Valerie and Lyle are making love faces

[mandi]

Why not just keep those Veils for pets, spend $20-30 on a couple of good males, and some nice females...and then breed good, quality betta's. I'm sure your LFS would jump at the chance to have something other then Veils...because they can sell them for more, plus it will bring more people to their shops after people spread the word about "these new betta's" they saw at the LFS".

In addition to this suggestion that SRC made -- have you considdered joining the IBC? I think according to your profile you're about 12 years old (?), so you'd qualify for their junior membership which is only $19 a year.... Then you could get involved in the Betta Pals program -- they hook you up with an experienced breeder to share e-mails and correspondence with (like a mentor), and you get a good quality breeding pair of bettas for just the cost of shipping them. You would also get the IBC's bimonthly newsletter which is a WEALTH of information.

I have to agree with Sorrell, SRC, & CC -- don't breed VTs. They're beautiful fish and make good pets -- but, well, I think SRC's analogy about the dogs summed it up. You can double-check with your LFS, but I know the 3 near my house won't take VT bettas, and of course Petsmart & Petco won't (they don't take any fish from local breeders). One of my LFS won't even take crowntails because they can order them from their main supplier for super-cheap as well.

And the other aspect is money. From personal experience, I can tell you in the last 6 months I've spent a lot of money on betta "stuff" (not including the fish themselves), and there always seems to be more things that you really need, or could use. Quite honestly, if my family knew how much I've spent on them, they'd have me committed to a mental institution.

I think, if you're serious about breeding, take your time and save up LOTS of money. It's a much more enjoyable experience when you don't have to be stressed over not being able to afford more jars, or not having enough food, etc. (All those water changes and feedings are enough work, you don't want MORE to worry about!!)

 

[SMSBrunetteGirl]

Don't count the baby chicks before they hatched.

Ok about the 200 bettas.That would be ridiculously high for me atleast.I only started and all so Id probably end up around 17 or so.

 

[SMSBrunetteGirl]

I`m thinking about it.But yeah I`m saving a lot right now,I have most of the stuff.I also have a pretty good salary once week Im saving

 

[Sorrell]

Don't count the baby chicks before they hatched.

Ok about the 200 bettas.That would be ridiculously high for me atleast.I only started and all so Id probably end up around 17 or so.

You can't say that! You really have no idea how many you will get and it has nothing to do with how many times you've spawned, you're not the one laying the eggs right

As I said in another thread recently, Bkk had a spawn of over 600 which granted is large, but 200 is average. The only factor that you play in it is if you have babies starve because you can't afford to feed them and in that case you have no business breeding.

Speaking of food do you have cultures going and eggs ready for hatcheries?

 

[SMSBrunetteGirl]

Well for food?I remember someone saying something with egg yolk with salt or so?Or I think that grinded flakes

 

[yeeviabetta]

Yes, I am using hard boil egg yolk with aging water for the first week only. I frozen the hard boil egg yolk pieces and when I need some, I just get a few frozen pieces and mixed with aging water. Makesure they are mixed well. I will introduce newly hatching brine shrimp when 5 days old. I have culture micro worms too and I don't like it. (stink) LOL. I just followed Wasan method for the first week and it works for me.
For my first time, I have 500 babies but the raising is hard from the first week to four weeks. No experience and I only got 3 to become adult. I am not expert but I learned my mistakes. Each time breeding, I am getting better each time and now, I am expert. LOL

 

[SMSBrunetteGirl]

Yes, I am using hard boil egg yolk with aging water for the first week only. I frozen the hard boil egg yolk pieces and when I need some, I just get a few frozen pieces and mixed with aging water. Makesure they are mixed well. I will introduce newly hatching brine shrimp when 5 days old. I have culture micro worms too and I don't like it. (stink) LOL. I just followed Wasan method for the first week and it works for me.

Ohhh,yea I heard hard-boiled egg yolk works?

 

[SRC]

Ok about the 200 bettas.That would be ridiculously high for me atleast.

Yes, this we know. This is what we are trying to explain to you.

I only started and all so Id probably end up around 17 or so.

