I just "finished" setting up the kiddie pool for breeding my bettas. I'm not sure how many gallons it is but I'm guessing 30-40 gallons. The net is because I own 3 outdoor cats and 2 pomeranians that live inside but go out side a couple times a day to go to the bathroom. My other dogs have a whole part of our yard fenced off for them so I'm not worried about them.

I'm gonna try to buy some real plants or fake if I can't find the right type of live plants and I'm going add a hand full of river stones for a more natural look. I don't have a heater because its summer time here in California and it is REALLY HOT!!!! lol, if it does get cold all I have to do is run down the street and pick one up.






Male:

Female:

I'll keep everyone updated.

Hooo very nice male & female!

Some things that u might wanna take note:

- How deep is the pool? 6 inches is max during spawning and during the first few weeks the fries' lives.

- The current created by the filter is too strong. My suggestion is to take the filter out as u won't need it up until the fries are one month old, then use a sponge filter (that uses air pump) instead of that kind.

- What's the temperature of the pool? It's best if the temperature is a constant 27-29 degrees Celcius (80-84 F).

- Any chance of some kind of non-see-through lid? Bettas don't like to be seen during courting/spawning.

- The river stones are optional. I personally would want to keep the bottom as bare as possible so that the male won't have any troubles picking up fallen eggs.

- The pool is, IMO, too big for spawning. The male will have a hard time finding the female and u might find that they won't spawn at all, opting to live in that "ocean" together without any thoughts of spawning ever. Do u have any (much) smaller containers? U can use the pool later when the fries are bigger and need more space.

I don't want to discourage u, mate just wanna make sure everything is successful for ur first betta spawn

hey I hope your spawn goes GREAT....GOOD LUCK!!!

1- I think its 4-6 inches deep. I have it an inch below the top and may lower it. I do not want anyone to even try to jump.

2- This little filter is great. It says its a sponge filter, water foutain, and normal filter. It has all the stuff to hook an air pump up to it and I have an air pump that I'm not using that was for my goldies. I have it set on high normal filter because I want the stuff that takes the chorline out to get spred all out. I'll turn it down or even off when the male is put in there.

3- The pool right now isn't warm but isn't cold. I would have to guess about 75 degrees. I just put it in there so it hasn't had time to heat up.

4- I have a couple different options for putting something over the top. I have a shett, blaket, and towel. I also have an umbrella to protect them from the sun.

5- I will be using the river stone also as a way to hold down some plants. They are pretty big, about 2-4 inches each. I will use only about 6-12 which is nothing in that pool. I know that the male needs to see the eggs.

6- I plan on over loading have of the pool with plants so it will make the size seem smaller and provide plenty of hiding places for the female and fry. Yes, I have tons of containers for the babies.

7- This isn't my first betta spwan. I've spawned my CT and Vt not that long ago but culled the eggs that weren't already eaten by my female. My aunt and I also bred bettas about 4 years ago and sold over 200 of the babies through a feed and pet store that a friend of the family owns. During this spawn the fish were bred in my aunts pond. I had lots of help and got to keep one of the males from the spawn as a pet. Sady, this time I have no help but then again I'm not as little as I was.Lets hope its like riding a bike and I can remeber all the stuff my aunt did.

No neeed to worry. It not like I'm going to shove them in there and say " Make babies!!!" I still go some finishing touches I need to do for them.


btw- Would you happen to know if dried banana tree leaves would be good to use instead of indian almond leaf? I've head that oak leaves and magnolia leaves are good to use to.

Ah sounds like u got yourself all prepared there then.

Ketapang/Indian almond leaf is best but dried banana leaf is a good substitute.

Ah thank you! Now I don't feel crazy for saving the leaves that fall off my indoor banana tree. ^.^

Huh?? U got an indoor banana tree??? How lucky!!

Yup my mom brought it home for me not that long ago. It doesn't grow bananas though, or at lest I don't think it does. Its small right now. About 2 feet tall. We are gonna put it in our outdoor living room on the other side of the pool one of these days.

Would elephant ear work as well? I have lots of dried elephant ear.

Bwhahahaha, I'm a loser. Just checked to see if the cats were brave enough to touch the net so far everything looks good. Going shopping when mom gets home . Yey! ^.^

No idea about elephant ear and I never saw or read anyone using it so I wouldn't risk it

Wow you are going to have some pretty babies because both the parents are gorgeous

Ok. I won't mess with the elephant ear. Just a thought since banana leaves and elephant ear look similar.


Thanks, thats why I chose to breed them first. I've never seen any betta thier color before. Its looks like someone took purplish pink glitter eye shadow and covered him it it. I Since I got the females from the same breeder, I'm guessing she might be a sister because her color is very similar to his.

Grrrrr, I found 4 little beetles in the pool this morning. Just those little garden beetles but still. Grrrr.

