Immaculate Conception

[§tudz]

Hi all,

I have 5 bettas on a divided tank, the tank is divided using document clips and plastic mesh, bought from a craft shop.

I have two females in two of the compartments.

Now I thought they looked ready to breed but introducing them to the males ended in the males harrassing the females and them trying to jump out so I removed them, back to their compartments.

Now ALL 3 males have built bubbles nests and quiet good ones at that.

So I came home today and took the hood and drip try to see eggs in one of the males nests... now there is no way the female jump over the divides and jumped back, as the lid is TOO heavy.
Is it possible they spawned through the gaps in the mesh?

I wasnt sure if they were eggs so I scooped a few out and took them under a light, and sure enough they are, and to prove it move when I put them back in the didnt float but the male scouprf them up and blew them back into the nest.

So my question could they have spawned through the mesh? because as far as I know they spawn in an inter twined embrace.

And yes Poolofight if you read this, they are your males and they are doing very well.

How long do the eggs take to hatch is it 48hours?

Edit: one other question, can I remove the fry once they hatch, before becoming free swimming as they will easy fit through the mesh?


Cheers,

 

[wilsonnw8]

Wow this is a difficult one! basically you need your light on 24 hours a day for a few days they should hatch tomorrow evening or sunday morning time, never the less you will need to leave dad in there with them to tend to the nest until they hatch, he will then look after the fry but you need to keep an eye on him and make sure he doesnt munch them! then once they are free swimming i.e. swimming like this _ not like this | the only issue is this divider and him being in a tank with other fish, fry are tiny so will fit through small holes and if they do the chances are your other fish will eat them, you could scoop the nest into its own tub and keep it heated but with low condensation, then a few might hatch but would be safe?

 

[emeleeliggett]

This is really interesting! One possibility I can see is the female/s got so excited they dropped eggs and some floated to the other side. But surely they would not be fertile! Hmm...


Please keep us informed!

 

[Colin_T]

people have sex through prison bars. There's no reason the fish didn't display to each other and a few eggs got fertilised, sucked through the mesh divider and put in the nest. Alternatively they bred a few days ago when you introduced the females, and when finished the males chased after the females and then you took them out.

 

[CraigBaines]

This is intresting....

Well my tank is split into two. On one side my male, and his massive nest he'd built.

On the other side my female, with some bubbles, sort of like the nest... Im not sure if females build nests, well blow bubbles... but i swear mine does! very little thought, and really scatered.

Well, within all the bubbles, i could swear there was loads and loads of eggs! I was thinking, well how is that possible on her own?

But i have bred her, so i do have a first hand exsperiance of seeing the eggs, and im almost possitive that it was them!

I was tempted to scoop a few up and drop them into the males side and see what happens lol!

 

[§tudz]

one of the females i have blew a small nest but it has since washed away it didnt have the thickness of the males nests.

As for breeding when introduced, if they bred in 10mins of me watching them on the blink of an eye they may have done but I dont think so.

And they are a shed load of eggs. I think I will set up another tank tomorrow night when i get back from my meetings and scoop dad n eggs and nest out, and see what happens.

 

[modaz]

one of the females i have blew a small nest but it has since washed away it didnt have the thickness of the males nests.

As for breeding when introduced, if they bred in 10mins of me watching them on the blink of an eye they may have done but I dont think so.

And they are a shed load of eggs. I think I will set up another tank tomorrow night when i get back from my meetings and scoop dad n eggs and nest out, and see what happens.

have you got pics of this?

 

[§tudz]

I guess you mean the eggs, I havent, my camera is rubbish IK normall borrow the GFs but she is on nights till sunday so i will get her to bring it round on sunday, and ill get some pics.

EDIT: Jus t been to check the tank... they must have been infertile, as they have been eaten by the male oh wel... the other female is looking plump and she is a lovely wild type when she is ready ill put her on with one of the males that has the same colourations