. I gave her a couple days to get better, until she didn't look stressed out anymore.

I put her back in today. For the better part of an hour he would chase her a bit then build his nest more, but he wasn't tearing her apart, so I left them together. Two and a half hours into it, they finally did "the embrace" that I've read about. At first I was worried because she wasn't dropping her eggs. But, ANOTHER two hours later, they started dropping!

Now, at this point, I thought Rahziel was supposed to pick up the eggs and put them in the nest. But, it was actually Darla who started doing it! She picked them up off the bottom and spat them into the nest in a bubble, all while dodging Raz's advances. Eventually, Raz started doing it too, and they are both currently picking them up and placing them in the nest.

Does anyone have any pointers or comments on how I'm doing things? This is my first time, so I'm not confident yet. I'm just crossing my fingers and hoping things turn out right. I got brine shrimp eggs because I read that newly hatched brine shrimp are good food for the fry once they are free swimming. I also have a container I've been keeping infusoria growing in. I've heard good and bad things about both, but I'm not sure what other choices I have.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a heap!

Can't offer any input, but did want to offer congratulations.
And I'm sure one of the multiple resident experts will be along any time now.

 

[wilsonnw8]

Wow that is so great congratulations! how exciting, all I know is a couple of days after hatching you should remove the boy you can remove darla now as its the male who tends to the nest. When they have been hatched a couple of days people generally remove the male because he can get frustrated and eat the babies. You'll need lots of baby food I know some people here use Hikari betta first bites you can generally get them at the lps and beanie boxes for the babies! but I bet if you pm'd Modaz he could help you, regardless there are loads of great betta breeders on here! good luck!

 

[tibby25731]

Sounds like you have done lots of research! I wouldn't have put the girl straight in, I hear it is better to pop her in a breeder, glass or net for a few days in his tank so they can see each other. But it seems to have worked out OK. Make sure you remove her soon so he doesn't hurt her, just keep an eye on them. I hope you have plenty of jars for when the fry are growing out, there will come a stage when you have to separate the cos of fighting!
I've not bred before, just read lots about it, so if you need to know anything specific, listen to modaz, netty, bronzecat or contantine amongst others, they always have great advice!

 

[ThePiggy]

Wow that is so great congratulations! how exciting, all I know is a couple of days after hatching you should remove the boy you can remove darla now as its the male who tends to the nest. When they have been hatched a couple of days people generally remove the male because he can get frustrated and eat the babies. You'll need lots of baby food I know some people here use Hikari betta first bites you can generally get them at the lps and beanie boxes for the babies! but I bet if you pm'd Modaz he could help you, regardless there are loads of great betta breeders on here! good luck!

Thanks! I did remove Darla when they slowed down with the hugging.

She looked kind of tired for a while that day, but now she's rested up and happy as a clam in her own tank again. She did drop some more eggs once she was back in her tank, but I suppose they are not fertilized. Is this assumption correct?

Sounds like you have done lots of research! I wouldn't have put the girl straight in, I hear it is better to pop her in a breeder, glass or net for a few days in his tank so they can see each other. But it seems to have worked out OK. Make sure you remove her soon so he doesn't hurt her, just keep an eye on them. I hope you have plenty of jars for when the fry are growing out, there will come a stage when you have to separate the cos of fighting!
I've not bred before, just read lots about it, so if you need to know anything specific, listen to modaz, netty, bronzecat or contantine amongst others, they always have great advice!

I did do a lot of reading before deciding to breed them. Their 2 gallon tanks are next to each other so they could see each other and get excited. I kept a piece of paper between the tanks most of the time so Rahziel wouldn't get worn out from displaying all the time.

Right now, Raz is tending to his nest: picking up the falling eggs and spitting them back in the bubbles. I don't know if I am supposed to feed him while he is watching the babies. I tried to give him a pellet and he picked it up as if it were one of his eggs and tried to put it in the nest, so I took the food out. He hasn't eaten any of the eggs as far as I can tell. Every one I see him pick up, he puts in the nest.

I was also wondering how long after the eggs hatch do I wait before taking Raziel out?

 

[ThePiggy]

Oh, and I am also willing to send the babies to anyone wanting and willing to give them a good home. As they grow, I will post pictures of them here. Just send me a PM when you know which one you want and we can work out the details. I would only ask that you pay for the shipping. Raising my first batch of bettas is its own reward. Of course, it would be a first come first serve type of thing. It's still sinking in that I'm gonna be a mommy I'm so excited!!!

