Tom

what again? Emerald has a bunch of vertical stripes. Do they mean that she is ready to mate with a male? If so, I have a male that so far seems really healthy.
Tom

Phloxface

Please don't breed them unless you really know what you are doing. You need a lot of expensive equipment, time and specialized knowledge to breed Bettas and you need to know for sure that you could find GOOD homes for the young, which could number over 100. I don't know anyone who has that many friends to give the babies to and pet stores don't take fish from amateur breeders...

She doesn't need to be bred to be happy. No animal does. Vertical stripes simply means she is healthy and feeling calm and happy. Horizontal stripes means they are stressed and/or sick.

Tom

I was kidding about the breeding part. Thanks, for reminding what the stripes mean.
Tom

Amorinthe

Holy over the top response batman! lol.

and I disagree. I'm sure I'm not the only exception to this rule. I DO need to when I get vertical stripes, otherwise I am unhealthy and get very sick.

Xenomorph

But are your stripes verticle or horizontal when you're lying down?

Phloxface

What's so "over the top" about my response? I just don't like the idea of bringing more Bettas into the world who may never find good homes, plus, breeding Bettas is not as easy as breeding guppies. Female Bettas are sometimes badly hurt or killed if introduced to the male at the wrong time or if she is not removed after breeding. Since betta males need to be separated shortly after birth they need FAR more jars and time to clean them every day than other fish who can just be put into a breeding box or net.
I figured Tom knew better but I would hate to think some newbie lurking on the board gets the wrong idea and puts a male and female together without having a clue as to what they are doing.

Maybe that's you, but I am more self controlled. :P

COBettaCouple

our females (can't tell with Angel) get those stripes from time to time too. It's great how they show appreciation for good care and a good home.