Red1313

Well I haven't decided to try my hand at breeding, however I've been doing a lot of googling and was wondering if anyone could answer a few questions for me.
1) Do you jar the entire spawn or just the boys and overly aggressive girls?
2) Carding is putting a non see through divider between tanks so the boys don't over stress themselves. Is this necessary?
3) What are the ideal standards to try and breed for? Any links?
4)... I've forgotten at the moment but I'm sure there was more. If anyone could clear these up for me that would be great!
Thanks in advance,
Red

Shawnie

hi red!! this thread has some great info from pandora....hope this helps

1st time breeding bettas

Red1313

thanks for the link shawnie it gave me a bit of info to consider for my hypothetical breeding, however the above questions still remain.

Pandora

Hi Red!
I'll try to answer your questions as best I can...
1) I usually only jar the boys and the girls I'm going to keep. Much easier to keep the lil girls together till they go to their new homes! I've never had aggression problems with them as long as they're not separated, even managed to mix groups of female juvies without issue. With some lines you'll run into really nasty girls too, so then you might have to jar, but normally it shouldn't be a problem.
2) I've never bothered with carding. I've found my boys get used to their neighbors, so I try not to mix them up too often. They don't flare all the time by any stretch, just every now and then. It depends a bit on personality too, though... if they're flaring constantly carding would be a good idea. You know how different these guys can be! Some are just crazy, and others are more laid back.
3) Standards really depend on the tail type you're interested in breeding... each one has it's own set (hm, ct, 3 plakat standards, dt, and wilds... I think that's all of them). For the detailed standards you have to join the IBC, but there's a group where they discuss them some, and I think have them up. They're quite open to interpretation still, and I can help you with what I've figure out over the years! (except with ct's... I don't know their standards well at all, since they dont' like me lol)
4) I hate that when I forget what I wanted to say too

sirdarksol

Pandora's probably the best source of betta-breeding info on Fishlore (this isn't to say that you shouldn't listen to others, just that she's got the most experience, as far as I know, out of all of us), so you've already gotten some excellent info.

I'm just going to add one thing to number 3 (which she kind of said, but I want to stress it.) The "ideal standards" depend on what you want. If you're trying to breed show-quality bettas, then checking with IBC is a good way to go.
However, the IBC is not the be-all and end-all of betta aesthetics. You are, I am, Pandora is, BettaCouple is, and anybody else who appreciates the beauty is. In other words, igo for what you think is beautiful, and what you think others will find beautiful. You may find your strain lauded by groups like the IBC, but even if you don't, if you breed a beautiful group of bettas, and that was your only goal, then their opinion doesn't matter. This is the path of higher risk (financially, since aiming for the standard points will allow you to sell more fish at higher cost), but also the path of greater gain.

Pandora

Yes, that's a very good point! I'm breeding in hopes of showing one day, but I also have a couple of colours that I adore that don't fit into the standards in any way shape or form (mg's, black/oranges for example), so I breed them because I like them. Also don't like the overly thick bodies some of the trad pk breeders prefer... I like them a bit more refined and elegant so that's what I go for. Personal preference is a very important part of your breeding. You won't have fun if you rigidly stick to what others say they should look like even if you like something else better!

Red1313

Thanks for the great advice guys!
The idea I'm toying with (and it may be awhile before I've got the cash to get the set-up that I like) is mostly to work with Giants and try to develop some of the tail types for them since mostly all you can find at present are the PK and HM PK varieties. However I was curious about the std's b/c usually they've been developed of a reason (there are variations within), I'm mostly curious as to what the faults are. I know that from showing livestock (maybe not the best comparison) that there are things that you want to avoid with good reason (bullish cows tend to have problems with calves ect.) so finding out what the stds are seemed like a good place to start. The other questions were things that I couldn't find a really good reason for on any of the sites I was reading.
(wow that was long winded, just thought I'd explain the thought process behind the questions though. )

Allie

I would go with what Pandora said too. I am only on my first spawn so I can't help with too much about breeding, yet.