Betta Baby Blues - help/advice needed

[Jamie Drilling]

I have been trying to cycle my 55 for way too long now; Tony the Betta
has been my starter fish (along with some Otos). My mom has a 6g tank
with a betta and two cory cats; she thought the betta was lonely so she
bought him to females. After he killed one, I told her I'd take the
other to live peaceably in a 55 gal with Tony.

Of course Tony didn't like her any more than Vinny (my mom's betta)
had. So I put her in a DIY net breeder.

After that, he decided he loved her and started circling her home and
building massive bubble nests. The moral of the story is, DIY isn't
always a good idea - female (we call her The Blue Girl, you can tell
we're great at names ;) ) escaped, laid eggs which Tony ever
since has been assiduously tending.

Now the babies have hatched, heads and tails and almost at the free
swimming stage.

I would like to keep them alive - problem is the tank. It is heavily
planted, ammonia is .25 ppm (I had had off-the-charts readings for
nitrites but biofilter died and we are back at square one.) I bought
some microworms to feed them and there are protozoans in the tank. But
the microworms will sink.

Can I put a store-bought net breeder beneath the nest, removing Tony so
he doesn't go berserk and eat his family, and feed them microworms in
this? This is to keep the microworms from escaping.

I don't have another tank or the funds to purchase one. Any advice
would be appreciated. I never set out to breed bettas but I'd feel
awful if they died on my watch....

Jamie

[NetMax]

"Jamie Drilling" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>I have been trying to cycle my 55 for way too long now; Tony the Betta
> has been my starter fish (along with some Otos). My mom has a 6g tank
> with a betta and two cory cats; she thought the betta was lonely so she
> bought him to females. After he killed one, I told her I'd take the
> other to live peaceably in a 55 gal with Tony.
>
> Of course Tony didn't like her any more than Vinny (my mom's betta)
> had. So I put her in a DIY net breeder.
>
> After that, he decided he loved her and started circling her home and
> building massive bubble nests. The moral of the story is, DIY isn't
> always a good idea - female (we call her The Blue Girl, you can tell
> we're great at names ;) ) escaped, laid eggs which Tony ever
> since has been assiduously tending.
>
> Now the babies have hatched, heads and tails and almost at the free
> swimming stage.
>
> I would like to keep them alive - problem is the tank. It is heavily
> planted, ammonia is .25 ppm (I had had off-the-charts readings for
> nitrites but biofilter died and we are back at square one.) I bought
> some microworms to feed them and there are protozoans in the tank. But
> the microworms will sink.
>
> Can I put a store-bought net breeder beneath the nest, removing Tony so
> he doesn't go berserk and eat his family, and feed them microworms in
> this? This is to keep the microworms from escaping.
>
> I don't have another tank or the funds to purchase one. Any advice
> would be appreciated. I never set out to breed bettas but I'd feel
> awful if they died on my watch....
>
> Jamie


Betta fry are quite small. In a filtered (you need to prefilter your
intake with sponges) 55g (they will get lost in there) with ammonia
levels (and then NO2 levels) your chances are not too great. Ordinarily
you need to remove the female after they have spawned. You can remove
the male after the fry are free-swimming (probably better), but directing
a source of size appropriate food in a 55g will be a challenge.
Hopefully you have lots of algae and micro-organisms to tide the fry
over. Perhaps the Betta breeders in this group can offer some more
practical advice.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Koi-lo]

"NetMax" > wrote in message
...
> Hopefully you have lots of algae and micro-organisms to tide the fry over.
> Perhaps the Betta breeders in this group can offer some more practical
> advice.
===================
When they become free swimming, or at that point, I would remove the male.
Then slide a large bowl under the nest to lift it, bubbles fry and all to
another tank or cheap sweater box from Wally World. Just sink the bowl and
gently slide the nest and fry into the heated water. I'd have about 5" of
water from the tank plus as many plants as possible and go from there.......
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Daniel Morrow]

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Hash: SHA1

Bottom posted.

