Betta breeding tips...?

[Elizabeth K]

I have bought books, read up on the internet, and in general am ready to breed my Betta's.
I just thought I'd ask to see if anyone had some helpful tips from their own experience in the matter.

Good advice is welcome. If you don't know, please do not answer.

[BettaLu&Meg]

Well Elizabeth i'm the breeder on this forum, breed and have been for awhile now and i hoped you looked around at my posts and threads, I posted ALOT OF INFO on breeding! and i'm glad you stated your ready and researched, because alot don't come out and say that. they think breeding is just a simple throw the female in and wala, And from an experienced breeder to a begginer, you definitly have the right attitude for it i actually decided to crosbreed my CT with my VT instead of same fintype breeding, and i currently have fry that are over a month old that are crossbred, check them out, [Registered users only can see links. ] and i will be happy to help you and answer all your questions. here are some basics from my other threads that i posted! i post alot of things and generally help out along with Fishmomma(she's the health and water/tank expert on this site as well) but here are some basics things you need to know before starting,
heres some tips and facts
there are a couple of ways of promoting breeding in your bettas.
1- A seperate breeding tank should always be just for breeding this is so you don't have to run around wondering which tank you want to make your spawning happen in. A 10 gallon is good for this. limits the swimming all around and harrassments.
2- lower your water level to about 6 inches, this is because in there natural enviroment the water is shallow and still. For some filters it wont reach the water to keep it clean so being on top of that is neccasary.
3- Introducing tannins in the water. This can be done in a couple of ways. INDIAN ALMOND LEAF - AN ASIAN SECRET - IT WORKS LIKE MAGIC ! You will be amazed at the results and improved vitality and breeding frequency in your fish. The leaves have been a long kept secret in Asia where they are used by many breeders and wholesalers.
It also will brown the water making the bettas natural breeding habbitate available.
The Sea Almond tree produces a substance in its leaves and sap to defend against insect parasites. The dried leaves are ideal for reducing losses due to bacterial disease, and keeping sensitive species. This leaf will also if floating will be a housing for your males bubble nest. Add one leaf per 10-15 gallons of water for all sensitive fishes such as baby discus, dwarf cichlids, rare bettas and all black water tetras, rasboras and catfishes.
3A-For tannins instead of an almond leaf you can simply place a REGULAR TEA BAG in your water to brown it. this will also release the tannins neccasary for promoting breeding. AND WONT HARM YOUR BETTA! i know and did this and you seen my precious fighters
4- The Bubble Nest- Your male HAS to make a bubble nest before you even think of releasing her. Without this its just a death match. Insuring that there a bubble nest or to get him into the idea is place the Indian almond leaf in Or If thats available which for me at the time it wasn't here yet. Place a styrofoam cup, cut long ways, on top of the water. Giving him a bubble nest housing. This will Keep all the bubbles together, will give him the idea that bubble making will not be destroyed and float away (sense of security) and if he is already making one place the cup over the bubble and watch him make more in it. My video should the huge nest the CT made. This is because my female didn't like the nest, she swam up to it played with it and ran away. UNTIL his nest was that big is when she gave it up lol!
5- The Egg or "Pearl" and Strips- You also have to make sure your female is in a confined area like a vase, chimney, or a bottle in the center of the breeding tank. This is so the male has constant sight of her and will show off his stuff! then will retreat back to the area where the nest will be made, and start his project. Also keeping her close and not just on the other side of the tank with a divider is because with that she can get and hide far way on the other side of the tank and loose intrest quickly, same for the male. When You see that her vertical strips are present and her "pearl" is protruding out of her belly then she's intrested. (Remember wait for the nest to be a decent size before releasing her).
6- The hidding place- You need to place in your breeding tank a hiding spot for your female, while she's being harrassed or simply tired from matting she WILL run away looking for a spot to hide for awhile to relaxe for a few min. then she will come out and the be harrassed again, this is normal and not just being bullied.
7-The harrassment- You have to make sure your female is smaller than your male! Other wise your male will have trouble showing dominance in the tank, and do damage to him! Again learned this from exp. Making sure she's a little bit smaller than him will insure that he can wrap himself around to spawn, also will give him the upper hand in "dominance showing" and will eventually nip and rip some of her fins. This is NORMAL AND CAN'T BE ANOTHER WAY. THIS IS THERE NATURAL WAY OF BREEDING (unfortunatly). If you notice while she is being chase and hiding and looses her strips and its been gone for an hour take her out and keep her in the bottle for another 3 days and repeat.
8- Patients- this is the hardest thing to do, trust me i know! i'm as impatient as anyone else if not worse. but the spawning/matting process can take up to 4-5 hours with all the harrassing and chassing, flirting and showing off, and going back to the nest to spawn. This hobby will test your patients cuz it did mine! BUT will be worth it when you see your bettas spawning.
9- keep your water temp at 80 degrees F.

Keeping them in the bottle close will always get them to show off and promote spawning being that they always have sight of each other and have a chance to.

AS A BREEDER TO A BEGINER I ADVISE THIS... READ UP AND TALK TO EXPERIENCE BREEDERS BEFORE GETTING INTO THIS, DOING THIS TAKE ALOT OF PATIENTS, ALOT OF TIME,(MOST OF YOUR TIME), OR YOU CAN END UP WITH DEAD FISH, DEDICATION, $$$, REQUIRES ALOT OF KNOWLEDGE GETTING INTO. THERES A LOT OF PREPERATION FOR THE PROMOTION ON BREEDING, THE ACT OF BREEDING, AFTER THEY BREED, AFTER THE FRY HATCH, WHEN TO TAKE MALE AND FEMALE OUT. AND HOW TO CARE FOR THE FRY. I DO THIS FOR A HOBBY AND IF SOME PEOPLE WANT ME TO BREED A CERTAIN PAIR OF MINE I SELL FOR CHEEP. THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL THING TO DO, WHEN YOU DO IT RIGHT. AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ASSIST YOU IF YOUR REALLY DEDICATED AND CAN ATTEND TO IT MOST OF YOUR DAY! ALSO..... read up on some of my post and replies on the breeding section of the forum and the Taking care of the fry section of the forum most of the answers to the question people have i already posted. i don't mind rewriting it but serious breeders look in a spots before relizing if its for them or not. Feel free to ask anything you need regarding breeding to me, For health and care FishMomma is the expert on this forum for those topics, as for me i'm the breeder here! it was a pleasure in giving you adive, information and how-to's and will be happy to further assist ya! Talk to ya soon!!!!
SOME OF THIS I COPIED FROM MY OTHER REPLIES, AND THE SAME QUESTION WAS ASKED BUT, IT WAS JUST TO SHOW YOU THAT I CAN HELP AND WOULD LIKE TO IF YOUR ABSOLUTLY READY, ALSO BE PREPARED AFTER SUCCESSFULL BREEDING TO HOUSE ANYWHERE FROM 50-150 FRY IF ALL SURVIVE step by step is the way to do it, and that how i will be happy to guide you! if you give me up to date info on your progress and pictures of your success in return
TALK TO YA SOON!