betta breeding problems

[soleil1980]

Hi everyone,

I am new at betta breeding, but I have done a lot of reading on it and decided to give it a go.  The male is in a 5g tank, barebottom with air filter (turned off at the moment), one ornament and a few pieces of moss floating around.

I put a female in a "fry cage" yesterday inside the 5g tank with the male.

I have been feeding them flake food and frozen food.

Since yesterday, the male has been showing off and acting all macho   the female does not seem very impressed.  Tonight, I noticed the female has started to blush (vertical light bands on her body).  The male still has not made a bubble nest!

He keeps checking her out but he doesn't build his nest.  I put a square of bubble wrap in one corner earlier tonight.  He went to inspect it but nothing....

What's going on with my male?!  When he is alone, he keeps building bubble nest every week but nothing since the female is in there with him!

Any thoughts?

[missavgp]

I've bred them a few times, and sometimes it just takes longer for the male to build a nest. I also had one male that wouldn't build  a nest until the female was released.

How long were you conditioning them before you put her in there? you should condition for ~2 weeks to make sure they are ready. For conditioning, live and frozen is the best to give them. When I am getting my fish ready to breed, I feed them frozen bloodworms and whiteworms. Also, flake food is not really their preferred food, I would recommend getting a good betta pellet like Omega One or New Life Spectrum.

Also, is the tank well covered? The environment needs to be humid for the bubbles to hold together. Do you have any Indian Almond leaves to add to the water? The IAL will make release tannins in the water that are beneficial for breeding bettas, as well as providing a site for the bubblenest. They also lower the PH making it easier to build a bubblenest. If you don't have any, you can also use blackwater extract or buy rooibos tea, make it and after it cools add it as a blackwater extract.

Hope some of this is helpful.

[Stussi613]

Do you ever fry have that make it through to adulthood Missagvp?

[missavgp]

Yes I have and have sold them, including some to Critter Jungle actually.. I'm currently working with my betta albimarginatas, but have a couple pairs that I am getting conditioned to spawn now.

[soleil1980]

hi,

I have been feeding yhem mix frozen food and betta flakes (usual food) for over 2 weeks now.  The problem seems to be the male.  I did not add almondleaf extract.  I don't know where to get it and read somewhere that it was not necessary.  pH is 6.5.

I released the female tonight as she seemed ready.  The male still has not made a nest but decided to try as suggested, as maybe he would build it when the female was released. 

Now, keep in mind that I am a newbie at bredding bettas.  The 2 have been in the same tank for over an hour and not only is there no nest, but the male is completely ignoring the female.  They are both swimming around as if sharing a tank with another betta is completely normal!!!!  none are hiding or acting aggressive at all.  They are both swimming and minding their own business. 

I need advice!  I have never read or heard of anything like this.  no aggression whatsoever.  Maybe my female (bought at big als) is not a betta splenden but another type of betta??  she looks like a betta spenden to me but...  weird.  I am including a picture of the 5g tank with the male and female inside.

[soleil1980]

here is more info.  the tank is covered with a glass top and usually, there is a bubbling filter but I turned it off before putting the female inside the fry cage.  The male made many bubble nests on his own before ever seeing a female so he knows how to make one and the bubbles stay together.  I put a square of bubble wrap on the water because I read somewhere that it could help.

I will put the female back in her cage before going to bed tonight and will try again later.

[Shawn84]

What is the temp of your tank? I didn't see you mention about a heater in the tank. Give this a try lower the water in the tank. Get yourself a tall clear circular vase.  Put that in the middle of the tank. Keep the female in there while you condition both of them. Keep up with water change. Toss in some IAL to help lower the PH. Wait a week or 2 depending on genetic of the Betta and type. Release the female before light out. Check in the morning to see if her belly is smaller and check the bubble nest if theres any dot in it. When I was breeding halfmoon betta i had success without using any IAL. I feed them all live food and crush up betta food during conditioning period. Also I feed them 3 times a day. Hope this help and good luck with breeding them


Shawn

[soleil1980]

where can I get the almond leaf extract???  it is worth a try!

[daworldisblack]

Not sure i've seen Almond Leave Extract for sale but usually you use just an almond leaf in the tank or boil it to make the 'extract'. Its not as available locally but maybe some members have some to spare. Otherwise you can just get the Black Water Extract and that seems available at pet stores. I've used one by API before.

Back when I first bred them, I never did any of that really and mine were veil-tailed Betta Splendens like yours as well. I guess sometimes some patience may help. I know how exciting it is to get them going but gotta let nature take its course haha. Some mood lighting may help - lower the light intensity around the tank? I remember doing that but not sure it helped with the spawning process. Conditioning as the other mentioned, is key! Good luck!

[lucius]

AngelFins sells Indian Almond Leaves.

http://angelfins.ca/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=843

http://angelfins.ca/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=28238&products_id=1169

For the 10 leaves, you can choose the Lettermail option for $1.70 when you checkout.  The 150 leaves is about $9 for shipping via Canada Post.

[soleil1980]

ok I will order the almond leaf extract and start again later.  2 questions:  1st:  what do I do with the almond leaves when they arrive?  The breeding will take place in a half filled 5g tank.  Do I just put a leaf in there and leave it?  2nd:  My female is blushing (filled with eggs?) so if I put her back in her usual tank, everything should be ok?  He body will re absorb the eggs?

Thank you all for the help it is greatly appreciated!  I am used to breeding guppies and angels... in other words, not much work from my part lol

[soleil1980]

ok so the almond leaf is in the tank and the water is brownish.  The female is in there in a breeding trap... she looks ready to breed.  The male is trying to build a nest but the bubbles keep popping and they don't stick together.

I turned the filter off and I put half of a plastic cup on the side the help (I read that online somewhere that it could help).

Any ideas why the bubbles are not sticking?

Thank you

[soleil1980]

water parameters:
temp 80
ph 6.0
GH 75
No2- 0
NO3- 0

I also put a cling wrap on top of the tank to keep humidity in.  The only bubbles in there are from the female but they are sticking.  They have been together for over 24 hours now and still nothing and aggression is very mild.

[missavgp]

keep with it. Sometimes they can take up to a week to actually spawn. Just keep an eye on them that the aggression doesn't suddenly escalate and get out of hand, otherwise give them a few days.

Good luck!