Breeding Betta Problem

[tamar]

Hi, i have 4 females and 1 male living quite happily in a community tank,(i've had them about 6 months).

Recently one of the female got a big belly and a white spot, yesterday i moved her and the male to a separate tank and the male has started building his bubble nest.

Today however her belly isn't nearly as big and the white spot has gone, he's still building the nest and i can't see any eggs, does anyone know whats happening? (he also gives chase before going back to tend to the nest)

They are now in a 30l tank with still water, heater and plenty of live plants (some floating) and half a polystyrine cup.

Any help would be greatly appriciated, thanks!

Tamar
Manchester, England

 

[betta fish]

It sounds as they may have already done the deed, it is not easy to see the eggs in the nest, I would move her back to the community tank for her own safety now she is not gravid, if there are eggs in the nest they should hatch in the next 2-3 days at 80f, you will need to leave a small light on for him overnight so he can return any fallen eggs back into the nest.

 

[Assaye]

Can't advise on whether they have done the deed. Just hope you have a big grow out tank and loads of tubs for the males! Need a nice, warm room to dedicate to betta breeding as those tubs get pretty chilly.

I wouldn't advise keeping males with females, though. If they don't fight (which they could at any time), they do tend to get stressed. Might be OK in a bigger tank like yours but don't be surprised if the fish get sick or end up fighting.

If she doesn't look eggy anymore and he's not interested in spawning, it either means they've done or they weren't ready. Maybe she re-absorbed the eggs or maybe she wasn't eggy at all. Either way, I'd seperate them and if you still want to breed, get them into condition with some quality betta pellets and loads of live food.

Do loads of reading on breeding if you've not done so already. Generally bettas won't just spontaneously spawn - they need to be carefully conditioned and readied for breeding.

 

[BethK]

IMO you need to research bettas before spawning them, females and males shouldn't be housed together, the spawning process has not been done properly, according to your post, he could build a nest but it doesn't mean they have spawned. Without the correct conditionings, you are just stressing your fish.

 

[tamar]

Thank you both for a quick response, i put her back in the big tank and a couple of hours later she died, it didn't look like he'd attacked her and there were no marks on her.

He's now destroyed the nest.

I'll keep my male in the 30L on his own for a while, do some more reading and then introduce another female.

Thanks again!

 

[Assaye]

Thank you both for a quick response, i put her back in the big tank and a couple of hours later she died, it didn't look like he'd attacked her and there were no marks on her.

He's now destroyed the nest.

I'll keep my male in the 30L on his own for a while, do some more reading and then introduce another female.

Thanks again!

No worries. We live and learn.

No problem breeding if you want to, just make sure you read loads on the subject and have good quality fish. Breeding 'pet shop' fish often makes a whole host of problems, from not being able to sell the babies to getting poor quality or even deformed babies. If you want to get into breeding I suggest your find yourself a dedicated betta forum and ask on there as well as on here. You might even be able to find a book on the subject but there is plenty of false info in books, just like online.

The male will be very happy in a 30 litre tank for life.