Accidental spawning!

[Sorrell]

When they have absorbed their egg sac completely they will go from hanging to little swimmers, or this | to this __ Then you can feed them

 

[Bettaman]

Must be catching have had 4 spawns this month another today well yesterday have loads of babies hanging from it today the microworms will be doing overtime this month had to start another two today so i have plenty and bbs hatchery is on full blast have netted som small daphnia today though from my containers outside .......

 

[Joby]

Thanks Sorrell

LOL! Bettaman congrats on your fry

I have bought a sea monkey kit to get the bbs going. Now just got to judge how much to put in to feed the fry and how long can I feed them for? It says that when the brine shrimp are 5 days old they need feeding themselves. Is that when they aren't beneficial to the betta fry anymore? and also probably too big I would imagine

Will try some out tomorrow when I've had the little tank they came with set up for a day like instructed. I know this probably won't be enough and will need some more eggs, will look on the net as I've seen some, but wanted to have something on the go ready for when the fry get hungry

Thought I'd mention that Ozzy isn't at all worried about us looking at him while he works. His tank is in the kitchen right next to my fridge and feezer so we're going past him all the time. I've even managed to get some video footage of them embracing (in a mad frenzy after the initial minute of mad panic) and the fry dropping from the nest

 

[Carolinesugar]

Awww Joby, that is just amazing!!!! i cant wait 2 see ur pictures!!!

ive been lucky in that my girl never got out when i had her in a breeding net, with a new boy, but the double tail girlie i got a few months ago was a right horror, she got out every couple of minutes, and did it sooo silently, that we had trouble noticing! but the male she kept gettin out with wasnt interested, lol, lucky enough 4 me!!


i look forward to hearing the next installment!

 

[Joby]

Glad I'm not the only one with an escape artist Caroline

Well this morning when I came down I noticed his bubblenest is all but gone but he's still picking up babies and spitting them up under the cup. They are gathered around the edges of the cup and some are on the sides of the tank.

I have seen a few fall down into the gravel near the front of the tank and I have managed to rescue some of them with the turkey baster. Sucked them out and then blew them over to dad who picked them up and spat them back in the nest. I reckon a lot of them though have got stuck in the gravel around the tank and will be lost I can see why they say that if you seriously want to spawn then you need a bare bottom tank

I have counted at least 20 babies this morning and they still have their little yolk sac although it is getting smaller. They are one day old today

Is it ok to still leave dad in as there is no nest? he's still picking them up so I guess he's ok but he looks tired I've only seen him munch one so I guess there must have been something not quite right with it.

 

[Joby]

Well most of the babies are free swimming now only a couple still got yolk sacs and occasionally dropping to the bottom for dad to pick up again. He's doing a fantastic job of keeping the more adventurous ones under the cup. A couple have been out and about in the tank swimming at the surface and investigating the plants.

I think I may take dad out tonight as he must be hungry and I guess they don't need him much anymore. Any thoughts on this?

I counted up to 21 this afternoon and the most I've ever counted was 24 yesterday so not bad really for a spawn that wasn't expected and not the best tank conditions. Talking of the tank, the water level is at a normal level of say 8 inches so would I need to drop it when I take dad out or will they be ok? and when do I put the filter back in? I'm sure I can find the info somewhere on the net but your wonderful knowledge would be appreciated

 

[shrks1fan]

Most breeders take the dad out as soon as the fry start to become free swimming, so that would be now. Although some breeders have been trying something different and keeping the dad with the babies for several weeks, but that isn't suggested for a beginning Betta fry keeper...go ahead and take dad out now, they don't need him anymore Then give Dad a big meal of his favorite food!

Linda

 

[Joby]

Thanks Linda

I'll take him out now then as the babies are really starting to roam now and he's looking kind of tired and losing colour

Bloodworms for tea tonight

 

[Bettaman]

Glad the worm arrived ok.......just do as i said in the email in setting up another one and do one a week that way you keep the culture going for any other accidents you may have..... best of luck with the fry

 

[Joby]

Many thanks to Bettaman for supplying my microworm culture which arrived this morning I've bought some tubs and some yeast so will set up a new culture straight away

It survived the posting ordeal quite well although it was cold, but I put it on top of my fry tank and its livening up nicely. I have attempted to take some worms off as there were some on the lid and I have seen the babies hunt them down

My one question is, as I have gravel in the bottom of the tank, won't the worms just fall between and be lost? I was thinking of putting a small saucer in one end and feeding them worms there so they would fall on it and the fry could see them if they aren't eaten straight away.

Any thoughts on this?

Was a good day all round today as my culture arrived from Bettaman and my brine shrimp eggs from Ebay and also I won £97.20 on the football pools!

 

[Bettaman]

Bill for micro-worms on the way £97.20 ...he he you have had a good day then you will loose some of the worms in the gravel, but they will hunt for the food anyway, but when you do a water change make sure you get the gravel as well as the dead worms will cause a problem if left to decay i always siphon into a clear container as you no doubt siphon a few fry so you can then see them after and put them back.......

 

[Joby]

Awww nice try Bettaman but its already spent

My xmas shop in Asda cost me £200

Thanks for the tip, will make sure I hoover that gravel for England and yes I expect some of the little fellas will enjoy a water chute ride

 

[Bettaman]

your welcome and enjoy the new adventure of breeding....its addictive ..as a lot of others have found out,,,

 

[Joby]

Well I've now seen the babies pooping must mean they are getting enough to eat at least. They do mostly seem to have nice round bellies. I'm feeding Liquifry 1 twice a day and microworms twice a day too, but not too many.

I wanted to know when it would be ok to put my filter back in and also when can I start water changes. I know some say 2 weeks or a month, but I'm worried as my tank was well established and well a bit yucky with all that gravel etc. and I'd like to syphon some of it out.

I have noticed one little guy who constantly darts up to the surface to only fall back down again halfway and then dart back up again. Does it sound like SBD? and is there anything I can do? it seems to be smaller than the others already so maybe its not getting much to eat

I've tried to get photos but these guys are just too darned small. I don't think you really appreciate how small betta fry are until you actually see one. I reckon about a 10th the size of a guppy at least!

 

[Danno]

umm all i know is that they have spong filters when they are about 1 inch big but..eh./.