If my first spawn goes right I might breed my huge red white and blue CT male with my red white and blue CT female shortly after the fry become free swimming.He is always in the mood because he lives with a veiltail girl so I'm sure he is still up for breeding. The girl is young so I'm not worried about her. If I breed them will be done in a small container and once the fry can swim they will be dumped in with the other babies, if I get any.


Male

Female on left(her color doesn't show up very well) I need to put her in something galss and set her next to so natural light so I can show her true colors.


Just a thought. Its driving me crazy. I woke up at 5 and have been sitting around for 3 hours(feels like a lot more that 3 hours) waiting to go shopping for plants. So I've just been playing with females and thinking about the different combinations I could do.

good luck with the breeding....

Guu~! -.- Due to thunder and lightning storms I am breeding my bettas inside and then moving the fry outside when old enough. Hey at least it give the plants time to get teally big and spread out.

I couldn't find a single place that sold duckweed. The only nursury near buy that sold really cool water plants is gone. I ran around to about 6 other store and then went back to petso and bought what they had. I got 3 water water hyacinth. They have really feathery roots that will provide lots hiding place for the babies. I got some other random plants too. I may have to go back and buy my self some more.

Heres a picu:





It was hard to find anything I coluld breed my betta and then I found this old plastic drawer that was the perfect size. I placed them inside the hotest room of the house since I don't have a heat. The water stays about 78-80 degrees. Not everything is in the pic.



Does anyone know when I can take the fry out to the pool? I was thinking as soon as they are free swimming or maybe 7 days after being hatched. Maybe I'll will test it with only a few fry and see how they do first.

Good luck with the Betta breeding, sounds like a lot of hard work, but fun! I think I'd be far tooo worried throughout the whole process, I wouldn't be able to sleep either

I hope every thing works out...kepp us posted

You won't be able to change the water drastically on them in the first two weeks... they hate suddent changes... why not just breed in the pool?

I know. I've read that most breeders leave the water for at least 2 weeks without touching it. All I will be doing is using a net to remove anything that needs to be removed. Thanks for the info though.

I can't breed them outside because we are having thunder and lightning storms and I can't be outside to make sure everything goes fine. Its also 110+ degrees(even when raining) so I do not enjoy going outside. I don't feel safe having my adults out there without me being able to check on them. I own 3 pet cats that live outside and in the garage.

If the weather does clear up and I can set up my extra umbrella, and they haven't already spawned then I will move them outside.

I'll keep everyone updated.

I just let the girl out this morning and they are showing great signs. The male tried wrapping himself around her 4 times but kept getting her head instead of her body so then he would freeze in the position and she would swim off because he didn't have her. I hope they figure it out *crosses finger*

I hope they do to ...lol ...he'll get the hang of it sooner or later....But I hope all works out for you ...mine failed when I bred mine about a week and a 1/2 ago everything went right but I don't think his nest was good enough b/c all the eggs fell out and died so I'm gunna try again in a couple of weeks...."wish me luck"!

7:51 AM He has wrapped himself around her correctly for the first time!!! No eggs popped out, or at least I couldn't see any but its hard because I have the sides coverd and my best veiw is the 1-2inches of extra room between the lid and the top of the water.


I gave my male two options of a bublenest helper. A dried banana leaf and bubble wrap. The leaf kind of sunk so I tape part of it to the drawer and now its more like a hiding place/cave for the female when she is tired. He chose the bubble wrap and now has a very beautiful nest thats pretty thick and no bubbles seem to be poping. Did you use an aid for the nest or just let him blow a normal one?

I'm sorry to hear what happened to your eggs. I don't know if a week is enough time to recondition the female and have her ready with eggs. I would wait a bit longer. At least 2 weeks, maybe even a month.Good luck though and make sure you keep me updated. <3

9:44 AM I just saw an egg, may have been more, drop from her. The male didn't go to the bottom to pick it up but as I was watching it looked like he spit something at the nest. I don't want to pull away the paper on the drawer to see because I don't want to make them stop

I tried to get your guys some picus but I really don't want to bother them.

10:15 AM I just watched my male spit eggs into the nest!!!!! *jumping up and down* He spit about 4 eggs before I decided to leave him alone. I thought they were bubbles at first but then I looked and its more of a cream color so it shows up. Eggs eggs eggs!

11:22 AM This is the best thing that could ever happen. My female is helping with the eggs. Such great parents so far!!! She picks the one at the bottom up and my male picks up the ones that fall from her. I can see a few eggs in the nest. I wonder how long spawning is going to last. They haven't got all that many eggs in the nest yet.

Im so happy for you Im glad they are doing a good parenting job so far....well I use a styrofoam cut in half that was taped to the side so it would not move....but I think I made the mistake of keeping rocks in the bottom of the tank and I dont think he could see to pic the eggs up...but I guess I will just try again and I think I'll wait for 3 or 4 more week until my next try or I might use my other female .....

other female is a good idea.


