Knowingly Misguided Communal Betta Mating

[Trevor Stenson]

Hi all,

I recently mated a pair of Bettas in a community tank with the knowledge
that no matter how hard I tried that the chances of getting surviving
young was pretty much nil.

I thought it might be amusing reading for all the aquarium, and
especially Betta, experts who frequent this newsgroup.

Anyway, rather than type it all out again I am posting the link to my
blog were "the experiment" is chronicled.

Look for the entry "Fish Egg Hunt For Easter" and "Fish Fry Fried".
Also, please be gentle with any comments - I'm an admitted amateur.

http://members.shaw.ca/kitschy/Blog/Blog.html

Cheers,

Trev

--
Trevor Stenson

http://members.shaw.ca/kitschy/Digs.html
http://members.shaw.ca/kitschy/Blog/Blog.html

[Nikki]

"Trevor Stenson" > wrote in message
news:kitschy-6B8622.02203922042006@shawnews...
> Hi all,
>
> I recently mated a pair of Bettas in a community tank with the knowledge
> that no matter how hard I tried that the chances of getting surviving
> young was pretty much nil.
>
> I thought it might be amusing reading for all the aquarium, and
> especially Betta, experts who frequent this newsgroup.
>
> Anyway, rather than type it all out again I am posting the link to my
> blog were "the experiment" is chronicled.
>
> Look for the entry "Fish Egg Hunt For Easter" and "Fish Fry Fried".
> Also, please be gentle with any comments - I'm an admitted amateur.
>
> http://members.shaw.ca/kitschy/Blog/Blog.html
>
> Cheers,
>
> Trev
>
> --
> Trevor Stenson
>
> http://members.shaw.ca/kitschy/Digs.html
> http://members.shaw.ca/kitschy/Blog/Blog.html


hum, breeding advise on betta's from the other group.... I think I did tell
you their fry were very very small...and a divider that is bought at the
store would not work. Im not going to say much....breeding them is a neat
thing to watch and do, its a lot more fun if you spend the extra few bucks
to do it right, and I am not saying going out and spending 200.00-500.00
like some high end breeders, I think you could see now that just having an
empty 10g tank (I use a 5g) which is I think about 9.99 and a sponge filter
9.99 would of made a big difference. Just a heads up, the divider is not
great for to many fry most will find a way through it /around it, yes I have
tried it with my guppies and the same day went and got a bunch of hornwort
which worked 100% better then the divider that they went under. Please also
be careful housing your male /female together, its not that they cant get
along but in a lot of cases they can get a long for a while then decide not
to, if they have a lot of room its better.
Nik

[Nikki]

"Trevor Stenson" > wrote in message
news:kitschy-1FCD48.10251922042006@shawnews...
>
>>
>> hum, breeding advise on betta's from the other group.... I think I did
>> tell
>> you their fry were very very small...and a divider that is bought at the
>> store would not work. Im not going to say much....breeding them is a neat
>> thing to watch and do, its a lot more fun if you spend the extra few
>> bucks
>> to do it right, and I am not saying going out and spending 200.00-500.00
>> like some high end breeders, I think you could see now that just having
>> an
>> empty 10g tank (I use a 5g) which is I think about 9.99 and a sponge
>> filter
>> 9.99 would of made a big difference. Just a heads up, the divider is not
>> great for to many fry most will find a way through it /around it, yes I
>> have
>> tried it with my guppies and the same day went and got a bunch of
>> hornwort
>> which worked 100% better then the divider that they went under. Please
>> also
>> be careful housing your male /female together, its not that they cant get
>> along but in a lot of cases they can get a long for a while then decide
>> not
>> to, if they have a lot of room its better.
>> Nik
>
> Yes, I remember and I know I was warned. I'll try and keep all the
> advice in this response for a future date. I do keep floating hornwort
> in my tank, and I'm going to get more for I every get small fish or
> livebearer fry. My Amazon Swords have done great, but the hornwort gets
> beat up I think by the filter and gets chewed on by some of plant-eating
> fish.
>
> So I think I replenish it once in a while - it is low right now (I
> generally let it float as it doesn't plant nicely in my gravel). Oh,
> and what ever happened to duck weed? I know it wouldn't be good with an
> outside power filter, but I used to love it in my first tank with corner
> filter - even though it could get out of control and have to be culled.
>
> So, no disrespect intended in ignoring most of your warnings/advice. I
> just wanted to experiment with a breeding up close as a trial. I do
> intend to try and breed someday in the future. Maybe late summer. And
> I know where I can get solid advice on Bettas. You seem to be (at least
> one of) the Betta experts of the group. So I may be back with more
> experience and more success some time.
>
> And of course more questions.
>
> Once again thanks for your advice and comments.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Trev
>
> --
> Trevor Stenson
>
> http://members.shaw.ca/kitschy/Digs.html
> http://members.shaw.ca/kitschy/Blog/Blog.html