- --
You can find my public key at https://keyserver1.pgp.com
"NetMax" > wrote in message
...
> "Jamie Drilling" > wrote in message

> ups.com...
> >I have been trying to cycle my 55 for way too long now; Tony the
Betta
> > has been my starter fish (along with some Otos). My mom has a 6g
tank
> > with a betta and two cory cats; she thought the betta was lonely
so she
> > bought him to females. After he killed one, I told her I'd take
the
> > other to live peaceably in a 55 gal with Tony.
> >
> > Of course Tony didn't like her any more than Vinny (my mom's
betta)
> > had. So I put her in a DIY net breeder.
> >
> > After that, he decided he loved her and started circling her home
and
> > building massive bubble nests. The moral of the story is, DIY
isn't
> > always a good idea - female (we call her The Blue Girl, you can
tell
> > we're great at names ;) ) escaped, laid eggs which Tony
ever
> > since has been assiduously tending.
> >
> > Now the babies have hatched, heads and tails and almost at the
free
> > swimming stage.
> >
> > I would like to keep them alive - problem is the tank. It is
heavily
> > planted, ammonia is .25 ppm (I had had off-the-charts readings
for
> > nitrites but biofilter died and we are back at square one.) I
bought
> > some microworms to feed them and there are protozoans in the
tank. But
> > the microworms will sink.
> >
> > Can I put a store-bought net breeder beneath the nest, removing
Tony so
> > he doesn't go berserk and eat his family, and feed them
microworms in
> > this? This is to keep the microworms from escaping.
> >
> > I don't have another tank or the funds to purchase one. Any
advice
> > would be appreciated. I never set out to breed bettas but I'd
feel
> > awful if they died on my watch....
> >
> > Jamie
>
>
> Betta fry are quite small. In a filtered (you need to prefilter
your
> intake with sponges) 55g (they will get lost in there) with ammonia

> levels (and then NO2 levels) your chances are not too great.
Ordinarily
> you need to remove the female after they have spawned. You can
remove
> the male after the fry are free-swimming (probably better), but
directing
> a source of size appropriate food in a 55g will be a challenge.
> Hopefully you have lots of algae and micro-organisms to tide the
fry
> over. Perhaps the Betta breeders in this group can offer some more

> practical advice.
> --
> www.NetMax.tk
>
>

If you are in enough of an emergency you could try pond water if you
have access to a pond with a lot of bio life in it (i.e. if it isn't
too late what with winter coming in to a lot of places in this world
then your local pond water should have plenty of pond life in it for
the baby betta fry to grow up on). The problem with this technique is
the possibility of disease/parasites showing up in your tank. When I
started out with a betta tank when I was 12 I put a lot of pond
water in it's tank and when it died for an unknown reason I became
convinced that the pond water did him in and a few years and a number
of fish later I totally shut down my aquarium hobby because I didn't
want to expose any more fish to our local water and didn't start back
up until 10 or more years later after I knew that practically
speaking that pond life (whether it be disease causing bacteria,
parasites, fungus forms of life, or something mundane or even
benign/beneficial) was all dead after that 10 years of being dried up
(probably even spores - if there were any), so I finally felt
confidant in my hobby and am living the dream now. All in all I can't
say the lack of pond life in my water has helped as I wasn't changing
the water frequently/regularly back when I was using pond water but
the fact that all of my equipment seems to have had been sterile
after waiting 10 years seems to give me a lot of confidence and the
fact is that I am doing wonderful with my hobby/pets now and so I do
wonder. Make your decision based on everyone else's (as much as you
can get) experiences. Summary - the decision to use pond life is
appropriately a big one. Be careful - a lot of people will try to
tell you theres no harm in it but I do question any of those
comments/opinions.

You could try boiled egg yolk squeezed through a fine rag/cloth but
the fact that the tank's a 55 gallon assuredly some of the fry aren't
practically going to be able to find all of it, but it might work
good enough. Your fry could be lost in that relatively big tank (one
case where a big tank might be detrimental to it's occupying life
forms). Good luck and later!

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[Jamie Drilling]

NetMax wrote:
> "Jamie Drilling" > wrote in message
> ups.com...

