dmarie04
Fishaholic
So this weekend is my first attempt at breeding bettas. I've conditioned my pair for last couple weeks and today they went into the spawn tank. The tank is 20 gallons and is only filled up to 6 inches. The temp is 82F. The female is in a large glass canister and there's some styrofoam for the male to build a nest under. There's a small corner filter that I adjusted so it only bubbles about once a second. The male, Aquarius, is having a heck of a time convincing the female, Phoenix, that this breeding thing is a good idea, though! LOL They've been in there for about 6 hours now and nothing has changed. He has started a bubble nest. And he tries to go around the glass container but Phoenix flares at him and shakes her head, almost like she's saying, "Back off, Buster!!!" She's too light bodied to see any stripes, so I don't know if she's really in the mood or not...but it doesn't look like it. She looks like if I let her out she will rip him to peices! LOL Poor Aquarius keeps at it though. He will rest under the styrofoam and then make a mad dash towards Phoenix. As soon as she sees him coming she turns and flares at him and he stops dead in his tracks and turns right around. Then he'll rest for a minute and make another mad dash towards her. And this is what they've been doing alllll day long! Every once in awhile Aquarius will try to go around to the other side and sneak up on her but she spots him and starts flaring and he runs away. He'll go sit under his styrofoam and puff himself out and make himself look all macho and beautiful and she just turns her back to him...until he starts to swim near her canister, then she turns and starts flaring! LOL
So, here's my question. How long do I let this go on? Will she settle down eventually? Do I just give her more time? Do I go ahead and release her into the tank and see what happens? Should I replace her?
So, here's my question. How long do I let this go on? Will she settle down eventually? Do I just give her more time? Do I go ahead and release her into the tank and see what happens? Should I replace her?
/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=37944
Anyhow, I know that aggression is just part of the breeding process, but she doesn't seem to be settling down and I'm just nervous about what's gonna happen. I've heard of people losing one or the other fish during the spawning and I really don't want that to happen. But, I guess I am jumping the gun somewhat here. I mean I haven't even released her yet, so I really don't know how she'll be. I am going to go ahead and stick this out. I'll keep an eye on them for the rest of the night and if everything looks ok tomorrow I'll release her and see what happens. If there's too much fighting then I'll seperate them and try my other pair. I just have to resist the urge to seperate them at the first bit of nipping. I'm such a worry wart when it comes to my fishy friends and I hate to see one of them get hurt...but I know it's just part of the process. I don't even want to admit how many hours I spent crouched down on the floor (so they wouldn't see me) watching these two today! LOL 