 

[VampirePlec]

Congrats on the eggs - just a little warning as i have done this myself, its all gd to get excited, but being their first time, they are inexperienced so it MAY not work out. i have had some males eat the eggs and even forget the eggs. i have also had some that have responded perfectly to their first nest of eggs. i have also had some females take over in looking after the eggs n raising the fry. just depends on the individual fish i guess. anyways, good luck with it and keep us posted - i find once the eggs have hatched to be the mos exciting part! lol its finding all the room for all the babys once they start getting big lol i think thats why i had to give breeding away cause i just ran out of room. actualy my last breeding male died this morning. sorry enough of me rambling! good luck and keep us posted and hope u have fun with it and enjoy it!

Vamp

 

[wilsonnw8]

Generally wait for your eggs to hatch and then after a couple of days remove your boy, he will try and put the fry back in the nest and become frustrated and its possible he may eat them. so wait a couple of days then get the guy out. If your girl is all tired just make sure she gets enough blood worm and bio gold to replenish. Also the boy may not want to eat but as someone recently informed me bettas can go a week perfectly well without eating so dont worry. And if you think you cant handle all those babies you can always remove some of the eggs effectively culling before you end up with too many, some people do that with the fry when they can guess what colours they have. That is certainly what happens with baby koi carp but lots of people keep to the egg method to avoid feeling bad!

need any more help just let me know

Tilly

 

[Netty]

Congrats on your eggs. We don't feed the male anything until he comes out of the breeding tank but do leave a light on 24hrs a day for him so he can see what he's doing. Once the majority of fry are free swimming you can remove the male and give them their first feed. You can give the infusoria for a day or two and then start with the brine shrimp.

Good luck and enjoy your babies

 

[ThePiggy]

Thanks so much for all the advice! I can't see any hatched babies yet, but the eggs definitely look different than they did yesterday. Rahziel is still picking them up and putting them on the surface. A lot of the bubbles are gone. Is this normal? Are the bubbles necessary at this stage? I suppose I still had more research to do after all...

 

[azulfire24]

not all males have great bubble nest as long as he is being attentitive and not leaving them on the floor it should be ok, just try not to surprise or scare him as that may prompt a bad daddy instincet,, < the dreaded i better eat all my eggs before somthing else dose!> realy i have no idea why some male eat them,

anyway, just make sure the water level is low,, like maby 3 to 4 inches so that is he dose start to ignore them they can still bobble up to the top to get air if they hatch.

and live plants do seem to help out alot, if you can get clean ones, that wernt in a community fish tank at the pet store, babys can die from any bug, or plascit plants, i like to lay them across the surface of the water half floating half sunk so that the babys have somthing to lay on right next to the surface so its easiest for them to dart up and grab a breath then float back down,, pluss with realy heave plant cover if dad gets hungry and starts eating them them some might be able to hide.

also have the top of the tank covered, plastice wrap is cheep, they need warm humid air to breath for the first 3 weeks while their laberenth organs are developing, if they get a big breath of cold dry air it could make them sickly.

you said they look different, my eggs seem to develope a black spot on them, baby beta eyes? shortly before they hatch, then look like, well tiny brownish < scuse me > .....spermies..... after they hatch for the first few days, you can tell they are eating cause their belly will swell up real big to whatever color food they are eating, infusium is white , and baby brine shrimp are orange



if dad starts to eat them or ignores them completly you can also take him out and lower the water to a inch or two and they can dart to the surface them selves


good luck!!!

 

[ThePiggy]

Thank you so much! Your advice makes me feel better. Over night the eggs did hatch!

But, there is some bad news Rahziel did eat a lot of them. I managed to get him out without disturbing the babies. I lowered the water level too. From what I can see, there are 25-35 babies left. They don't seem to be moving much... and some of them are all white and look dead.

I guess that's ok though. I don't want to be overwhelmed on my first try. I'll be glad to have just a few to keep. I need to go get a camera so I can start sharing pictures.

 

[Neon.Tetra]

I'm so excited for you! Can't wait to see some pictures. =]

 

[newfishy]

as long as they have food and the water levels are good, some will live. nature has a way of weeding out the sick and weak and having only the strongest and best survive, so dont be too upset if you end up with fewer fry then before.

 

[ThePiggy]

I've been feeding with the infusoria every couple hours, and with every feeding I have been removing a bit of water and adding Betta H2O. There are currently 18 fry left. They mostly just sit there, not doing much, but once in a while they dart to the surface then settle back down. They have been hatched for just about 2 days now. When should I start with the brine shrimp? I can't even tell if they are eating the infusoria. They're just so little and cute and helpless... I don't want to lose anymore.