<snipped but read>

You can remove
> the male after the fry are free-swimming (probably better), but directing
> a source of size appropriate food in a 55g will be a challenge.
> Hopefully you have lots of algae and micro-organisms to tide the fry
> over. Perhaps the Betta breeders in this group can offer some more
> practical advice.
> --
> www.NetMax.tk

I have *tons* of algae. Will fry eat this?

[Tynk]

Koi-lo wrote:
> "NetMax" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hopefully you have lots of algae and micro-organisms to tide the fry over.
> > Perhaps the Betta breeders in this group can offer some more practical
> > advice.
> ===================
> When they become free swimming, or at that point, I would remove the male.
> Then slide a large bowl under the nest to lift it, bubbles fry and all to
> another tank or cheap sweater box from Wally World. Just sink the bowl and
> gently slide the nest and fry into the heated water. I'd have about 5" of
> water from the tank plus as many plants as possible and go from there.......
> --
> Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
> My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
> http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
> ~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>
KOoi wrote:
> When they become free swimming, or at that point, I would remove the male.
> Then slide a large bowl under the nest to lift it, bubbles fry and all to
> another tank or cheap sweater box from Wally World. Just sink the bowl and
> gently slide the nest and fry into the heated water. I'd have about 5" of
> water from the tank plus as many plants as possible and go from there.......>>>

If they were free swimming, then putting a bowl under the nest wouldn't
do any good, as they wouldn't be IN THE NEST anymore.
Please, you don't need to help here.
You left out a wealth of information that is vital for the survival!!

[Tynk]

Jamie Drilling wrote:
> NetMax wrote:
> > "Jamie Drilling" > wrote in message
> > ups.com...
>
> <snipped but read>
>
> You can remove
> > the male after the fry are free-swimming (probably better), but directing
> > a source of size appropriate food in a 55g will be a challenge.
> > Hopefully you have lots of algae and micro-organisms to tide the fry
> > over. Perhaps the Betta breeders in this group can offer some more
> > practical advice.
> > --
> > www.NetMax.tk
>
> I have *tons* of algae. Will fry eat this?
>
> I have *tons* of algae. Will fry eat this?
Jamie,
Hi there.
I'm a Betta breeder and will be able to help you out all you need.
No, they do not eat algae. They are carnivores.
You'll need to get them out of that tank if you want them to survive.
The tank is too large for Betta fry. There wouldn't be any way to make
sure enough are getting fed properly.
I can help all you want if you want to save the fry.
Can you buy something like a 10g or even a 5g and an submersible heater
for it?
If you can't, they're gonners.
You won't be able to save them in a bowl, so don't even listen to that
advice.
Let me know if you want to save them, and if so, I can go into detail.
I tell you right now...spawning Bettas is easy.
Raising the fry isn't. However, with guidance every step of the way
you'll be able to.
Kelly = )

[Tynk]

<<<You won't be able to save them in a bowl, so don't even listen to
that
advice>>>
I have since re-read what this person said, and it was using a bowl to
remove the nest and fry.
However, you said they were free swimming, so this wouldn't apply as
they wouldn't be in the nest anymore.
They also left out SO much information....all of which would KILL every
fry you have.
So if you want to save them, let me know right away and I'll help you
through it.
You can also email me directly if you like.

[Koi-lo]

"Tynk" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> Koi-lo wrote:
>> "NetMax" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > Hopefully you have lots of algae and micro-organisms to tide the fry
>> > over.
>> > Perhaps the Betta breeders in this group can offer some more practical
>> > advice.
>> ===================
>> When they become free swimming, or at that point, I would remove the
>> male.
>> Then slide a large bowl under the nest to lift it, bubbles fry and all to
>> another tank or cheap sweater box from Wally World. Just sink the bowl
>> and
>> gently slide the nest and fry into the heated water. I'd have about 5"
>> of
>> water from the tank plus as many plants as possible and go from
>> there.......
>> --
>> Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
>> My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
>> http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
>> ~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>
> If they were free swimming, then putting a bowl under the nest wouldn't
> do any good, as they wouldn't be IN THE NEST anymore.

