Help / advice

[tracyalexa]

We have eggs and a pretty attentive daddy. The tank is a divided 10 gal w/ a removable divider. I didn't expect that they would breed so quickly, but they did and my dilema now is, do I transfer the dad and eggs to my other bare bottom 10 gal or would this cause too much upset? I am worried about the gravel on the bottom and the decor in the tank causing issues once they hatch. It's been 17 hrs since the eggs went into the nest.


Advice?

[Oldfishlady]

Congrats.....I would leave him and the nest/eggs in the current tank...some males when disturbed too much will feel threatened and eat the eggs-this is instinct-they use the protein for energy to spawn again when its safe.....

If you have another Betta on the other side of the divider-I would remove that fish and once you remove the male remove the divider....the less you are in the tank the better.....

Depending on how large the gravel-it may not be too much of a problem-if it is large size gravel you may want to add a common snail or more to eat any fallen eggs/fry that may get trapped to prevent the water from fouling/fungus too fast and killing all of them.....

Do you have live plants in the tank

What are your plans, goals...etc.....

Look forward to pic and hearing more about your spawn as they grow/develop.....

[tracyalexa]

Thanks for your reply!

There is no one on the other side of the divider, it used to be the mom but I've removed her.

I have some floating live plants in there now. I have another larger fake plastic plant. The gravel is large. I have a pretty big mystery snail that is in another tank. Do you think I should put him in there?

My goal is first to get some healthy babies! The LFS has agreed to purchase them from me .... they sold me the dad. So, hopefully we can find good homes for all of them.

[indjo]

leave daddy and eggs as they are. But try to remove the divider. You can put in the snail. And later, when daddy's out, try removing the gravel a little at a time until you almost have a bare bottom - enough for the snail to get to any left over food.

[tracyalexa]

Divider removed and snail in there. I am wondering now though, if there are actually egg/babies. He is staring at that nest like there are...but I cannot see them as clearly as before. If he ate them all, would he still be trying to care for it like this?

[Oldfishlady]

Usually the male will tend and mouth in the nest area...you should be seeing little bouncing fry in the 24-32h range depending on temp and pH....then you will know for sure...

[tracyalexa]

Ok, temp is 80. Will double check PH when I get home.

The eggs were put into nest around 3pm on Sat. So...I am hoping maybe to see something tonight.

[dramaqueen]

Good luck, Tracy.

[tpocicat]

Good luck, you should be seeing little tails sticking down from the nest soon.