i have a slight problem....

[blake32052]

i posted before about if my betta fish will mate. i was told no, that they was use to each other and that they more than likely won't mate. well, i woke up this morning to see that he has created a very stunning bubble nest and she is showing every sign of wanting to mate. so, my question is should i destroy the bubble nest? i really don't have room for the babies! i need some advice!

[Laki]

So do you normally keep a male and female together? If you don't want babies remove her asap. She might be egg bound now though. I don't know how it works. She might have to lay eggs if she has them, then remove her and if you don't want the eggs, remove the father.

[blake32052]

i thought of that too, but i really dont want to keep her in a mason jar.... but you know, i kinda dont have a choice... i was not expecting this to happen... they have been together for so long without anything like this ever happening

[Laki]

Males and females shouldn't live together in a smaller than 30g tank (I think) unless its divided. What size is the tank? I would clean it and divide it. It's healthiest for long term care of them. Raising baby bettas is hard work if you're not prepared with grow out cups, IAL, live food and such.. I think you know that already but I'm just reiterating.

Dividers are extremely cheap and easy to make: http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/d...ividers-21866/

[valen1014]

males and females shouldn't be put together ever pretty much regardless of the tank size unless you are breeding them. Yes, some people have gotten lucky putting them together in large tanks but these exceptions just give people the wrong idea IMO.

[Oldfishlady]

While this is not ideal, it is what it is....Since they seem to be doing fine together-I don't recall for how long, but it seemed like it was a month or longer from what I remember reading on your other thread...Anyway, while its not recommend to keep males and females together-it can be done-it depends on the fish themselves-As long as you understand what you are getting yourself into and the risk involved. Often they will be fine together for a period of time and then "BAM" one kills or injures the other out of the blue.....Then you have reproduction issue that will almost always happen when you keep opposite sex fish together....lol...

Depending on the setup itself-the offspring may or may not survive and since you don't want to or can't move the female. You can let them do what they do...Reproduce....some fry might survive-you never know-you might even end up with a colony.....Mom, dad and offspring living happy or not so happy together.....

I don't discuss my keeping of Bettas in this manner a lot-but only because I don't want others to misunderstand or not fully understand the risk.
IT IS RISKY and often leads to DEATH.....

It can be done, however, I don't recommend it-especially to new keepers. You have a lot more risk involved-vs-success.....

That said, you can either destroy the nest after they spawn or leave it-Its up to you on how much risk you are willing to take.
Remember, once the male has a nest of eggs-then fry to protect-he will usually become extremely aggressive and if your tank isn't suited-he might kill the female and if he doesn't, by her spawning on a regular basis-(usually about every 3-5 days when they are kept like this IME)-it can shorten her life span.

[blake32052]

I'd like to thank all of you for helping! i dont think that they have mated... he is still the very calm and lovable fish he has always been! i know that they both just sit under the bubblenest and swim around together. other than that everything is normal....