## You must have some pretty strange bettas. When mine became horizontal
and began to swim they stayed in the vicinity of the nest for several hours.
Others were still hanging onto the bubbles. Most could easily be lifted
with a good size bowl, even though it may have to be dipped twice - and a
few times that became necessary. It seems all you want to do is nit-pick
and argue.

> Please, you don't need to help here.

## Please, you are not the Moderator of this NG and there are other ways
to do things besides YOUR WAY.

> You left out a wealth of information that is vital for the survival!!

## As did you.
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Tynk]

<<You won't be able to save them in a bowl, so don't even listen to
that
advice.>>

Jamie,
I have since re-read this thread and saw where it said to move the fry
in a bowl.
However, this person left of SO much vital information, all of which
would KILL every fry you have in that tank.
So please, if you want to save them, let me know right away and I can
help you out right away.
You may also email me directly if you want as well.

[Koi-lo]

"Tynk" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> Jamie Drilling wrote:
>> NetMax wrote:
>> > "Jamie Drilling" > wrote in message
>> > ups.com...
>>
>> <snipped but read>
>>
>> You can remove
>> > the male after the fry are free-swimming (probably better), but
>> > directing
>> > a source of size appropriate food in a 55g will be a challenge.
>> > Hopefully you have lots of algae and micro-organisms to tide the fry
>> > over. Perhaps the Betta breeders in this group can offer some more
>> > practical advice.
>> > --
>> > www.NetMax.tk
>>
>> I have *tons* of algae. Will fry eat this?
>>
>> I have *tons* of algae. Will fry eat this?
> Jamie,
> Hi there.
> If you can't, they're gonners.
> You won't be able to save them in a bowl,
===================================
The BOWL is used to lift them out and into another tank or tub. Read my
post again. Of course you can't raise them in a bowl.
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Tynk]

Koi-lo wrote:
> "Tynk" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> >
> > Koi-lo wrote:
> >> "NetMax" > wrote in message
> >> ...
> >> > Hopefully you have lots of algae and micro-organisms to tide the fry
> >> > over.
> >> > Perhaps the Betta breeders in this group can offer some more practical
> >> > advice.
> >> ===================
> >> When they become free swimming, or at that point, I would remove the
> >> male.
> >> Then slide a large bowl under the nest to lift it, bubbles fry and all to
> >> another tank or cheap sweater box from Wally World. Just sink the bowl
> >> and
> >> gently slide the nest and fry into the heated water. I'd have about 5"
> >> of
> >> water from the tank plus as many plants as possible and go from
> >> there.......
> >> --
> >> Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
> >> My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
> >> http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
> >> ~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>
> > If they were free swimming, then putting a bowl under the nest wouldn't
> > do any good, as they wouldn't be IN THE NEST anymore.
>
> ## You must have some pretty strange bettas. When mine became horizontal
> and began to swim they stayed in the vicinity of the nest for several hours.
> Others were still hanging onto the bubbles. Most could easily be lifted
> with a good size bowl, even though it may have to be dipped twice - and a
> few times that became necessary. It seems all you want to do is nit-pick
> and argue.
>
> > Please, you don't need to help here.
>
> ## Please, you are not the Moderator of this NG and there are other ways
> to do things besides YOUR WAY.
>
> > You left out a wealth of information that is vital for the survival!!
>
> ## As did you.
> --
> Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
> My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
> http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
> ~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>
Jamie,
Pay no attention to this person.
They are a trouble maker.
Don't even reply to them.
They will argue any point I make, or correction to anything bogus they
write.
You will probably get several emails from other regulars on this
newsgroup confirming this as well.
Just ignore their bickering.

[Koi-lo]

"Tynk" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Pay no attention to this person.
> They are a trouble maker.

$ No my dear, you want to be the only one giving advice on bettas here. You
can't accept that there are other ways besides your own that work. You
really need a moderated NG where only YOU give your opinion on bettas.

> Don't even reply to them.
> They will argue any point I make, or correction to anything bogus they
> write.

$ I think you need to reread you messages on this NG. You have constantly
nit-picked every message concerning bettas I've posted - from the size of
the containers they're kept in, to the temperatures they can live at, to how
to move them if necessary when the father is removed.

