BlackMumba

LOL too funny therapy !! Anyways, I know exactly what you mean about overly aggressive males. I have a beautiful Copper male Plakat, whom spawned with one of my females before a bit of damage to the girl but she was okay. The next time I tried to spawn him with one of my girls, omg he was so aggressive, I thought maybe she wasn't ready. So, I tried him with another female, again but worse. Needless to say these girls can put up with alot of damage, she was fine beat up but fine, I did not continue to breed her with him, removed her for her safety and left him alone. I haven't tried to spawn him again, giving him a long vacation to think things through. I don't know if I will spawn him again, I have too many other great choices to go through. I would give him a long vacation, and try again later on if you don't have another male to breed... maybe he will calm down, I have also read that leave him and her separated longer together then apparently the male becomes less aggressive, I didn't find that to be true but maybe there is truth to it dunno. Good luck with future spawn attempts. :thumbs:

Welcome :thumbs:

There are the rare occassions the male will be an egg eater, but its not the norm.. Blackwater extract is an overrated additive that is not needed IMO, if you have clean water almond leaves.. and peat that should do the trick. He had already lowered his water by adding Peat, blackwater and R/O so he should test the pH level, if below 6.8 it's too low. I know Blackwater extract is recommended by betta breeders all over North America, that also being said everyone at every city has different degree's of water PH... so what works for one place doesn't necessarily work for another. Betta's are great in a PH of 8.. they can do very well in a range of 6.2 to 7.9 if your already adding Almond leaves and peat at 8 PH, then you do not require anything more, your city tap water should provide enough minerals. Hardness of water can range from 2 - 25 GH from very soft to very hard I was breeding mine at PH 8 GH 24 <--- this is really high level of hardness I wouldn't recommend anyone purposely going to this extreme... KH 6 NO3 20 with only almond leaves and peat sacks, I have to add minerals back into my water supply because I use 100% R/0, my well water has too much sodium and a ph of 8.8 to 8.9. So, its very possible your GH is too low, GH being your hardness.. Blackwater extract is a water conditioner that is used to help soften the water and add minerals, adding to much or too little is all it takes. You should check your GH too see as well. I strongly believe, that if your water is incorrect your Betta male will be an egg eater, the only reason a betta will eat eggs if the water isn't perfect to help raise the fry, the male didn't fertilze the eggs and has to eat them, or they are fungal. The very rare case, you get a male egg eater. When I first started out, I had alot of issues. I had to play with all my water to get it right, I had all egg eaters all four males. I couldn't understand so I tried different things, played here and there... Until all those Males, produced fry after many attempts. It was fustrating as heck, but I finally got it down to an art. I have currently on the go 5 spawns with too numerous to count fry. You have to be patient as I had to be, and removing blackwater extract MIGHT be the answer to the egg eaters problem... IT MIGHT NOT be the solution but until he tries he won't know. It's a suggestion, worth trying :thumbs: Good luck on the next spawn attempt I hope it works well!

Get rid of the blackwater expert stuff, stop using it, try doing a spawn without it.. You don't need it, plus it does nothing for a spawn IMHO!! I don't use it, never have.. When males are egg eaters, its because the water chemistry is incorrect, this has been my experience. I've had egg eaters, turn into wonderful papa's. I had to play with my water with R/O to get everything perfect.

:thumbs: They look great Gina...

:thumbs: Congrats!!

Oh, that's too cool!! Would have loved to have seen it in real time though! :thumbs:

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Oh, man that's so sad... Rest in Peace!! Sorry for your loss!!

Honestly, be wary of purchasing Plakat females unless from a breeder... To tell a Plakat female from a LF female is almost impossible, even experienced professionals have a hard time making sure what is what. Your fortunate to find a Plakat female, most in the LFS are not, and if the store clerk don't know, my guess is they will likely be Veiltail at best.

I would send in pictures of mine, but the snails won't get outta the way !!! :bang1: -roll- Yep I am over populated !

Great shrimp, I've been dieing to start them on my breeding program... scared to try super expensive atm. Good luck, keep us informed on them...

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IF your interested in breeding him, then for sure.. find a nice lady to spawn him.. most healthy betta males will build a pretty impressive bubblenest. I do presently have Delta Females, a lot of them, they are from a halfmoon Female and a Plakat male. I can do a group order to Calgary to help with the shipment costs to Calgary, I know there were a few people interested in some of my betta's but because I am in Edmonton shipping is a problem. I find betta's are so under rated, they are an incrediable species.. and a absolute joy when you get them to successfully spawn... Sounds like he is a great boy!! Good Luck :thumbs:

That's so neat.. I wish I had more room to breed more varieties of fish, maybe one day ! :thumbs: Congrats !!

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:thumbs: I loved the Frank and Nico story... and the photo's thanks for sharing they have quite the set up!

WOW! Nice pictures and fish... interesting too !!

Absolutely stunning!!! Love it !! :thumbs:

We should have an aquarium FUGLY contest.. I am shoe in to win !!! LOL Even Patrick can't help me, I am hopeless!! :bang1: -roll-

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Congrats !!! I love getting Doubletail fry.. :thumbs:

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