BettaFishMommy Posted October 12, 2011 Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 microworm cultures are a definite necessity when raising baby bettas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sierra Posted October 12, 2011 Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 I find if you remove the female and leave the male for a day or two that really gets him building. (as in after he has had a good look at her...) Is she ready? bars? I don't think you mentioned. Yeah it's pretty hard to raise the fry without live food there are quite a few people that would be willing to give you some sort of culture for free/cheap. I tried the bubble wrap last time and it felt like the nest got built quicker but didn't get/stay as big as when I tried with the cup...but one time with bubble wrap is hardly anything to base opinions on. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McTurtle Posted October 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2011 I have cultures of microworms growing for the fry, if I ever get fry! I'm going to try with putting a cup in with the male tonight and then replace the female (in her vase) on Friday. I'll give it one more go, but I'm thinking the male just isn't up for it. *sigh* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingin' It Posted October 14, 2011 Report Share Posted October 14, 2011 You should condition your fish before you try breeding them...feed them blood worms, black worms, white worms...etc. You might get better results. Of course that's not to say they won't get in the mood if you don't. Also, i've found that making sure you have lots of infusoria greatly increased the survival of the fry...and they grow better too IME. I use lots of guppy grass loaded with water flea things and the fry seem to do really well growing in that too. Best of luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sierra Posted October 14, 2011 Report Share Posted October 14, 2011 You should condition your fish before you try breeding them...feed them blood worms, black worms, white worms...etc. You might get better results. Of course that's not to say they won't get in the mood if you don't. Also, i've found that making sure you have lots of infusoria greatly increased the survival of the fry...and they grow better too IME. I use lots of guppy grass loaded with water flea things and the fry seem to do really well growing in that too. Best of luck! I like this idea of the hairgrass please elaborate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingin' It Posted October 15, 2011 Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 Guppy Grass...or Najas grass. Grows like crazy...allows fry to hide and feed all at the same time! I put about 2" of water in the tank, throw in a hand full of guppy grass from another tank, sometimes duck weed is there too. Water fleas and other stuff just appear out of nowhere! Throw in some snails for infusoria and in a few weeks you'll see a bunch of "bugs" in the water, on the water, on the glass. Fry just snack on them and the bug population just keeps on providing for the fry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McTurtle Posted October 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2011 I put in a 1/2 styrofoam cup in the breeding tank this weekend and my male made his bubble nest! I was sooo excited. I released the female, but the male chased her and she hid for 8 hours. I can't see any stripes on her, but I'm not sure if they'd be clear on a dragon female. She's back in her own tank and I'm feeding her blood worms to see if that'll encourage her. Has anyone fed their bettas mysis shrimp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BettaFishMommy Posted October 18, 2011 Report Share Posted October 18, 2011 when i had 7 bettas none of them cared for brine or mysis. my last two bettas over the past couple years have eaten mysis and brine, but much prefer bloodworms. you should be able to see either the breeding bars (vertical) or stress stripes (horizontal) on any darker coloured betta. it's the really light coloured bettas that don't show bars or stripes well. i just went back in the thread and something jumped out at me from your first post - "I'm actually not 100% sure the females are all girls because they're plakat and so could be males" - all female betta splendens are short finned. the ovipositor is the only definite gender check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishclubgirl Posted October 19, 2011 Report Share Posted October 19, 2011 Just doing a betta order from thailand and they have long finned fighter females so not all ladies have short fins. An "eggspot" is an excellent way to determine sex as well some of the girls have a bit of a tum on them and shorter ventrals. There's much more variety to betta splendens than can be found in the lfs and also just because someone works at an lfs doesn't make them an expert. My suggestion would be to get in touch with a knowledgeable member of ACE(so tempted to say that's an oxymoron.....) and have them help you sex your fish :thumbs: and perhaps help you with the lfs.... Catmandu might know a thing or two about bettas and hopefully could assist you too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BettaFishMommy Posted October 19, 2011 Report Share Posted October 19, 2011 yes, i have seen long finned female bettas, but they are rather rare and not seen in the hobby often, so it would be fairly safe to say that females are short finned here (at least until fishclubgirl brings hers in and starts breeding them!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishclubgirl Posted October 20, 2011 Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 Actually I specialise in plakats and I think my short finned boys are tired of being mistaken for girls. It was very tempting to order some long finned lady fighters but I was at over 100 fish already. Oooooopsy....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingin' It Posted October 20, 2011 Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 Last jar show my crowntail girl was mistaken by some for a boy 'cause she was so big and her fins so mature! What a pretty fish...*sigh* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishclubgirl Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 Yes, that fish did seem a little confused. With her size and long fins, I half expected her to start belting out Cher tunes in a husky voice. Oops, Cher has a husky voice so that doesn't help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingin' It Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 "If I could turn back time...If I could find a way...i'd take back those words that hurt you...and you'd stay!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishclubgirl Posted October 22, 2011 Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 Too bad you cut your hair or I totally could see you singing it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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