Breeding Bettas- I need tips

[brennae]

I have decided just to experiment and breed 2 Bettas Splendens. I know I won't make money and that is not what I am after, I want the experience. I have sponge filters on the way. I already have the leaves for the water. I have been feeding frozen blood worms and brine shrimp along with NLS . I also have a spare 10g tank sitting around and extra heaters etc. Is that big enough of a tank at first?
I got Bettas to spawn once when I was in high school but I didn't have them heated and didn't know what to feed the fry so they didn't make it.

Anyway, any tips of tricks or possible pitfalls are welcomed!

 

[Andy Sager]

I have decided just to experiment and breed 2 Bettas Splendens. I know I won't make money and that is not what I am after, I want the experience. I have sponge filters on the way. I already have the leaves for the water. I have been feeding frozen blood worms and brine shrimp along with NLS . I also have a spare 10g tank sitting around and extra heaters etc. Is that big enough of a tank at first?
I got Bettas to spawn once when I was in high school but I didn't have them heated and didn't know what to feed the fry so they didn't make it.

Anyway, any tips of tricks or possible pitfalls are welcomed!

The following is exactly how I breed my Bettas. You can see pics of some of my fish and setups in my albums in my profile.

I breed Bettas this way:
Condition the potential pair by adding higher protein foods like Bloodworms or Black Worms to their normal diet for approx. 1 week. Female should be nice and round with the first egg showing at her ovipositor.

Tank with new water and no filter-Covered to keep humidity in, water 80-82 degrees, Water height- no more than 6 inches. (I use anything from clear shoe box trays to bowls to glass tanks for spawning tanks. The water height is what's more important.) Some tubes such as PVC fittings or piping or other hiding places for the female along the bottom. I usually have 3 to 4 of these in the tank.

Male loose in tank- Female in glass jar, I use a piece of Romain lettuce leaf roughly 2" square for the male to build his nest. You can substitute a floating live plant for the lettuce. ( As the lettuce starts to deteriorate, infusoria cultures begin to develope.)
Assuming your fish have been conditioned, Males build nest within 24-36 hours, Females show breeding colors almost immediately, If female does not "challenge" the male when he flairs at her, she is most likely not ready for breeding. (My females flair their gill plates right back at the males.)
If all signs point to a compatible pair, I release the female in the morning.
I've had spawns happen as quickly as 45 minutes after introduction to 7 days later. (Note that if the male is highly aggressive, I will put the female back in the jar at night for their protection.) Once spawning is completed, the female is removed. Male cares for the eggs and fry. The male comes out the day before the fry are free swimming.

Rearing fry:
I don't usually start my fry with infusoria other than what was in the tank from the lettuce. I start hatching setup for live brine shrimp the day the fry start free swimming so that they are newly hatched by day 2. (PM me for more instructions on hatching out brine if you need it.)
At about 7-10 days old, I start a sponge filter with very little air (Fry are very sensitive to water movement.) I seed the sponge prior to using it to have a "cycled" filter instantly.

From this point on, it's feeding and careful water changes to get them to grow followed by a change to a larger grow out tank.

Feel free to PM me if you need more help with these fish