In this blog we will discuss how betta fish are made.This blog will give the betta enthusiasts an idea about their history,habitat and about their captive breeding.
Overview
In this blog
- How are betta fish made?
- What is captive breeding?
- Captive breeding in betta fish
- How to choose a successful betta breeding pair?
- Betta breeding essential equipment list
- Bettas breeding tank
- Do bettas occur naturally or produced through captive breeding in the USA?
- How to successfully breed a betta fish?
- Can we breed bettas in community tanks?
- Is it important to cover betta breeding tanks?
- Do bettas breeding tanks require a water filtration system?
- What are the reasons behind female betta fish incapability to reproduce?
- Summary
- Frequently asked questions
- Reference
How are betta fish made?
Betta is native to Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. Despite common beliefs, they cannot be found in puddles. In the wild, they usually live in still water ,paddy fields, floodplains or canals.
A small, active, usually brightly colored, freshwater fin fish known as the betta, belongs to the family Osphronemidae.The most famous fighting fish is Betta splendens, commonly known as Siamese fighting fish.
Fighting fish or bettas usually grow to 3 inches or less.Their normal lifespan is 2-5 years.They have brightly colored fins and different types of tails.
Betta breeding or farming or keeping began more than 150 years ago in Thailand (formerly known as Siam).
Some children collected these territorial fish from the rice fields and put them together to observe the spar and were named Siamese fighting fish accordingly.A person named Frank rock of San Francisco, California brought the first betta fish to the United States in 1910.
As per Mr.Kwon betta has become part of human history as it has been domesticated for at least 1,000 years and is known as one of the oldest domesticated fish.Studies show that betta was bred to fight as early as the 13th century.
What is captive breeding?
Captive breeding is important because it is the process of breeding endangered species and animals outside the natural environment and is the last chance to bring captivity to animals and protect wildlife. It also facilitates the increasing population of healthy animals.
Captive breeding in betta fish
A male betta fish puts an egg in a foam nest and he creates it. Betta babies hatch in about 3 days. As they hatch, male betta fish monitor and stay under the foam nest to catch falling eggs. When hatched, the baby is called a “fry” and is very small.
Bettas can be carefully bred and raised in captivity. Bettas are known for their strong reactions when placed in the same bowl as another betta.These brightly colored small fish may be kept in captivity if the females responses to the male betta’s aggressive mating behavior are carefully observed.
How to choose a successful betta breeding pair?
- When ready for breeding, both are 4-12 months old.
- Male bettas show no signs of lethargy or illness.
- Male bettas have bright colors and red is the most attractive to female bettas.
- Male bettas have long and unscathed fins.
Betta Breeding essential equipment list
- A breeding aquarium of 10 gallons or 38 liters
- A fry Rearing Aquarium of 30 plus gallons or 114+ liters.
- A 5 gallon aquarium kit
- Sponge filter,simple and easy to maintain and it does no harm to baby bettas too
- Air pump,for proper oxygenation
- Airline tubing
- Air regulator
- Aquarium heaters of 25w- Bettas, in their natural habitat, live in a tropical climate all year round and require a heater to keep it warm.This will enhance the breeding process and make it successful.
Bettas breeding tank
A slightly larger aquarium is required to set up a betta fish breeding aquarium.
A tank of about 10 gallons is best.Betta breeding or spawning aquariums should have no substrate,but should provide ample hiding spots in the form of leafy plants.
Give your betta enough space to hide them (if needed), but not so much that they can’t find each other.
Two aquariums are needed to breed betta fish.Permanent aquarium and breeding aquarium.
However, some people choose more complex settings with one aquarium for each adult fish,a breeding aquarium, and a fry aquarium.
Size of bettas breeding tank
A 10 gallon breeding aquarium is recommended.This is because it is small enough to monitor spawning, foam nests and bettas fry.
To control the growth of bacteria and fungi,not only clean the aquarium, but also all the equipment used in the aquarium, such as rocks and ornaments.
Kindly disinfects each component to prevent bacteria and fungi from attacking the betta fry.
Water parameter in bettas breeding tank
The depth of the betta breeding aquarium is about 5 inches. It is recommended to install a small heater, as 78 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal in the same temperature range as a permanent betta aquarium.
