Fish Lovers 2.0

[sarcasteil]

Yes, I got plants for my pond =D I got a medium-sized water lily, an eceng gondok [comes from Indonesian, look it up on Goggle Images. Read with a flat e, not like eeceeng gondok. More like echeng gondok. Sounds a bit funny.] medium-sized, and 4 smaller velvety eceng gondok, with a big velvety one as well. I found tons of pond snails that hitched a free ride! Yay, I love snails. And as I was observing the water lily, I found some hair-like plant-thing. I took it out, put it in a transparent jar [that I use for observing things in the pond x3]. It wasn't algae, and it gave out oxygen [duh me]. I was thinking about putting it in with my betta, but I'm afraid he'll devour it.

[Dappled Sapphire]

Yes, I got plants for my pond =D I got a medium-sized water lily, an eceng gondok [comes from Indonesian, look it up on Goggle Images. Read with a flat e, not like eeceeng gondok. More like echeng gondok. Sounds a bit funny.] medium-sized, and 4 smaller velvety eceng gondok, with a big velvety one as well. I found tons of pond snails that hitched a free ride! Yay, I love snails. And as I was observing the water lily, I found some hair-like plant-thing. I took it out, put it in a transparent jar [that I use for observing things in the pond x3]. It wasn't algae, and it gave out oxygen [duh me]. I was thinking about putting it in with my betta, but I'm afraid he'll devour it.

A strand of java moss maybe?

[sarcasteil]

Yeah I think so too, would that be OK to put with my betta?

[Zekea]

I may be able to borrow a few things from my friend until I can get permanent items. She's actually a very big breeder, but to very a exclusive area here in VA.. She has, what we call, her second house. It's actually pretty much like a house, just not with so many walls. She breeds to many fish for me to count but she has this entire room of supplies that she's collected and I doubt she'd have a problem with me using a heater or two.

I haven't ever really put any thought into a filter for bettas because the last time I did, by betta decided he was going to go up the tube and got stuck. Curious is what I am, do you think it would be a good idea to put a under-gravel filter in? I plan on putting him back in his 10 gallon tank as soon as possible, which will probably be tomorrow or Sunday, but I was just curious.

I am sorry MaineiacJay. :( You could always just keep her as a pet and not breed her... That's what I had to do with Merlin, along with whatever's wrong with him, he's probably got some other kinds of disorders.

When I actually did have my female, I conditioned them for the two weeks minimum and then the male stayed in the breeding tank for almost four days with the female in a vase/jar type object separating the two. I had them like that for about a day and then I let her out, they spawned and I took her back out and put her back in her tank. He was actually a pretty good dad, until he ate them. I think that was my fault though, I wasn't 100% sure how long to keep him in for. I had actual fry, at least 50-60 falling to the bottom. Their dad would pick them up and put them back in the nest over and over again, but I think I left him in too long. They could sorta swim on their own, but they kinda sank, but they could control the direction they sank. I don't know, it was more than likely just me being nervous and indecisive. I knew the mom's generally tried to eat the fry, and I think the dad knew too because along with caring for them, he would chase the mom to the opposite corner of the tank and then go back to the fry until I took her out.

I noticed in your pictures that you used a cup cut in half, I really don't want to be hating on your style, but the best way to do it is cutting the bottom off of a syrafoam cup and facing it down so that there is no draft. Leaving the open area can give the nest not only a draft but it can mess up the nest whereas the third of the cup would not. I know I tried it at first as well, but it just leads to messing up the nest and killing the fry.

I know I didn't make it too clear, but I've had one half successful spawning with my fish. Not total. I work with my best friend and she uses the nations #1 top betta breeder's techniques, as well as the other species she houses. Together we've had nearly 45 out of 60 successful spawning. I kinda stepped back though because of what's going on at home. I haven't had my Albino girl for a while now, almost 6 months. I've always just kept my bettas in jars or 10 gal tanks, nothing fancy with heaters or filters and I haven't really ever had any fin problems except for now, that's the only reason I've looked into it.

[RATTIE]

Yeah I think so too, would that be OK to put with my betta?

I keep Java Moss in with all of my Bettas.

I haven't ever really put any thought into a filter for bettas because the last time I did, by betta decided he was going to go up the tube and got stuck. Curious is what I am, do you think it would be a good idea to put a under-gravel filter in? I plan on putting him back in his 10 gallon tank as soon as possible, which will probably be tomorrow or Sunday, but I was just curious.

I suggest skipping the under gravel filter since they tend to do more harm then good. HOB filters are pretty cheap and work great for bettas. I use the Aqueon QuietFlow 10 in all of my 10g Betta tanks but I add a baffle to them. Here is a link that shows how to make a baffle http://www.bettafish.com/showthread.php?t=30139 . Sponge filters also work great for Bettas.

[MaineiacJay]

Actually, you can't see, but the cup cut in half is cut at an angle so the top is submerged. It leaves a large hollow under the cup (more than just the bottom would - tried similar with my first spawn, was not a large enough space, the section outside the cup disintegrated leaving too small a section for a larger spawn). The photo on my site doesn't show that. Regardless, it's a common method used by hobby breeders. My spawning tubs are covered, keeps the moisture in and any cold air out. Furthermore, there really is no one way to breed bettas, it's just whatever works best for you. Each one of my spawns have had well made bubble nests and the eggs always hatch, it is just events out of my control (like the power issue) that has prevented my fry from growing to adults, but then, I only started in October

As of now however, I don't use the cup anymore. I finally got my Indian almond leaves in (took a month) and I use those now. I place a dry leaf on a clean piece of bubble wrap in the tank and secure it with a piece of tape (so it's not moving all over the place). That is what my current spawn is with. I'll look for/take some pictures and post a little later =)

As for your breeder friend, she may have more information about breeding and genetics than myself as I am a "newbie".

[Bettahorse]

Sparrow, the second male's dorsal fin and body shape tell me he is a double tail. I can't identify the base tail type, however, unless you were to get a good pic of him flaring. He's just too ragged to tell otherwise but he could be a poor halfmoon(delta) doubletail, or even a veiltail doubletail.

[MaineiacJay]

Sparrow, the second male's dorsal fin and body shape tell me he is a double tail. I can't identify the base tail type, however, unless you were to get a good pic of him flaring. He's just too ragged to tell otherwise but he could be a poor halfmoon(delta) doubletail, or even a veiltail doubletail.

i dont think he is a double tail, i think the angle just makes it look like he has a shorter body. but he very well could have double tail influence. a lot of people use double tails in their breeding program to broaden the dorsal on single tail fish. with this picture, i would assume he is probably a delta tail.

delta tail not flaring



also, i just took some pictures of the set up of the spawning tubs i use, with the IAL. i checked on the fry and i was right, they are slowly declining =( so i paired up another two fishies and the result is more eggs. so in total, there are probably around 75 eggs or so.

here is my set up. in this photo, the spawn already took place and the female has been removed. this is the steel blue half moon spawn. the IAL tans the water, that is why its that amber color.

a bubblenest under the IAL. this is the delta tails nest

eggs in the delta tails nest

and in the half moon nest

here is one from the half moon spawning. very interesting to watch

[SunShy]

getting my betta after Christmas <3

[Dakotak]

getting my betta after Christmas <3

Don't forget to cycle the tank!!


I put Dottie back in the main tank. She looks so happy. <3