Breeding Betta

[CraigBaines]

Hey, iv just recently bought my first betta fish, maybe i shouldnt be concidering breeding so early but never the less im intrested in it.

I have read up on the internet on how the whole proccess goes. All im left woundering is when to attempt to breed them.

It told me you must introduce the two fish using a tank divder or putting them were they can see each other. As im aware the male will lay a batch off bubble eggs?? not quite sure on the proper names sorry.

And thats when you would put in the female with the male... It also said the female is ready to breed when verticall stripes appear on it. Im just abit unsure as too when it all happens, as in will this all happen at once mayb after iv introduced them?

As it stands i have just the one male, So will it not make its bubble nest seeing as theres no female about, or will it lay one, letting me know when to get hold of a female for it to breed???

I dont know like i said im compleatly new to this, just after a few pointers in the right diredction with it, and more importantly to find out how easy it is to acomplish?

Any feedback would be much appeciated,

Thanks - Craig

 

[Netty]

Not sure if you've come across these site or not, but they have very good information on breeding a rearing fry. I would suggest taking a long time of doing research before even thinking of breeding. There is alot to it and is quite time consuming. You also need to be able to house potentially 100+ fry in individual heated containers when they reach around 8 weeks old....as this is around the time they have to be separated. Then those containers will need 100% water changes once or twice EVERY day!!!! Also you'll need to have an outlet for the babies to go to when they are old enough.

Once you have researched thoroughly and still want to go ahead.....just make sure you have everything you need in preparation eg food etc.

www.bettatalk.com
www.bettysplendens.com

 

[CraigBaines]

You also need to be able to house potentially 100+ fry in individual heated containers when they reach around 8 weeks old

Shocked at how many betta's might come about. I understand what your saying and i dont think i would even think of attempting it anytime soon, but like i said before, will the male only make its nest once the female has been "introduced", just read the FAQ's and it said put it in a long vase inside of the males tank containing the female.. ?

Also, from scratch, roughtly if i was to purchase the cheapest of everythink, what would you say buying everything needed to breed them, just the once, would set me back? im also from england so in £'s would be best =D

As for were they'd go, ino there are alot of pet shops etc that sell them close to me, not intrested in making money just the satisfaction of doing it, im sure id be able to give them away to places like that. Obvasly i would check first.

 

[Netty]

Lol.....yep they have loads. A while ago a member on here did his first spawn and ended up with 150

Alot of males will make bubblenests regardless of whether there is a female about or not.

This is one made by a male we were spawning

And this one by a male on his own

You can sometimes pick up really cheap tanks and equipment. Have a look on freecycle too, there are sometimes free tanks on there. Alot of our stuff we got from ebay or bought second hand. Also lucky enough to have been offered quite a few tanks for free which we use for spawning.

Would be best to check with your local shops as most of the larger ones are contracted to buying from certain suppliers and won't buy/take from anywhere else.

 

[CraigBaines]

so whats freecycle? never heard of it, ill go and google it now thought haha.

So as im aware i would need, A tank for my male and a tank for my female better...

and a tank for the young.. and for the breeding to take place in..

live food and plants.

And many, many small jars to keep the male betta's seperate once they reach a couple of mounths old and im able to sex them?


Also i read that these fish do not need pumps and filters? And that they live at room temp whatever that is? but please correct me if im wrong.

 

[lilfishie]

they can live at room temp but in the UK its not recommended and thrive with a heater and filter, so best to keep them with one

 

[Netty]

A sponge filter works best in a fry tank. We usually turn it off until the fry are free swimming and dad has been taken out. You will need heating. We keep our fry tank at 30c. Depending on where you keep the fry once old enough to be separated they would need to be at around 27c. We put our jars on a very large reptile heat mat or in our pantry we have an oil filled radiator which keeps the temps up in there for them.

Always handy to have a couple of large grow out tanks too incase you do end up with 100s.

 

[CraigBaines]

So they definetly need heating, ok!, dont want them dieing, would that happen without one?

 

[ibbledibble]

so whats freecycle? never heard of it, ill go and google it now thought haha.

So as im aware i would need, A tank for my male and a tank for my female better...

and a tank for the young.. and for the breeding to take place in..

live food and plants. Live food for the parents (bloodworm/tubifex/daphnia) and live food for the fry(walter worms/banana worms/vinegar eels & freshly hatched brine shrimp)

And many, many small jars to keep the male betta's seperate once they reach a couple of mounths old and im able to sex them? Large Jars


Also i read that these fish do not need pumps and filters? And that they live at room temp whatever that is? but please correct me if im wrong. they need heaters as they are tropical fish and are best kept at 76-82. room temp is usually much colder than this in the uk, especially as water will be several degrees cooler than surrounding air temp. they can live without filters, but you will need to change the water much more regularly without one. if you do have a filter, see if you can modify its flow so its not too fast, as they definitely prefer still water.

 

[CraigBaines]

if you do have a filter, see if you can modify its flow so its not too fast, as they definitely prefer still water.[/color]

I probally sound stupid here but what does that mean exactly? Thanks.

 

[ibbledibble]

if you do have a filter, see if you can modify its flow so its not too fast, as they definitely prefer still water.[/color]

I probally sound stupid here but what does that mean exactly? Thanks.

well how you do it depends on the type of filter you use, but here's an example Click Me!

 

[CraigBaines]

sorry now i really do sound stupid, i thought it said if you do not have a filter.....

lol sorry my mistake, its perfectly easy to understand what you mean now iv read it back =P

Also, again will the fish or the young die without being heated ?

 

[Netty]

As Ibble said......they are tropical fish and DO need to be kept at the right temps or yes they will not do well and may die.

 

[CraigBaines]

As Ibble said......they are tropical fish and DO need to be kept at the right temps or yes they will not do well and may die.

Got ya, just want to know as much as i can about it. Thanks

 

[CraigBaines]

Live food for the parents (bloodworm/tubifex/daphnia) and live food for the fry(walter worms/banana worms/vinegar eels & freshly hatched brine shrimp)[/color]

so somthing like this would be ideal? Daphnia for the parents and bloodworm and brine shrimp for the fry?

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/TETRA-FRESH-DELICA-d...id=p3286.c0.m14