> You will probably get several emails from other regulars on this
> newsgroup confirming this as well.
> Just ignore their bickering.

$ What do you call it when you constantly nit-pick my every post regarding
bettas? You can't accept that bettas do well under a variety of conditions
and not just how YOU keep them.
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Alpha]

"Koi-lo" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Tynk" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>> Pay no attention to this person.
>> They are a trouble maker.
>
> $ No my dear, you want to be the only one giving advice on bettas here.

A HUGE PLONK.

[Koi-lo]

"Jamie Drilling" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> NetMax wrote:
>> "Jamie Drilling" > wrote in message
>> ups.com...
>
> <snipped but read>
>
> You can remove
>> the male after the fry are free-swimming (probably better), but directing
>> a source of size appropriate food in a 55g will be a challenge.
>> Hopefully you have lots of algae and micro-organisms to tide the fry
>> over. Perhaps the Betta breeders in this group can offer some more
>> practical advice.
>> --
>> www.NetMax.tk
>
> I have *tons* of algae. Will fry eat this?
================================
No. They're not vegetarians. They feed on infusoria the first days - then
newly hatched brine shrimp. Some spawns grow faster than others. If by
algae you mean green water, then perhaps there is enough animal life among
the algae to sustain them. Information on how to raise these water critters
(infusorians) is available on the net. You may also get the fry to survive
on powdered fry food mixed with strained hard boiled egg yolk. Add water to
make it soupy and use an eye dropper to drop a drop here and there among the
plants the fry are in. I've used this a few times and it worked ok until
they were large enough to eat the shrimp. I raised the infusoria outdoors
in a large flat container with aquarium plants, some decaying vegetation
(what decayed from the aquarium plants) some shredded grass and maple leaves
on the bottom along with scuzz from the filters. I didn't add lettuce
leaves because they always became a slimy mess. I had a screen over the top
to keep out mosquitoes. I would add about 1/4 cup of this several times a
day to the fry tanks. Replace the water in the culture with dechlorinated
water or better yet water from an established tank. There is much info on
the net on how to raise the fry.
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Billi Bong]

"Alpha" > wrote in message
...
>
> A HUGE PLONK.


A HUGE FLUSH.

[Tynk]

Billi Bong wrote:
> "Alpha" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > A HUGE PLONK.
>
>
> A HUGE FLUSH.

Billi Bong wrote:
> "Alpha" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > A HUGE PLONK.
>
>
> A HUGE FLUSH.
Couldn't have said it better myself. = )~

Again, the person did exactly what I said they would do. And again,
they left out some very important information.
There is no need to go into great detail until you say whether or not
you want to save the fry.
There's so much more to raising Betta than feeding them. If you skip
parts you'll kill them.
There are many who post here that have also raised Bettas who will not
behave like a troll.
It's also too late to try to start infusoria like they have posted. If
you do that, they'll starve to death before it's ready.
Again, there's no need to go into deatail here before knowing if you
are planning on raising them or not.

[Jamie Drilling]

Tynk wrote:
> Billi Bong wrote:
> > "Alpha" > wrote in message

<snipped

> Again, the person did exactly what I said they would do. And again,
> they left out some very important information.
> There is no need to go into great detail until you say whether or not
> you want to save the fry.
> There's so much more to raising Betta than feeding them. If you skip
> parts you'll kill them.
> There are many who post here that have also raised Bettas who will not
> behave like a troll.
> It's also too late to try to start infusoria like they have posted. If
> you do that, they'll starve to death before it's ready.
> Again, there's no need to go into deatail here before knowing if you
> are planning on raising them or not.

That's the problem with all the info on the net, it assumes planned
parenthood ;) and weeks to prepare baby food.

I'm going to try powdered fry food with strained egg yolks. We'll see.
If I lose these babies, Tony and The Blue Girl seem willing. Maybe
I'll try again....

Noticed in my original post I typed "to" instead of "two", I do know
the difference... <blushes>

Thanks everyone, wish me luck because I'm afraid that's all that will
save these babies....

