Breeding betta fish require the fish to be conditioned for approximately fourteen days. During these fourteen days, feed the adult betta fish high-protein food, such as bloodworms or daphnia. High-protein foods is required to increase the health of the betta fish and to trigger the hormone that will initiate the spawning process.
Select a male betta fish that is robust in appearance, and select a female betta fish that has a plump belly; an indication that the female betta are carrying eggs. If high-protein foods are not provide during the conditioning period, the egg may be infertile, or the betta fish may not display interest in spawning. In addition to conditioning the adult fish, you must also prepare the breeding tank.
How to Breed Betta Fish
Use a ten-gallon tank that does not have a current in the water. Current in the water may cause the egg to scatter. Add an Indian almond leaf to the breeding tank; the Indian almond leaf will release tannin into the water that prevent fungus from developing on the eggs.
Additionally, ensure that the heater for the breeding tank is set to a more higher temperature; higher temperatures encourage the spawning process. Ensure that the male betta fish builds a bubble nest at the surface of the water before you introduce the female betta fish into the tank. The male betta fish construct the bubble nest with air and saliva, and will use this bubble nest to care for the egg that are created with the spawning process.
Place the female betta fish into a clear jar that is placed inside the breeding tank prior to introducing the female into the tank. This way, the male can view the female without the female being able to touch the male. When the spawning process begins, the male will wrap his body around the female to fertilize the egg that she is carrying.
After the spawning process is complete, remove the female betta fish from the tank immediately. The male may become territorial of the egg that are contained within his bubble nest, and may attack the female if she remain in the tank. The male betta fish will take care of the eggs by fanning the eggs with his fins and picking up any stray eggs with his mouth.
You should not disturb the surface of the water as doing so can destroy the bubble nest that the male betta fish create. After one to two days, the fry will hatch from the eggs and will rely upon the yolk sac for nutrients. After three days, when the fry begin to swim freely, you will need to begin providing them with tiny food source such as infusoria or vinegar eels.
After the fry begin to grow, you can provide them with baby brine shrimp. However, just as important is ensuring that you dont overfeed the fry, as ammonia will spike in the water if you overfeed the fry, which could lead to the death of the fry. To ensure that the fry grow normaly, you will need to monitor their growth as well as the behavior of the adult betta fish.
Once the fry are old enough to swim horizontally, you should separate them from the male betta fish, as the male are required to protect the fry while they are small. Additionally, at eight weeks of age, the fry should also be separated from each other. Male betta fish becomes aggressive at eight weeks of age.
By following the timeline described for conditioning the fish, spawning the pair, and feeding the fry at each life stage, you can increase the likelihood that the breeding cycle will be sucessful.
