Breeding Betta Fish
A good tank is also one which can retain a temperature conducive to the fish. At all costs, temperatures should not go below 74 degrees Fahrenheit (23 degrees Celsius). It can cause harm to the immune system of your Betta making them easily vulnerable to a number of diseases.
All in all, there are many types of tanks that would make a good home for Betta fish but a few things need to be taken care of to make the life of your fish much longer and healthy. The dazzling beauty of the Betta fish makes them a choice of many fish lovers but imagine what will happen if a couple is kept together during the breeding time? They will never get along with each other and the female will just escape at the sight of the male, hiding behind any plant or coral inside the tank. The question then arises “Now How does breeding take place?” The answer is that nature has provided them with unique abilities and traits of breeding.
- 1. Firstly, both males and females should be similar in size and kept in separate tanks.
- Secondly, they should be provided with highly nutritious food that includes flake food and live brine shrimp.
- Lastly, the quality of the water must be maintained to ensure cleanliness and the whole environment should be as natural as possible.
Once they are properly fed and attain good health, then it is time to make them get acquainted with each other. Place their tanks in close proximity to each other enabling them to observe one another for a few days. Avoid placing the male in with the female to begin, before allowing him to enter the breeding aquarium. As soon as the male gets himself acquainted with his new home for one hour or so, place the female in a hurricane globe and then place them together in a tank.
Closely observe if they are showing any interest in each other. If they are seen flaring, this means it’s a positive sign and the male will start building his bubble nest. At the same time, female fish too will begin forming stripes on their body. This introduction generally takes 24 – 48 hours. Just before it gets dark inside the tank, release the female.
The male then follows the female and begins to nip at her fins. This act sometimes becomes so violent that it can damage the fins. It’s a very natural process; both fish will also be seen gracefully dancing with each other. When the female is ready to breed then she will approach the nest and will show deep interest in whatever the male fish is doing. When both the male and female are ready to breed, the male would wrap his body around her. The fish will seem paralyzed for a few moments. Don’t worry! This process will continue many times until the female has released all her eggs.
In due course of time, the eggs will hatch, and “fry’s” will emerge. The male Betta is the only one that shows interest in the development of the eggs. He tends to get very possessive and makes sure nothing goes wrong, delicately picking the fallen ones from the bottom. He stays with the “fry’s” to protect them until they start swimming. If you notice the male eating the small ones, he has to be immediately taken out of the tank. There is of course the possibility for the fry to develop at the bottom of the tank if there is no risk to them from any other water animal or fish.
See More: Aquarium General Guideline for Beginners