Dropsy, Eggs, Or Constipation

[starrynightxxi]

I said "white thing" because I wasn't sure if it's an ovipositor or if it was constipation.

But I really don't want to kill her eggs if she is having eggs, that's cruel. The only reason I'm breeding now in the first place is because it's kind of "forced."

- ileopard

it's not forced at all, and it isn't cruel not to breed her. Her eggs are not fertilized and therefore there is nothing cruel about "killing" them. it is no more cruel than not breeding any other pet when it is in heat, or a woman not becoming pregnant everytime she is ovulating. They are viable eggs, yes, but they are not lives, they aren't even complete organisms (having only half the chromosomes required for life).

wow um ok (weirded out)

well if the she keeps trying to swim into the males tank let her in with them but only if the males made a bubble nest and take her back out after the breeding imbrace and she laid her eggs.

oh! and if they dont imbrace after like a min or if the male attacks her please take back out..

This is not the best advice largely because there is no reason at all to breed these fish.



finally, the white thing is almost certainly the ovipositer. In any case it's existence doesn't mean eggs are coming out. She may expel them, she may simply reabsorb them. either way, please take my advice and do not breed these fish. you aren't prepared for it and i assure you it isn't cruel. and if you don't agree with that, surely you will agree that it is far less cruel than the possible 500+ babies dying because you weren't able to care for them correctly after allowing your fish to spawn.

 

[ileopard]

I'd have no problem taking care of 500 fish, but I doubt it's 500 fish. We'll see though

- ileopard

 

[lisie]

Uhmm, the eggs aren't fertilized which means they're not alive... so you're not killing anything... that's like saying it'd be cruel to kill a rock...?

And you are absolutely not forced to breed her. That's like saying a woman is forced to have kids because she's got eggs too... it makes no sense.

It sounds to me like you're just looking for an excuse to breed. If you want to breed bettas and are able to, that's fine. Just get a good quality pair and research before you do anything. It's not something to rush into.

 

[ileopard]

LOL, no. I just don't like forcing her to keep those in her stomach when it looks like it's the worst pain in the world she's going through.

- ileopard

 

[starrynightxxi]

you aren't forcing her to hold them, though. like i said they will reabsorb, or she will expel them. As long as her fins aren't clamped, she's active, eating, and isn't pale or displaying horizontal stripes, she's in no discomfort.

 

[ileopard]

Now that I know that, I'm thinking about doing that. They are not conditioned so it would be a hard breed.

- ileopard

 

[lisie]

Female bettas' bodies were made to hold all those eggs. Besides, some time after you breed her she'll have just as many as before.

Spawning her would be causing her stress, holding eggs isn't stressful at all.

 

[ileopard]

I just took her out. I'm going to work on learning more about this first before I try to breed them (which I was planning to do).

How long does it normally take for them to expel/reabsorb?

Also, I just gave her an epsom salt bath for 20 minutes, and fed her a pea just in case it happens to be constipation. Better safe than sorry.

- ileopard

 

[ileopard]

I got up today and she seemed fine. I fed her a pea, and then her oxipositor (I'm assuming) started bulging again. It's looking like constipation.

I'm going to fast her for 48 hours and give her an epsom salt bath on both days. And then I'm adding peas to their diet, of course

Thanks!

 

[lisie]

Her ovipositor is supposed to sticking out, it's the way it is.

Is she having trouble swimming? If she's not, she's not constipated. If she's acting healthy, there's no reason to give her Epsom salt baths, and it's just stressing her out for no reason.

 

[ileopard]

For some reason, she is swimming fine, but feeding her makes her stomach bulge. I'm going to fast her for 2-3 days without the baths to avoid stress.

Thanks!

- ileopard