Um sweetheart....

When we mentioned 200+ babies...we meant (as Sorrell explained above) that those can come from 1 female..in 1 spawn...in 1 try.

With that statement alone, it is painfully clear...you need to do alot more research before jumping in the lake....because as of right now..it seems you still have your socks and shoes on.

When starting into an unmapped endevour it is always best to plan for the WORST, hope for the best, and take what you get with a smile on your face.

A smile will be hard to muster when you have baby fish dying everywhere, because you weren't prepared for them.

Ohhh,yea I heard hard-boiled egg yolk works?

They cannot live on that alone...reasd his entire post. He feeds that for the first week ONLY. Then continues with Brine shrimp. Brine shrimp are not the easiest of critters to raise.

 

[mandi]

Well for food?I remember someone saying something with egg yolk with salt or so?Or I think that grinded flakes

Ground up flakes are definately a no-go. here's a good page talking about feeding fry. If you check out This growth chart you'll have a good idea why they have to have teeny tiny food!

I don't know anything about the egg-yolk method, so I can't comment on that, but obviously yeeviabetta has had had luck with that.

I definately recommend a microworm culture. They're really easy to take care of and very reasonably priced. I got some from a site that came as a "kit" -- containers to put them in, pre-mixed oatmeal "stuff" to put them in, pippettes, etc. -- and I kept them in my bedroom and never noticed a foul smell (unless I took the lid of and really stuck my nose IN the container LOL.) Setting up a brine shrimp hatchery is good too. And possibly vinegar eels as a backup as well... I don't think you can ever have too many backup food sources in case a culture crashes.

 

[yeeviabetta]

Sometimes I wonder you all, how is your first time breeding betta without experience breeding? How many you end up? Did all dead or all survive? Just curious.

 

[yeeviabetta]

I used omega eggs. LOL The most expensive one. LOL If you can get bird eggs(any), that will be great. Quil eggs are good too.

 

[Bettaman]

its like i have just posted in another thread, the what to do with the bettas once they are of an age to get rid of were will you take them to the little cups in the pet shop, give a few away to friends that you soon run out of and then your still left with lots of bettas to look after.....you need to think it out what will i do with them all if i get them to adulthood, i have nothing against people trying to breed there fish i made many a mistake 30 years ago and wasn't ready for what i got....but i belonged to a club then and managed to get rid of them and one of the members had a shop so he had them and he did look after them but if he was not their i would have ended up with a lot of fish that would have died and i didn't want that, now i have the room the space the tanks the food the knowledge, I'm no expert but i have had good and bad experiences over the years all i would add is we all start somewhere but make sure your ready and don't just breed fish because everyone else is doing it they have had the experience and have taken the advice other have given, then come back and have had the success that you will get.....Dont just jump in the deep end until you can swim a little so you don't drowned

Edit spelling

 

[bettaboi]

i dont think this has gotten us anywhere if she wants to breed her bettas she WILL breed them all this negative talk is just dumb

 

[Bettaman]

yes but i don't think that anything that has been said was dumb....as i said we all start somewhere and if she wants to breed good luck i was just pointing out potential problems i think she should breed but make sure she is ready for the outcome involved thats all i have said a long journey start with the first step...............NOT THE LAST

 

[Texaswoman]

i dont think this has gotten us anywhere if she wants to breed her bettas she WILL breed them all this negative talk is just dumb

Negative talk, sorry, this is real life and advice from people who have mastered a magic in spawning and raising bettas. The point is not is she wants to she will. We are just trying to tell others the whole picture that most of the newbies seem to not think of. For example,

Well for food?I remember someone saying something with egg yolk with salt or so?Or I think that grinded flakes

, for someone who is interested in spawning them and has done research, this shows that either they didn't, or don't know how to read or listen.

Yeevia,

Sometimes I wonder you all, how is your first time breeding betta without experience breeding? How many you end up? Did all dead or all survive? Just curious.

, start a new topic and have people post 1st spawn experiences and failures. This could help some people understand what it is like and how frustrating it can be to raise them, but it will also fill your heart with joy when you suceed.