Betta Fish and Betta Fish Care

Posts Tagged ‘Pet Shops’

For those of you who are unsure, breeding betta fish is a lot of fun and a rewardful process but needs time, plus several hard work from you if you want it to be a success. The basic thing is to carry out a little of  research, especially if you are investigating breed specified types of betta. There are assorted sorts, but mostly the pet shops are going to trade only a couple of varieties. The most sensible thing to carry out if you are planning on breeding bettas, is to go to see out a trusted breeder in your vicinity. The fish you obtain from these breeders are likely to be better than those obtained from pet shops, which ought to mean they are more than likely to be simpler to breed and ultimately they are going to be healthier.

Once you have located a trusted breeder it is time to ready your fish tanks and obtain your fish. You are going to want to buy a few males and females which ought to ensure you produce at minimum one breeding pair. Some fish do not get along although they might be male and female of the exact same species so it is important not to guess that just because you place them in the same aquarium, that they’ll mate. You will wish to keep them apart, not just the males, but females from males as this promotes your betta to be in the best of health possible before they breed.

To ensure that your beta are set up to breed and in the best of health, feed them high quality fish food and ensure that the tanks you are holding them in are designed to provide them the best comfort. The fish, both male and female will eventually show signs of preparing to breed – first determined when males initiate to construct bubble nests. It is a valid thought to have bigger leafy plants that stay close to the surface of the aquarium as these are the most preferred conditions for this species of fish. The females will begin to show signs of getting larger, and when these conditions are met, place the female in with the male – in many colors, you will actually be in a position to see the eggs.

Once you are putting breeding betta fish in the same tank, anticipate the female to get a little beaten, because males are unbelievably hostile so it is essential to keep your eye on the pair. If it does not come along after a day or so that breeding has came about or it is obvious the couple are not compatible, remove the female and provide her a a couple of days respite. You can try again with the aforementioned pair or a completely different duo after this rest period. If the breeding betta fish are successful, you will see the male hugging the female and she will free her eggs. Once the mating procedure is finished and the male starts to move the eggs into the bubble nest he has created, you can safely remove the female, as the male bettas are the ones that look after their young. Inside only a few days, the young will hatch and you will have a different generation to enjoy.

Bettas have a fairly short lifespan, and are most successful as breeders when they under a year old (bettas in pet shops are usually at least six months old). They breed in bubblenests and do not require a large tank or special equipment.
Most breeders find that a bare bottomed tank of roughly ten gallons works well, although smaller tanks are also suitable.Ideally the fish should be conditioned prior to breeding, by feeding them a diet of live foods. The water should be at a pH of about 7.0, and temperature around 80 or slightly above.

The male will blow an elaborate bubble nest when he is ready to spawn. The female should be provided with a hiding place, as males may become aggressive during courtship. Even with a hiding place, it is common for the female to lose a few scales or have their fins frayed during spawning.

When they are ready to spawn, the pair will display intense coloration and begin circling each other under the bubblenest. The male will wrap himself around the female who has turned on her back. As she expels the eggs, they are fertilized and begin to sink. The male will scoop up the eggs and spit them into the nest. From this point on the male will tend the brood. It is advisable to remove the female, as the male may become aggressive towards her as he tends his young.

The male will continue to tend the bubblenest, spitting eggs that fall out back into the nest. In one to two days the eggs will hatch, and the fry will be visible hanging in the bubblenest with their tails pointing downward. They will feed off their yolk sack for another thirty six hours, during which time the male will continue to pick up any fry that fall out of the nest. The male should be removed within two days after the fry hatch, as they may eat the young once they are free swimming.

The fry should be fed a couple of feedings daily of baby brine shrimp or very fine baby food. Tetra makes a dry mixture specifically for egglaying fish, and many pet shops carry frozen baby brine shrimp. Take care not to overfeed, as the uneaten food will foul the water and can quickly prove lethal to the fry.