First Time Betta Breeding Experience

[Netty]

You can start giving them the brine shrimp now.....I've found with some of our spawns that some will take the BS straight away but others take a few days. Plus it gives them something to chase which they love

 

[ThePiggy]

Awesome! Thanks I'll start posting pictures as soon as I get around to getting a camera.

 

[Netty]

Also you can tell if they are eating the BS as their little bellys go a pink colour......two feeds a day should be enough for them.

Look forward to seeing you pics and good luck with the babies

 

[VampirePlec]

Congrats on the little guys! hope every thing is going well! cant wait for the pics! i love it when they start showing colours. sorry you have probably already mentioned, but what colours/tail types are mum n dad?

 

[ThePiggy]

Thanks

Rahziel: The dad is a CT. His head is so dark blue, it's almost black. Down his sides and his rays are a deep blue with green/turquoise metallic sheen and a dark red wash between.

Darla: The mom, I'm not exactly sure how to tell what type she is. Her anal fin is pretty long and pointed. Her tail -was- almost perfectly round, but dad took a bite out of it. Her dorsal used to come half way down her tail, but again, dad took a chunk off the end of it. I suppose her coloring is called "marbled." Her body is a pale pink with dark blue speckles. Her dorsal is mostly the same color as her body, but it has splashes of light blue and dark pink. Her anal fin is the same but with more dark pink. Her tail is mostly blue with some dark pink.

 

[ThePiggy]

I think that my fry have a fungus!
Is it ok to treat fry? And if so, what do I do?
I've already lost a few fry to it. I'm pretty sure it's a fungus because it looks fuzzy.
I have a bunch of small containers and I have moved the fry into one of those with some of the water that wasn't fuzzy looking. But a couple of the fry have the fungus kind of trailing from them.
What should I do?!

 

[Netty]

You can't really treat them with anything at this age. I would just start doing daily water changes and try to block off any direct sunlight getting to the tank too. Also try not to overfeed them as anything uneaten will continue to pollute the tank.

Good luck with them and hope you don't lose them all

 

[ThePiggy]

Ok, thanks. Poor little guys.

 

[Netty]

It is awful to lose babies and we lost loads in our first spawn and ended up with just 3.....it does happen sometimes to even the most experienced breeders, so don't lose heart

 

[Syphoniera]

Speaking as one who knows nothing, would a low dose of Pimafix harm them?
It's often considered safe for delicate fish as it is a natural Bay Tree extract, and it may be better than doing nothing, as it's antifungal as well as antibiotic in action.???

 

[Netty]

I wouldn't add Pimafix with fry that young. The only thing we ever use is Indian Almond Leaf which is believed to have anti-bacterial properties, so if you have any Piggy, I would add some to the tank. We always have a piece in when spawning and leave it there until the fry are a couple of weeks old, then replace it.

 

[ThePiggy]

Well... sad news My last fry passed away this morning due to the fungus. It was attached to the little guy for the past 2 days or so. Despite changing the water every day and trying my best to remove anything that the fungus could grow on. I suppose it's a sign that I'm not ready to be a betta mommy yet.

Now what do I do with the rest of the brine shrimp? Treat time for the rest of the gang.

 

[Netty]

So sorry to hear you lost them all Maybe next time it'll work out better for you Every spawn is different and we have just 3 survive to around 50.