HOLY CR@P!

My male squeezed the girl and like 30 eggs poped out! But he was wrapped around on the top of her so I don't think any are fertalized.

...lol...I remeber I stayed up all night watching mine...lol....I can wait till your hatch..you will have to keep us photo posted on them because I just love babies...!

One time I tired that. Sat in a chair leaning against the counter the aquarium was on. I fell asleep and my mom woke me up and I just kind of walked to my room like a lifeless zombie. Sadly when I woke up my male was ripped to shreads. I thought he was dead. He is now very well and his fins are grown back.

It might be awhile since I get any new interesting picus. You will all be pretty much veiwing the adults and set ups since my cam is so crudding. It can't take good pictures at all! *throws it against wall* Eggs and babies are so tiny and my cam doesn't do well taking pictures of tiny things.

1:26 PM Female was darting away from my male and the white mass behind her organs is hardly there so I guess she is pretty much out of eggs. Lots of eggs in the nest though and a few came out of her when I removed her. She is really happy to be back with her sisters. Now I'll leave the male to his job.

Now its time for a nap. I've been up since 6PM last night.

Congrats. Hope you have a lot of healthy little ones. Can't wait to see those frie pics after they come along

Ah,I needed that nap.

The father is doing great and taking care of the eggs. I have many food choice. Boilded egg yolk, Lidquid fry food, BBS, and I hope inforsia is growing in there. Tomorrow I have to pick up a new light bulb for my 2.5 gallon so the plants don't die, while out I'm gonna buy a heater and see what eles they have to help the babies. I'm gonna see if they have a normal sponge filter. I have yet tried to set the one I have up and right now its outside.

Anything eles I should get?

Father is doing very well today. Picking up any eggs that fall. I'm very proud of him.

Congratulations on your successful spawning.Looking forward to pics of your babies

Today I pulled a muscle in my back so I've just been resting all day. I couldn't go to the pet store so I sent my mom there with a shopping list. Unfortunatly she got me a normal heater instead of a submersible heater. I will have to go tomorrow. Good news though. The tank is at 80-82 degrees.

I'm not sure but I can't see many eggs. I have blue plastic wrap on the top and when I looked at the top of the nest I can't see eggs. But when I look from the side I see some and when the male swims to close to the top he knocks a few down that I didn't even see and then goes about collecting his eggs. I must have back eyes.

I'm so excited I could cry right now! Thats extremely rare for me.

I just went in to pop all the buuble and removed the male because I thought he ate all the eggs becuase no matter how hard I tried I couldn't see any eggs. Well before I did anything I noticed the male was still continuing to pick something upso I stuck my head against the plastic to look. I think the eggs justt hatch because about 5 babies fell from it. I'm so happy!

Hi Sushi , I am so excited for you. Did you have any moe babbies hatch

Yes, I believe so. Everytime I walk past the fish/dog/mouse room I see him going up and down picking up fry that are falling. They look like they are twitching so they fall out a lot. I still can't see the nest well. Its hard for me to bend over since I pulled a muscle in my back while playing with the cats yesterday.

im so exited for you ...!!....how long did it take for them to hatch? after they were put in the nest?........Oh and guest what I bought a new betta today a male...because mine "Whiskey" is getting not interested he is almost 2 now and I don't think he is interested anymore.....but I will post a new topic today after I get a few pics of the new boy !

I think it took near 48 hours but more like 36 hours. Some where between there. They are funny looking. Like eggs with tails and eyes. Congrats on your new boy!

I bet you are really excited. That is really neat. Isn't amazing how the Daddy does all the taking care of the little ones? Just amazes me.

Is it normal for the fry to be swimming? They aren't swimming horizontal yet but vertical. They try to push themselves back into the nest. I'm still unsure about how many but I should be sure when they all start swiming. Daddy looks tired though,just resting on the fanwort.

So how are they...growing any?

Can't tell. I would say maybe a bit bigger.

How are the babies doing?

The bettas you have are beautiful I love the blue red and white male. Hope the breeding goes well for you. I wish my parents would let me do something like that.

Only got about 10 hatched and the next day I was down to 2 so I figured the male ate them. Couple days later the two died. I think they just couldn't get the embrace right so not many eggs got fertalized. Red white and blue pair is breeding right now though. Gosh, I can't believe how sweet my male is. Doesn't bite or chase. He is very good at the embrace. They just got started so only about 5 or less eggs each time.

I didn't think he would breed because he is so old. I got him ages ago from a pet store. He was already huge so I figured he was pretty old. The female came from a breeder though so she is very young.

Sorry you lost your spawn this last time, but here's hoping for a good one this time around