Due to the higher metabolic rate and faster digestion at higher temperatures, this has a significant effect on the hatching rate of the eggs.
Eggs in a 75F plus environment can hatch within 24 hours, while eggs in cooler temperatures can take more than 3 days.
Tank plants for bettas breeding tank
Spawning bettas can be very aggressive.Certain plants, such as hornwort, are ideal for aquariums during this time.
Male bettas use these plants to nest and to provide privacy and protection for female bettas.
Hornwort is a very famous and popular choice for betta aquariums because of their ease of care and versatility.
It can grow both in substrate and float on the surface of the aquarium, making it an excellent hiding place for bettas.
Do betta fish occur naturally or produced through captive breeding in the USA?
Some betta fish are caught in the wild, but most of what is sold in the United States comes from breeding farms in Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia. In those countries the bettas are known to be kept in small bottles.
How to successfully breed a betta fish?
- Install a 5 inch water and substrate free breeding tank.
- Check the tank and make sure the aquarium is completely cycled with ideal water parameters.
- A healthy breeding pair is the key to a successful breeding program.The main breeding season for bettas is between 4 and 12 months.
- Older betta fish can still breed, but younger betta fish can breed more successfully.
- And you also need to consider the size of the fish,both male and female bettas should be about the same size and females should be slightly smaller than males.
- Use tank dividers to separate the female bettas until both fish are ready to breed.
- Wait for the male betta to build a bubble nest or foam nest.Once it is done,then release the female bettas to the breeding tank to release their eggs to the bubble nests.
Can we breed bettas in community tanks?
The biggest mistake fishkeepers make when trying to breed bettas is to try to breed them in current male aquariums.
Baby betta fry are very fragile and require proper water parameters, so a breeding aquarium is needed.
Betta enthusiasts should not add substrates as males have difficulty collecting eggs and fry can clog it.
Is it important to cover betta breeding tanks?
It is very important to cover the aquarium when the bettas are spawning. During this time, their already aggressive nature has grown and it is not uncommon for them to jump out of the tank. Similarly, the cover keeps the heat inside the tank.This is important for eggs and fry.
Do bettas breeding tanks require a water filtration system?
The best scenario for bettas breeding is to use a siphon to remove a partial amount of water every other day, without using filtration at all. Be careful not to disturb the bubble nest.
If you need to use filtration, minimize surface turbulence. Turbulence in the tank can damage the bubble nest, making it almost impossible to prevent males from raising eggs
What are the reasons behind female betta fish incapability to reproduce?
A female betta fish won’t breed or reproduce if they are too young or might have come from an environment which was not suitable for her health or maybe they were under stress while coming from pet shops to your aquarium or they could be sick or too old.
Summary
Bettas reproduce best when they are young,ideally 4 to 12 months, maximum age 14 months, and if genetics is inadequate, the fry can become ill or become unhealthy.
Keep betta fish close together so they can see each other.By doing this,it stimulates their will to breed and the betta owner often looks for signs of breeding readiness.
It is important not to disturb the betta fish breeding tank, as there is a chance of collapse of the bubble nest.The bettas bubble nests get bigger and bigger and it takes around 3 days for them to reproduce.By then, the female should have laid enough eggs in her body.
Frequently asked questions
What is the size,shape and color of fertilized betta eggs?
Fertilized betta eggs in the aquarium are small,oval and white balls. Everything from fertilization to reproduction is the responsibility of the male betta, but spawning is up to the female betta.
Can we feed male bettas during the spawning period?
Some breeders do not feed male bettas at all as this reduces the risk of male eating eggs and fry. Other breeders feed him a small meal every other day.
What to feed bettas during breeding period?
During this time, you will also need to condition your betta by feeding it live food. This will enhance male carotenoid levels and make him look bright,colorful and healthy. The mating process can be very stressful for female bettas.
How to know if eggs are present in bubble nests or not?
Eggs look like very tiny marbles and they can be hard to see if you don’t look for them. Part of the bubble nest will also have a cluster of eggs in it, which can be identified by the small yellow patches where the eggs are located.
What should be kept in the bottom of the breeding tank if there is no substrate?
Except for stones and plants, nothing should be there at the bottom of the tank.
