I have 12 Betta's and was wanting to breed them. My 29 gallon that currently houses some Danio's and guppies will soon be empty....except for a bristlenose pleco. :-? First off, can Betta fry survive with a bristlenose in the tank? I know it is taking a bit chance. If not, I can put him in another tank maybe. 55 would be the only option, as the others are to small...
Now I know that I will need live food for the first 10 weeks of life, and to condition the parents with. I am fine with that. I can get some off of aquabid. Do people sell live culture here? Such as brine shrimp eggs, micro worms, and vinegar eels?
After I spawn them (I am prepared to fail a few times. I know it is not easy), I will add some methylene blue to the bare-bottom breeding tank to prevent dud eggs from ruining the spawn. Then add some stress coat to the tanks to help with nipped fins and such. Now would 29 gallons be to big to breed the male and female in? I do not know how to transfer fry to one tank to the other though. Of course the male will be moved out of the tank after the eggs hatch. So is 29 gallons OK?
Is a HOB filter with a few layers of panty-hose fine so they do not get sucked up? I know sponge is preferred, but they are also not the best type of filters out there. So, how about 1 layer of panty-hose around the filter, then a mesh wall breeding net ALSO covered in panty-hose to keep the fry from getting sucked up?
I will probably have more questions soon. But please help with what you can now. Thanks
I wouldn't use HOB filter even with the pantyhose...fry will still be sucked up and die on the pantyhose...sponge filter is the best type of filter to use once the fry are about 2 weeks old...no filter needed until then
The male will take care of dud eggs-I wouldn't worry about adding methylene blue
Live plants are the best filter to use to maintain water quality and help provide food for fry first days.....
The 29gal isn't too big even full to the top with water to spawn in....but unless you have it crammed full of live plants you might have water quality issue with the pleco in the tank.....I would suggest that you look into getting a 10gal and use the barebottom method for your first spawn attempt to increase your chances of success.....
Right now I have two 10 gallons, one 15, and the 29. Well, those are the ones that I just have males in. Except the 29.
Anyway, I will start off breeding in a 10 gallon like you suggested. That will take another 10 gallon because I have no more tanks available. And I already have 1 male Betta in the 55 gallon with some females (they get along great), so another male is there is not really an option.
After I do that, I will cycle with a sponge filter. Can you even cycle with a sponge filter? Probably a stupid question, but I had to ask. But would cycling really be worth it? I hear you have to do large water changes daily. Like, 50%?
Since I have heard that, now I have to ask. How big and how often do I do water changes in a fry tank? How should I do them? Won't the siphon suck the babies up? Or should I just take a pitcher with panty-hose or a nylon sock over it so it does not scoop them up?
After the female fry are a decent size, I will transfer them into the planted 29 gallon aquarium until they are selling size. For the males, I really dont feel comfortable putting them in cups. Breeding nets would kind of be a pain, as I could have a good amount of male fry.
How many males in your experience have usually been in 1 spawn? I know that the gender number will be mixed, but just wondering what is the usual number you get. Example: 50-60, 60-70, ect.
Yes, you can cycle a sponge filter....place in an established tank and let it run for about 2 weeks and place in the 10gal when the fry are about 2 weeks old....instant cycle in a sense......
Cycle or nitrogen cycle-the nitrifying bacteria need a surface area to colonize the more pores on the item the more places for the nitrifying bacteria will have to attach and colonize....sponge filters are great for this.....lots of surface area, oxygen and food...the 3 most important things nitrifying bacteria need to colonize......
Cleaning the fry tank-I use airline hose I attached to a couple of chopstick to make it more ridged-my thumb is the control valve...I use a white bucket to siphon the mulm/debris and use a flash light to check the bucket for fry and depending the fry size...I use my little homemade siphon or an eyedropper to suck them up and place back in the tank...if they are over 2-3 weeks of age I use a net......I have hooks over my tanks and attach the bucket of like temp water to siphon the water back in the tank for the first week or so...then I use 1gal milk jugs and pour the water over my clean free hand to refill.
When I did the barebottom tank spawns-I started making 50% daily water changes once I started feeding the fry...usually on or about day 7 of hatch or once free swimming for a few days
Male and females....this varies due to age of the breeders, pH, KH/GH, temp........
Usually first attempts you end up with 20-40 more or less- fry to adult-...that is a good manageable number....but...sometimes you can end up with 100's......and you have to be ready for that.....you may have up to 80 jars with males...that is a lot of work and the only choice you have with the males to get proper grow-out...... except to cull them......remember the small holding container are temporary.....
Have not decided yet. Probably my red male HM. I have 8 females to choose from. Most are petsmart, and are more pet-quality fish. I have 1 or 2 crown tails and have no idea about the others.
Red female is an option. She is very interesting. Each one of her scales is lined with black. Not eroding though, she is very healthy.
Another one is a pale body with metallic on the inside of the tail, and pinkish purplish on the outside.
Then there is a red finned and pale body one. Has a bit of marble on the body also.
First spawn, so not going going to try to get pure anything or have very specific expectations. Just going to breed and enjoy it. I have a LFS by me. But they take terrible care of the Betta's and 4/5 have bad fin rot.
I am also not sure if petsmart will take them. I am a 14 year old that has never spawned before. I am almost positive you have to be 18 to sell the fry to them.
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