critter_fritter79

I have conditioned and tried this pair twice now to no avail..he just would not build a nest with or without her in the tank with him...so i decided this time would be the last for this pair. After over a week together i had about given up then i noticed the male had suddenly built a nest and would NOT leave it. Looked and we have EGGS!!!!!!!!!! This morning i was afraid fungus had gotten them all, but when i got out the flashlight and magnifying glass I saw severl large solid while eggs but even more clear eggs with these cute little black eyes looking at me! YEAH!!! This is about the 36 hour mark since the spawn/.no eggs at 7 am yesterday then they were there at noon so I am estimating, I have brine shrimp eggs ready to go but am wondering since they take approx 24 hours to hatch when should I get them started? Isn't it the 3rd day after hatching that they need to be fed? If not when do I start feeding them? No tails sticking out yet so none hatched yet, but like I said, I can clearly see eyes and tiny black bodies with the magnifying glass. I am so excited!!!!! Oh and the pair are red/blue veils but I have a blue/purple double tail waiting!!

Red1313

Congrats
MM has a great step by step spawning guide sticked in the betta breeding section. (in case I forget to find the link for you)... On a school computer sorry can't figure out how to paste the link.

Martinismommy

Congratulations on your 1st spawn...You really need to order a culture of microworms ASAP...Newly hatched betta fry are the same size as BBS...They can't eat them until around day 7...

Lucy

Congratulations and good luck with your first spawn.
Here's the link Red was talking about:
Step by Step guide to breeding Bettas

critter_fritter79

Thanks MM! As soon as I read your advise about the mircoworms, I got them ordered and they are on the way! Thanks again!!

critter_fritter79

We have BABIES!!!! Babies everywhere!!!! The microworm culture I ordered should be here tomorrow, when do I start feeding it? Do they need something before then?? If they need to be started today I can make some calls and see if I can track down some liquifry even if I have to drive a ways for it. I am totally committed to raising these fry right! MM, you said they won't be able to eat bbs til arounde day 7, on day 7-8 should I start feeding thema mix of both the bbs and mw? Knowing the postal service, I am afraid the microworm culture might be late, as late as monday...do I need something before then?

Shawnie

congrats! wheres the pics and liquid fry food is better than the bbs at least for the week..or until you worms get there!

critter_fritter79

am going to try to take some pics this afternoon...and am hunting down liquifry as we speak
Thanks!!!

Shawnie

put your camera on the macro setting(it looks like a flower icon) otherwise, it will be a blur LOL

critter_fritter79

cool! i will try that! I did notice that he isn't putting them bck in the nest..but they aren't swimming yet either, they are on the bottom of the tank and kinda hanging to the sides of the tank. It looks like he destroyed the nest...it is gone. Are they in trouble??

Shawnie

usually if hes not putting them back in the nest, hes got to be removed....but id wait for MM to be sure....how longs it been ?

critter_fritter79

a few hours now...he is kinda browsing the bottom and seems to be checkig them out. I dont think he is eating them (yet)

Martinismommy

Take him out if he isn't doing his job....He will end up eating them....As long as the water level is low (around 3 inches) they will be fine.....They will need some food soon.When do the microworms come? Who did you get them from?

critter_fritter79

I ordered the microworms from a breeder in texas that my Mom knows. He said they would go out yesterday afternoon priority so i am hoping to have them by tomorrow. the water is low about 3-4 inches and most are still hanging on the sides up under the cup, they seem ok. i am on the internet and phone to all the stores in driving distance trying to find some liquifry.

Martinismommy

Fry don't usually eat until 3 days after hatching so you should be fine....Do you have live plants in the tank? Mine nibble on the plants the 1st day or 2...Another thing about the microworms is you have to make a culture from the starter.....The worms have to settle and crawl up the sides before you can use them....This can take up to 5 days.....

critter_fritter79

Good to know I dont have to panic about starving them! Thanks for easing my mind and heartrate!! I didn't know bout the worms so i am going to go ahead and try to find the liquifry til they are ready. I don't have any live plants in there, but have several moss "balls" in my angel tank. Will it be ssafe to take and add 2-3 to the fry tank? If so that is easily done! I wish I had read your step-by-step first instead of the other step by step i found elsewhere, I think i might have been more successful on the first or second try if I had. As to why I am breeding, just for sheer love of betta's. My childhood was pretty rough and my first pet was a betta named Frank. I had him for 2 years and he even got to where if I put my finger in his bowl, he would swim up and rub on it. he was my best friend and I haven't been without a betta since. If I make enough money to even come close to breaking even, i am happy. If not, oh well...the sight of my first fry made it all worth it to me!

Martinismommy

Yes, the moss balls from the other tank will be fine...Put them in now if possible....Carefully take them out so all the good stuff stays on them....

critter_fritter79

Done...and I am going to go ahead and move daddy to his waiting, heated tank. Thanks SOOOOOOO much for all the help!!

Martinismommy

You're welcome.....Good luck and keep us posted...

critter_fritter79

I couldn't find anyone who had liquifry or anything like it, but I did find some hikari first bites for egg layers...should that be ok until the microworms are here and ready?

Shawnie

hikari brand? if so, it will do in a pinch but they really need those microworms...goodluck and dont forget pics!! .

critter_fritter79

great! also would it be safe to add a small mystery snail to help keep things clean? or would the snail try to eat myfry?

Shawnie

dont add anything ..just partial daily water changes ...use a turkey baster to keep everything clean so you dont hurt the fry

critter_fritter79

We have free swimmers now, and tons of them!!! I can't begin to count them all. the micro worms aren't here yet, but they are eating the hikari first bites and may not be eating the bbs but seem to like chasing them! I am wondering if anyone can give me any tips on how to do the water changes with so many fry in the tank without sucking them up in the baster. I did a water change yesterday with the turkey baster. Took the water out of the tank and put into a clear jar, then took the prepared water from another jug and put into the tank. Problem is, I sucked up at least 50 babies! I tried blowing bubbles first to blow the fry away, this helped a little. I managed to get all but one of the fry back into the tank before they died..one little guy just couldnt take the trauma I guess. Is there any better way to do this so I don't suck all my little guys up?

P.S. I have been trying to get pics but my stupid camera won't do it...even when I put it on macro for close ups it wont shoot and tells me it can't focus...I reall need a new one!

Gouramiguy17

What type of camera is it?

critter_fritter79

its a crappy little, AA battery eating, 6.2 mp hp digital

Tony G.

hmm you could try a pippette. Theyre smaller but still have the turkey basters function. I wonder how karen does it..

critter_fritter79

I would love to know how she does it! it already takes orever, over an hour, with the turkey baster!

whisper

Congrads on the little babies.

Martinismommy

Well 1st off I do NOT do any water changes for the 1st 2 weeks...The fry are very fragile at this age and you don't want to stress them at all....Because the water level is 3-4 inches you have plenty of room to just add water daily....I use an air hose to add the water 1 quart a day until the tank is full......

After the tank is full I start doing water changes every other day....I use an air hose with an air stone attached...Put the end with the air hose into the fry tank....Syphon out 1/3--1/2 of the water...NO fry will get sucked up using this method.....Replace the water that has been aging for at least 24 hours ..Make sure the new water is the same temp as the fry tank water......This routine continues until they are around 10- 12 weeks old and need to be jarred....

Hope this helps......