Breeding Betta Fish

March 1st, 2010 | Author: Penelope Darcy

Fish-lovers find breeding fish a worthwhile pastime for unwinding. Observing vibrant fish soothes an overworked person’s eyes and body. With its fast-rising trend, old and new pet-lovers are paying attention to betta fish breeding.

All you need to buy before you start breeding betta fish are a pair of male and female fish and a ten-gallon aquarium. It is a requirement to condition your bettas by giving them high-class food for no longer than two weeks before you actually start reproducing your fish. Cleaning the tank where your betta fish couple will be reproducing is the best thing to do while you are still undergoing the pre-breeding process.

When you are cleaning your tank, make sure to wash it with very hot water without using soap. Add no less than six inches of water so you can proceed with adding your sponge filter and heater. Before you put in your betta fish pair, be sure to look up instructions regarding heating, using aquarium bacteria starters and conditioners for best results.

After all the necessary steps, put first your male betta fish to the tank area first and let him get to know his surroundings first. The male betta fish should be the first into the tank because it is vital for him to get to know his new environment more and be comfortable with it. Once you have introduced the male fish to his tank, you may do the same for the female but make sure to keep them separated first by keeping a divider inside.

You have to watch the actions of your betta fish pair before you remove the transparent dividers and let them interact with each other. To know that the male betta fish is ready for breeding, his fins should be flapping furiously around the female as he builds a bubble nest for the future eggs. On the other hand, the female is ready for breeding if you can see vertical bars on her body.

If your female betta fish is light-colored, it could be quite difficult for you to find the bars so you have to look closely before you release her to the male. If she is ready for breeding, after a day or two is enough time for her to be released to her male partner. This period is the best time to let the female meet her partner so that they will be able to interact longer.

Once the fish pair is with each other, “fighting” will ensue and they will violently run around the aquarium. The male betta fish will act quite violently by chasing the female’s fins but this is really part of their interaction with each other before mating. In around two days, the female will be ready to reproduce and she will passively come to the male fish.

Feeding is not important to the fish pair as they try to reproduce so even if you feed them, they wouldn’t notice this as they are focused on their breeding task. Normally, the fish pair will be tired and they will appear motionless which shouldn’t cause you to worry about them. In a while, the fish will begin moving normally, especially after the female betta fish releases all her eggs and the next step will be to leave the eggs with the male and separating the fish pair again.

Be sure to visit http://www.fishtankpet.com/ for more stuff on betta fish.

categories: betta fish,fish breeding,fish,fishes,pets

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