Breeding Coccina

[cdawson]

Ok, I'll start off saying I started this breeding project as my introduction to Anabatoids, I'm a dwarf cichlid and characin breeder.
I've gotten as far as spawning them and then to the free swimming stage, but once they get there all the other fish in the tank get them (other coccinas), my question is how do I go about removing betta fry during the wriggler stage and what should I start feeding them at first?

Any experience will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Amerce]

Ok, I'll start off saying I started this breeding project as my introduction to Anabatoids, I'm a dwarf cichlid and characin breeder.
I've gotten as far as spawning them and then to the free swimming stage, but once they get there all the other fish in the tank get them (other coccinas), my question is how do I go about removing betta fry during the wriggler stage and what should I start feeding them at first?

Any experience will be greatly appreciated.

First welcome to betta heaven

Normally when breeding betta's you set up a spawning tank (without any other fish) where you introduce the male and then the female (gradually), the male and female get it together and the female releases her eggs and they are placed by both or just the male into the bubble nest he will have previously have built.

Once the spawning has finished you remove the female and leave the male to care for the eggs and then the young until they become free swimming, then he is removed for a little R&R.

The young stay in the tank which should be lidded to retain the humidty and ergo develop their lungs (as they are air breathers "anabatoids"). Only after they have reached a reasonable size can they be moved onto a grow out tank or where you can have other fish which of a size that can't eat the young.

You shouldn't really be moving the fry until they are quite big - at least big enough not to be eaten by community fish.

Hope this helps.

 

[ezrock]

They're not splendens though, Amerce, so I doubt the regular splendens tactics would work. Just thought I'd add that, though I know nothing about breeding Coccina.

Though, Amerce does have a good point! Cdawson, I'm sure it's much easier to have them spawn in a 10gal or similar size without any other fish besides the future parents. Then you can just take the parents out and you won't have any worries about adults eating the fry

Hope that helps...and that you enjoy these fish!

-Ian

 

[cdawson]

They're not splendens though, Amerce, so I doubt the regular splendens tactics would work. Just thought I'd add that, though I know nothing about breeding Coccina.

Though, Amerce does have a good point! Cdawson, I'm sure it's much easier to have them spawn in a 10gal or similar size without any other fish besides the future parents. Then you can just take the parents out and you won't have any worries about adults eating the fry

Hope that helps...and that you enjoy these fish!

-Ian

Well I'm currently in the process of moving the pair that's doing the spawning into a tank specifically for them, it's a 15 gallon and the male is currently sectioned off with a divider into an area by himself with the wrigglers. This is the 3rd time they've spawned now, and the first I've tried the divider.
I was hoping to get another tank setup today, but I'm running out of tank space in my fishroom, stand space anyways.
I'm finding that it's not necessary to remove the female or other fish as it is to remove the pair from the tank with the fry when they start spawning again, which is usually around the time the fry become free swimming, or at least the second day of it. The male seems to care for the fry when they become freeswimming and only eats them the day before he spawns again with the female.
I'm going to work on setting up another tank this afternoon, though I'm not sure where I'll put it...