I am getting ready to breed mine, but the one i want to breed is just to
mean to have anything in his tank, but he is so pretty, and young, but again
mean he is the one who attacked the snail, the plant, and pretty much
anything else, so i been trying to figure out which other ones i will put
together, I have one who is pretty much ready i think he is yelling pick me
pick me, he is over in his tank building big bubble nests but i dont like
his color a lot but i might use him, he is also the nicest one i have he
could get along with any other fish, he was with my first female for a while
and they got along fine.
Nik

[Trevor Stenson]

>
> I am getting ready to breed mine, but the one i want to breed is just to
> mean to have anything in his tank, but he is so pretty, and young, but again
> mean he is the one who attacked the snail, the plant, and pretty much
> anything else, so i been trying to figure out which other ones i will put
> together, I have one who is pretty much ready i think he is yelling pick me
> pick me, he is over in his tank building big bubble nests but i dont like
> his color a lot but i might use him, he is also the nicest one i have he
> could get along with any other fish, he was with my first female for a while
> and they got along fine.
> Nik

Just on a hunch I picked the nicest female that was vibrant and
aggressive in her bowl (the good store I go to now doesn't keep them in
small cups). She at least held her own against my male and in a week or
so they warmed up to each other to say the least. I did the same
earlier with my male as he was feisty and already building a bubble nest
in his confines.

Also, on your note about breading stock - I did notice that whereas
Bettas at your "local pet store" go for about 4-6 CND dollars. My newly
found fish-centric store had way more (in some cases that would have
meant one) females, and a lot of fancy breeds who I believe if memory
serves me right when at least up to the $50 dollar range. The female I
bought there wasn't too expensive although she is a Crowntail.

Do you use the "hurricane glass" technique I've read about for
introduction of a pair where one might be too violent?

Cheers,

TS

--
Trevor Stenson

http://members.shaw.ca/kitschy/Digs.html
http://members.shaw.ca/kitschy/Blog/Blog.html

[Nikki]

"Trevor Stenson" > wrote in message
news:kitschy-1389BF.15063422042006@shawnews...
>
>>
>> I am getting ready to breed mine, but the one i want to breed is just to
>> mean to have anything in his tank, but he is so pretty, and young, but
>> again
>> mean he is the one who attacked the snail, the plant, and pretty much
>> anything else, so i been trying to figure out which other ones i will put
>> together, I have one who is pretty much ready i think he is yelling pick
>> me
>> pick me, he is over in his tank building big bubble nests but i dont like
>> his color a lot but i might use him, he is also the nicest one i have he
>> could get along with any other fish, he was with my first female for a
>> while
>> and they got along fine.
>> Nik
>
> Just on a hunch I picked the nicest female that was vibrant and
> aggressive in her bowl (the good store I go to now doesn't keep them in
> small cups). She at least held her own against my male and in a week or
> so they warmed up to each other to say the least. I did the same
> earlier with my male as he was feisty and already building a bubble nest
> in his confines.
>
> Also, on your note about breading stock - I did notice that whereas
> Bettas at your "local pet store" go for about 4-6 CND dollars. My newly
> found fish-centric store had way more (in some cases that would have
> meant one) females, and a lot of fancy breeds who I believe if memory
> serves me right when at least up to the $50 dollar range. The female I
> bought there wasn't too expensive although she is a Crowntail.
>
> Do you use the "hurricane glass" technique I've read about for
> introduction of a pair where one might be too violent?
>
> Cheers,
>
> TS
>
> --
> Trevor Stenson
>
> http://members.shaw.ca/kitschy/Digs.html
> http://members.shaw.ca/kitschy/Blog/Blog.html

I use a clear glass wide oil light chimney, 5-10g tank filled half way up,
w/ sponge filter or one of those box filters that run off air hose,
depending on what male /female it is i leave her in for a day maybe two. In
most cases even if i dont think there would be a problem, it gives him time
to build his nest and get ready, plus you get an idea of how they will get
along. The big price difference you see is a couple things, your common
betta you will find in the lfs either reg or crowtail, our reg betta's here
(veil tail) are 3.99, crowntails are 6.99, now i know a couple breeders who
have worked hard on genes, the veil tail gene is hard to breed out of the
line, so when you find a breeder who has put a lot of time into breeding
crown tails, half moons, double tails and it goes on ....you are going to
pay for it, but in the long run its well worth the money they are very
pretty and the type you want to breed, also some different colors are going
to cost you like black, i have been looking for a pure black betta with no
luck. Nik

[Ross T.]

www.bettatalk.com
She has some Blacks for sale in her on line catalogue.
Beautiful fish :O)

Ross T.

[Nikki]

"Ross T." > wrote in message
news:6Dz2g.60168$7a.11332@pd7tw1no...
> www.bettatalk.com
> She has some Blacks for sale in her on line catalogue.
> Beautiful fish :O)
>
> Ross T.

Yes i have looked at them, i am just real bad about ordering things on line,
but if i dont come across one soon i think i will do that.
thanks Nik