How to Breeding Betta Fish step by step {GHow}
Like 2 Dislike 0 Published on 11 Jul 2017
By Guna
1 Learn as much as possible. When attempting to breed any animal, it is important to know as much as you can about the species. Research betta care and breeding. There are many great websites and books. More than 600 eggs can come from a single spawn, meaning that you could end up caring for more than 500 betta fish! You need to know beforehand what you want to get out of the experience. Are you interested in genetics, breeding for show, or supplying a local pet store? Or are you simply in love with bettas and want to take your hobby to the next level? Breeding for show or supply is a big undertaking that will require a large investment of time, space, and money. Due to the high start up and supply costs, it is very difficult to make a profit breeding bettas, so this should not be your goal for some time.
2 Set up your permanent tanks. When you are ready to try breeding, you need to first prepare to bring your breeding pair home. Set up two tanks as shown in Set Up a Betta Tank. Be sure to cycle the water in both tanks before bringing home any fish.
3 Obtain a breeding pair. Bettas breed best when they are young, so you will have the most success if you find a reputable breeder either online or in your area to purchase a pair from. If you are able to find a breeder in your area, they can also be an invaluable source of information. Make sure the male and female are about the same size, and consider getting two pairs in case the first pairing doesn't work out. Most pet store bettas are too old to breed and their genetic background is usually unknown, but they can be a cheaper way to get started breeding and are more readily available than breeder fish. If you choose to breed pet store fish, be aware that you may be unable to find buyers or homes for your fry, as most pet stores will not buy them. Because you don't know what genetic traits you are mixing, you could end up with sickly or undesirable fry.
Building the Conditions for Breeding
1 Let them settle in. It's best to have your bettas for a few months before you start breeding to allow them to adapt to their environment. Remember, however, that males breed best when they are no more than 14 months old. Plan to breed them when you have a long, uninterrupted stretch of free time. Once you introduce the male and female, you will need to devote at least a few hours every single day for more than 2 months to caring for the pair and their young. Make sure you don't have any vacations, business trips, or highstress events coming up.
2 Set up your breeding tank. The breeding tank should be 5–10 gallons (18.9–37.9 L) and be equipped with a removable divider, a few hiding places, an adjustable filter (such as a sponge filter with a gang valve), and a heater set to around 80 °F (27 °C). Never add gravel or other substrate to the breeding tank because the eggs will get lost when they fall to the bottom. Only fill this tank with 5"6" of water, and set it up where there are few distractions, such as other fish, bright colors, and human activity. 3 Start feeding live food when you are ready to breed them. Live brine shrimp or blood worms are the best bet, but other worms, crickets, roaches, and other insects (cut up) will also work. It's a good idea to raise these yourself or purchase them from a pet store or breeder to avoid the bacteria, dirt, and chemicals that wild insects could be carrying. If live food is unavailable, you can also try frozen or freezedried brine shrimp and blood worms.
4 Give the fry time to grow. Keep the fry warm at 80 °F (27 °C) and cover the tank to prevent drafts and evaporation. Continue to feed increasing amounts of food. When the fry outgrow the breeding tank, they will need to be moved to a larger tank. Not all fry will survive the first few weeks, but if you see large numbers dying each day, you probably have a problem. Check temperature, chemical levels, and consider the possibility of treating for infections. When the fry are a week old, turn on the filter, but restrict the flow with a gang valve so it is barely noticeable. When the fry are two weeks old, begin performing small (10%) water changes every few days to keep the tank clean and free of dead food, but use a gentle siphon or turkey baster to prevent injuring the fry, and add clean water very slowly. You can begin turning off the tank light at night. Over the next few weeks, gradually increase the flow of the filter, watching fry carefully to be sure they are strong enough to swim against the current.
5 Place the fry into growout tanks. By the time the fry are two weeks you should move them to at least a 20 gallon (75.7 L) tank. Make sure the temperature and water in the tank are the same as what the fry are used to. Fry are delicate — one slip up could result in them dying. If you used a halffilled five or 10 gallon (37.9 L) tank you can fill the tank up and move them when they are 45 weeks old.