INTRODUCTION: Okay I'm on record as not being in favor of breeding random bettas just for the fun of it. Sure it sounds amazing and all to be able to successfully get two of these combatants through the mating ritual to produce a batch of fry. But there's a lot of things the YouTube videos of betta breeding fail to mention.
For one it's a lot harder than it looks.
Two, you're likely working from an unknowable gene pool. Result? You may simply be producing a bunch of bettas no one wants.
And third the care and feeding of a tank full of mini-sized yet rambunctious male bettas spoiling for a fight is a bigger challenge than most are up for and well outside their skill set.
That said, I know some still have their heart set on attempting the feat to see if they can pull it off. Apparently figuring they'll worry about the details later. Okay. I understand the allure of a challenge as much as the next guy. It's why people climb mountains. Because they're there. People want to breed bettas because they can. I get that. So rather than try to dissuade you, let me share a few things.
Remember too that the real trick is to pull off this bringing of new betta life into the world without shortening the life expectancy of the two primary participants. So to that end here is some points and breeding tips you might want to keep in mind when going about this. Just please look at this as the Readers Digest condensed version or a quick and dirty guide. Not everything you need to know down to the last nitty gritty detail.
First things first, things you need:
A medium sized tank water temp 80-82 degrees F.
One conditioned male betta fish
One conditioned female betta
Okay, so without getting bogged down in the details, the process is pretty straight forward. Simply fill the tank about two thirds full. Place the male in first to give him a chance to learn the lay of the land. Then add the female but inside like an oil lamp chimney so the male can't get to her before you have gauged the level of interest. Making a mistake here can be fatal for the female so look for signs of courtship. Does the male put on an impressive display? Is he flaring? How's his bubble nest?
You want to be careful because no self-respecting male readily allows intruders into his domain. In other words he will never back down from a good fight. And the betrothed can mistakenly be the one he chooses to take out his aggressions on. Some of this is to be expected. It goes with the territory. But you shouldn't let the male shred the female. Or chase her to death. Which is why you keep some glass between them first.
Risk of a lovers quarrel aside, watching them spawn is another unforgettable sight to see. An underwater ballet. When things are right, you get to watch how a couple flirts with each other. The female betta darkens her color and curves her body while the male betta is out to flare his gills, spread his fins, put on a massive display of betta masculinity. As the courtship progresses, the male betta will then wrap his body around the female and the eggs are released. He'll then scoop them up in his mouth and blow them into the bubble nest. All this is exhausting work.
When their relationship has run its course, you'll want to remove the female before her partner's tolerance of her presence wears thin and he reverts to his less loving and more aggressive self. Otherwise again it can turn out badly for the female. Betta love being fickle like that. Although one would think she can just tell he's not going to call the next day.
Of course the male's work has just begun. So you'll want to leave him to attend to the nest and retrieve any eggs that fall out. But sooner or later he'll have to retire to his own quarters too. For the sake of the hatching fry.
CONCLUSION: In any case, if you've got no flare in your house, if your life is lacking drama, if you are looking to spice things up, then breeding bettas might be just the thing. Just don't say I didn't warn you that it might be more than bargained for as well though in the end.
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