I dont breed bettas i was just wondering if they produce 200+ offspring...

[Silvertongue]

...what do you do with them? What i mean is how do you manage hundreds of fish. Must they all be sold? Do just a few survive?

What i really want to know what do hobbist breeders do with them?
I obviously know what happens to the bettas from big breeders...i was just curious about small 2 pairs of betta breeders?

[Tina N]

Well I think this is why most hobbiest don't really bother with breeding them. All the girls can stay together. But the males need to be separated from each other and the females. That's why it's such a hassle. You can try to sell them to local pet stores but usually they get them so cheap from the wholesalers that it's not really cost effective for all the time and work you'll have to put into it.

They don't have to be sold but if you don't, really what are you gonna do with that many bettas.

I have heard that if you raise the males together from the time they are fry and never separate them, even for a small amount of time, they can actually live together peacefully. But, again, what are you gonna do with all those fish?

[mdellasalla]

So yes initially you can have tons of fry, but they die off for a lot of reasons. From the breeders I know, a good spawn can result in around 25 fry that survive long enough to be sold.

[BettaLu&Meg]

for your question, a healthy betta with enough patients from the breeders part in letting her produce her max amounts of eggs(in time) is a possibility of producing even 300 eggs. On average, a max of half that is seen but over 200+ is possible.

[Oscar Betta]

its possible for a real healthy betta, and you have a really big tank for them when they hatch.

[bettalvr]

Believe it or not, bettas can have way more than 300 fry. I know experienced breeders who have raised 400-500 from one spawn. It's quite amazing, a great setup, LOTS of knowledge, and even more jars!

[wiccansinger]

yeah, i have heard of spawns with up to 600 bettas (in the beginning) and maryanne i have heard of people with more than 90 fry surviving to the selling stage, hobbiests not actual breeders. O.O

[Emenon]

that's a lot of jars. i expect most breeders to breed during the spring and summer when heaters aren't required. otherwise, there'll be a lot of heaters too.

[hvincent]

Well, or just get a room dedicated to bettas and keep the ambient room temperature up to help hold a stable water temp.

There are places where you can get 8oz. plastic cups by the hundred for about $30 a stack. Make a few stacks of milk crates to make shelf room and you're good to go

[wiccansinger]

haha that seems like a good idea vincent ^.^ great advice. although i imagine it would be hard to find a room for your bettas alone, then not get mould problems or something with the walls, i could be wrong tho