Time To Give Up...

[missigfunk]

... My bettas just won't spawn!


The pairs that I would love to spawn just never work out! The male always seems to HATE the female!!!

I would really appreciate it if you guys could give me your spawning techniques and that. Obviously I'm doing something wrong. I've had 1 sort of successful spawn (refer video I posted), but I think the male ate the eggs because nothing came of it.


I really want to breed my fish, but I obviously don't know how.

 

[Loony Fish]

I'd say get REALLY used to spawning other pairs as some can be tricky.

 

[bronzecat]

Hi

Click on our website in my siggie. There is information about how we breed on there

 

[missigfunk]

Thanks guys!

Bronze - The only thing I've done differently to your technique is, I haven't left the female in the chimney for 2 days. I leave her in there either overnight to 1 day.

I'll try doing it that way.

I really hope it works. I so desperately want them to spawn.

 

[wilsonnw8]

Bronze - The only thing I've done differently to your technique is, I haven't left the female in the chimney for 2 days. I leave her in there either overnight to 1 day.

No Offense but that might explain it! you need to leave her in for a few days as in 2-3 maybe even longer so the male can get used to her, its not that your males hate females its that she is in his territory and if you let her out too soon, all he will see is an intruder not a partner!
Dont lose hope Ive been trying to spawn my pair and Sam has eaten the fry twice, you just need to get to know your males spawning habbits, now I know to take Sam out earlier than you normally would.

 

[missigfunk]

Thanks heaps guys.

I'm guessing that IS my problem. I thought it was strange that out of my 6 pairs and like 6 or so other possible combinations that no male seemed to like the female, I was doing something wrong.

I guess I've always let the girls out early because they have gotten very eggy and were showing the bars and I just didn't want them to release them without the male there to fertalize them.

The female is back in her chimney and I will leave her there for a few days.

 

[MaddieJ]

Thanks to the help and advice from Netty and Bronzecat, mine spawned well and both were really gentle. I've had Teqs for a while now and started to condition him slowly before I ever got his sister. After we got her and she settled, we conditioned them both properly in a divided 5 gallon, that way they started their flirting long before actually being in the spawning tank. From then on we followed what is on Netty and Bronzecats website and everything went smoothly.

They both talked to me lot's about patients and it's something I benefited from greatly! Although they were gentle with each other, they did have a good chase around and at several points I wanted to whip him or her out but I didn't and it all went fantastically.

If you think they are conditioned, keep going two or three days longer, just to be sure. If you think they are being too rough in the spawning tank, grit your teeth and leave them to it

Good luck! x

 

[bronzecat]

It is all about patience and timimg

Is the spawning tank in a quiet area of your house? Sometimes if there are people moving about a lot of the day it can be a distraction.

All i can advise is -

Male in spawning tank first for a week whilst being fed high protein foods.
Dont have too much stuff in the tank - just heater, sponge filter, maybe a plant, and bubblewrap or polystyrene.
Get the temp in the tank up to about 30c and only 6 inches of water maximum.
Keep female seperate from others so you can feed her up too for approx 2 weeks.
Then put her in the chimney and keep feeding both high protein foods.
After about 2-5 days she should be looking nice and fat. But normally 2 days is adequate.
She may or may not be showing vertical bars.
He should be taking interest in her and have at least attempted to build a nest. Dont worry if the nest is small.
Release her for a couple of hours, and then put her back in the chimney overnight.
Release her again in the morning and wait, and wait and wait.
She may get nipped and receive damaged fins, but as long as its not too bad leave them to it.
You can put her back in the chimney each night.
Remember to keep feeding good food during this time.
​

Once they start spawning, it should take about 2-6 hours. Dont be tempted to remove her too early. You will know when they have finished because the female will hide! The male will be standing guard and will chase her away very quickly.
Remove her and keep her seperate from other fish for at least 2 weeks so she can recover with good high protein food.
Then just leave the male to do his stuff. Remember to leave a light on overnight.
After about 3-5 days most of the fry should have hatched and be free swimming. You may see him swimming around collecting them and taking them back to the nest. Once they are mostly free swimming you can remove the male.

However, sometimes they are just not compatible and there is very little you can do.

 

[x0x.love.you.x0x]

keep us updated do you have pictures of who you are trying to spawn?

 

[missigfunk]

Instead of uploading the pics again. just check out this thread lol...

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=257598



The original pairs I had didn't exactly work out, so now I'm trying a combination.

I am currently (trying) to spawn Jovi (in sig), and Richie.


As for an update, there isn't really one except the fact that I have actually left Jovi in her chimney for 24hrs so far lol



Bronze - Thanks for the in depth instructions. I'm doing everything 'by the book' this time

 

[missigfunk]

It's been almost 2 days since Jovi has been in her chimney, and Richie hasn't even attempted a bubblenest yet! I know he can do it because he is the one in the video I posted not long ago. He makes really big nests when he decides to.

Any idea why he hasn't tried to make one yet?

 

[bronzecat]

Try adding some more floating things, poly cup, bubblewrap, floating plants etc..........

Although it hasn't happebed to us, I know that some males wont actually build the nest until the female is released. You have to be vigilant though to make sure he does do it and not just chase her about.

Maybe try letting her out for a couple of hours in the evening and then put her back in the chimney. This may buck his ideas up a bit LOL

 

[LauraFrog]

I heard of one betta that would NOT build a nest and the owners got sick of it and put another male in the chimney. Apparently this p!ssed off the male they wanted to breed enough that he built a nest. They replaced the female and the bettas spawned. can't remember where I read that.

How much did it set you back getting bettas into AUstralia from thailand? Who imported them for you?

 

[missigfunk]

Thanks bronze! I've put some bubblewrap in there and will let her out for a bit later. He likes to swim under the cup and wraps, but he doesn't make any nest!


If bronze idea doesn't work, I might have to try what you heard Laura LOL.
As for importing.....it cost me ALOT! And I mean HUNDREDS of dollars!

I got mine from a mix of people. The only one I can remember is Banleang Bettas, then they all got sent to Jodi-Lea and then MEEEEEEEEE!

Jodi-Lea is the only one in Aussie that can legally import from Thailand. She charges $20 per female and $25 per male to quarantine for 1 week, but it also includes all food and meds and that. Then she charges $20-$25 to send to you, but seeing as you in QLD anyway (she is there too), I'm not sure how much it would cost.

 

[missigfunk]

Today is the 5th day and Richie STILL hasn't tried to make a bubblenest. I even did what Bronze and Laura suggested.

I've decided to take them both out and try again from the start with Francois and Jovi who were the originals I wanted to spawn anyway.