Jamie

[Tynk]

Jamie Drilling wrote:
> Tynk wrote:
> > Billi Bong wrote:
> > > "Alpha" > wrote in message
>
> <snipped
>
> > Again, the person did exactly what I said they would do. And again,
> > they left out some very important information.
> > There is no need to go into great detail until you say whether or not
> > you want to save the fry.
> > There's so much more to raising Betta than feeding them. If you skip
> > parts you'll kill them.
> > There are many who post here that have also raised Bettas who will not
> > behave like a troll.
> > It's also too late to try to start infusoria like they have posted. If
> > you do that, they'll starve to death before it's ready.
> > Again, there's no need to go into deatail here before knowing if you
> > are planning on raising them or not.
>
> That's the problem with all the info on the net, it assumes planned
> parenthood ;) and weeks to prepare baby food.
>
> I'm going to try powdered fry food with strained egg yolks. We'll see.
> If I lose these babies, Tony and The Blue Girl seem willing. Maybe
> I'll try again....
>
> Noticed in my original post I typed "to" instead of "two", I do know
> the difference... <blushes>
>
> Thanks everyone, wish me luck because I'm afraid that's all that will
> save these babies....
>
> Jamie
> I'm going to try powdered fry food with strained egg yolks.

Be carefull using strained egg yolk. You can easily pollute the tank if
not done properly, and since (I'm assuming here) that you've not used
it before, I would advise against it.
I would, however, advise you to buy frozen *baby* brine shrimp.
If your local pet shops don't carry the baby brine, try any Petsmart.
Powdered fry food...even powdered egg layer food is too large for Betta
fry to eat.
If you are going to leave the fry in this size tank, they'll have too
hard a time finding the food, and will be sucked up into the filter
anyway.
Also, both male and female need to be removed or they will eat all the
fry.
This is why I suggested that if you really wanted to try and save the
fry that you would need another tank to do so.
This may sound harsh, but if you can't get another tank to raise them
in, then just let nature take it's course with them.

[Koi-lo]

"Billi Bong" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Alpha" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> A HUGE PLONK.
>
>
> A HUGE FLUSH.
==================
I FLUSHED Alpha as well. :-)
--
OMEGA.... frugal ponding since 1995...
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[NetMax]

"Jamie Drilling" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> NetMax wrote:
>> "Jamie Drilling" > wrote in message
>> ups.com...
>
> <snipped but read>
>
> You can remove
>> the male after the fry are free-swimming (probably better), but
>> directing
>> a source of size appropriate food in a 55g will be a challenge.
>> Hopefully you have lots of algae and micro-organisms to tide the fry
>> over. Perhaps the Betta breeders in this group can offer some more
>> practical advice.
>> --
>> www.NetMax.tk
>
> I have *tons* of algae. Will fry eat this?


To a limited extent, as they are primarily carnivores. As fish goes
through life stages, they can become more carniverous (ie: Botia & some
Plecos are an example). I don't know how omniverous Betta fry are at
birth, but if I was to guess, I would say that vegetation would not
sustain them, and there had better be miroscopic life living in that
algae (as there usually is). If they can grow large enough to consume
processed foods, there is a chance. The boiled egg is a good trick, but
I'm afraid it will be too easy to pollute a 55g as mentioned.

I think there might be an issue with the depth of the water as well.
Their gills are underdeveloped and I think they need to be raised in
shallow water, like some corys (ie: Pandas). In deep water, they might
not be able to make that trip back & forth to the surface, and their
labyrinth organ might not develop properly. Nature takes care of this by
forcing the male to build the nest in shallow water by making the eggs
heavier than water. This causes the male to be constantly picking up the
eggs to return to the nest. If the water is too deep, the male will give
up the exercise as futile, and search out territory in shallower waters.

An option, if you wanted to experiment, is to move your working filter
elsewhere, drain the tank to 6", relocate the heater and see how the fry
survive. Moving the fry is an option I usually have poor luck with.
They are very fragile to be doing things which involve large changes in
their water. ymmv. Statistically, with small fry such as these, some
make the jump to processed foods or the frozen baby brine shrimp.
Pragmatically, I would just let nature runs its course and chalk it up to
a practice run ;~).
--
www.NetMax.tk