Allie

I was just wondering how you felt about breeding Betta? Well bred Betta, not just from a lfs with no background at all.
Do you think it's a good thing or should people just leave to the Thailand breeders? Why, why not?

I am going to try breeding my dragons soon as possible I would like to see if I can breed quality Betta like we do with out Malawi cichlids. Our reasons is we are opening a fish "breedery", not so much a store we can just walk into. More by appointment only or from the site when it's ready. I want to add Betta of different species to the list, but I want to breed them myself so I/we can provide better quality Betta for a store who usually has crappy quality ones who die fast. This is why I am into the breeding thing. Plus making extra cash to help keep our fishies and kitties in food & their ohter needs is a huge help.

MinxMermaid

I am for, "FREE WILL"

if you choose to breed Bettas or guppys or goldfish or puppies or kitties. whatever, if that's your hobby or profession and you do it humanely, i say go for it. there are too many of all of these categories, but i believe we all deserve the right to persue our dreams and desires.

on the flip side, i'm more opposed to having human babies when you can't care and provide for them properly. i believe people on government assistance, who cannot provide for their families for whatever reason, should be on mandated birth control until their situation improves.

Allie

Cool. A lot of people are opposed to breeding Betta particularly...which I don't really understand.

I have chosen not to have children for many reasons most due to my mood disorder. It can be passed on 50% to your child so I am not willing to deal with a mini me. I was/am a high maintenance child lol.
I got fixed last year. I cannot imagine going through the issues all of my friends go through with their kids who range from 3-21 years old.
Maybe if half the people of the world thought like I did, there wouldn't be so many problem children/teens around. Chemical imbalances are genetic sometimes.

Fishies-for-me

I don't have a problem with home bred betta...acually you say you are starting with quality fish ...so I think that is better than having the poor things shipped over from thailand in God knows what kind of condition...unlike Minx I don't really see a need for more puppies and kittens in the world.( but I respect your ideas Minx...they just differ from mine) I feel there are enough unwanted pups and kittys around already...but a good betta is hard to find...good luck.

Allie

I wouldn't ever get into breeding furry animals, all my cats we rescues of some sort.
The betta ordered from Thailand they usually arrive safely. Betta are easy to ship as long it is warm weather. My betta are babies from a friend who buys all of her betta from Aquabid...then breeds them.

sirdarksol

If done well, I say that it's better to breed them in the US. The Thailand breeders don't necessarily have the greatest concern for their fry, and besides that, shipping from overseas is really rough on the fish.

I think the reason people are against breeding bettas is because so many people try it by throwing two bettas together and expecting them to breed. I have a problem with people who "breed" bettas like this.

As far as overpopulation of any pet animal, it's partly up to the type of animal (bettas can't run wild in the neighborhood, and there's not much in the way of betta adoption agencies). On the other hand, I have severe problems with the local folks who "breed" cats (in other words, let their un-neutered/un-spayed cats have at one another), sell what kittens they can, and then toss the rest out in the wild or dump them at the local humane society's door. I'd have the same problem with someone who bred tons and tons of bettas, only sold a minuscule portion (not counting the culls), and flushed the rest.
Someone who responsibly breeds cats/dogs (makes sure they never breed more than they can adopt out), I have no problem with. They'll never see my business, because I only adopt stray cats and dogs, but I support their right to continue doing legitimate, humane business.

Allie, I really wish more folks thought like you. You thought of your potential future children, rather than just yourself. My wife sees so many non-ready parents who got pregnant because they wanted someone to love them unconditionally. They didn't think at all about how they were going to care for the child. Most of them expect their families to do most of the work so they can reap the benefits.

Allie

It was a selfish choice really. I really cannot imagine having a kid. I have barely any patience for "grown ups"
I have seen my friends go thru way to much. Bullying was one issue my best friend had to deal with for years the same kids. They have a mom who should have been like me. She treats her kids like pooh...and they take out on other kids who have parents which care. I wanted to shrink into a 9 year old and kick those boys butt like I would have at 9.
I am not too sure how I would have handle that situation if I were my kid.

Martinismommy

I'm looking forward to say my kids were "Born in the USA"!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Allie

or in Canada for me. lol

KyWildFish

I think with all the bad business from the thai breeders it would be better to start more domestic breeding programs in the US/CAN. I personally am interested in breeding the more attractive varieties myself, but have to wait till I have room to do so. The genetics of the coloration and what not are very interesting, but the space needed for all the fry might prove difficult.

steveangela1

I voted other, I guess so I could explain, I think that people should only breed bettas if they can properly choose good genetics (m/f) for breeding then raise the fry up healthy and kull out the bad fry.
So I guess my answer is as long as the person that is breeding the bettas knows what they are doing yes.

Lonely Angel

I voted 'other' because for most people I don't think they should breed bettas. these are of course the people who get a pair of bettas from walmart and throw them in the same tank thinking "lets have baby fish!"

You obviously know about bettas and what challenges you'll face with breeding them so you are more than capable of handling the responsibilities. If you have healthy stock and all the resources you need - then go for it! I know that you aren't doing this on a whim and you'll take great care of them.

That being said, I'm actually opposed to breeding animals. I volunteer at an animal shelter and also at spay/neuter clinics, so I've seen first hand how quickly pet over population can get out of hand. Even if the owner can find homes for all of the puppies/kittens, they are still filling a home that could have adopted a homeless animal. Selling five kittens means that those five people won't consider adopting from an animal shelter, and five cats at the shelter will probably be euthanized. One exception to this is someone who's breeding pure-bred animals to be shown (in which case the buyer obviously doesn't want a little Heinz 57 mixed-breed)

Alessa

I voted "other" because as long as there are bettas in cups and people putting them in vases, there will never be proper care for any betta, wether it is a good quality one, or a common betta.

Red1313

I think that breeding any animal isn't something that should be done lightly. However I don't believe that all people who do should be lumped together. I agree that those irresponsible owners who let unfixed animals wander around and then toss the offspring they don't want are idiots and the root of many problems. However that being said I know a number of very responsible owners who've bred their animals and have taken very good care of the offspring. Finding homes for those they could and keeping those they couldn't. They don't have to be purebred breeders to have good quality pets to offer.
As for breeding Betta's as long as that breeder is responsible and knows what they are getting into I would like to find more North American bred betta's. It would be good for the enviro to stop shipping fish across the ocean. (Does that sound funny to anyone else?) Regardless of breeding high or pet-store quality Betta's in the end they'll all go to the same place. A house that isn't the breeder's in the hands of an owner that means well.

Also a fact I found when I was looking into adopting/buying a dog. Many of the pets in the shelters are purebred animals from responsible breeders. All pets can be mistreated equally, and abandoned equally, be they high quality betta's or Heinz 57 mutts. They can also all be loved equally. In the end, all the breeder can do is make a decision about when and what to breed and who to sell to. Anything that happens after that is out of the breeders hands and onto the owners shoulders.

MinxMermaid

All EXCELLENT POSTS with well thought out valid opinions

You're all a smart group!

Allie

I totally agree.

capekate

Hi Allie
I also agree with breeding Betta's as long as one knows what they are doing. Which obviously you do. I see no reason why it should not be done. I agree with the other posters as well, on the fact that it would be fantastic to be able to find quality specialty Betta's in this country ( and Canada lol). I hate to think of the long trip from places like Thailand and personally I think its pretty cruel to put a fish in a box for that long trip.

Allie

I understand what you are saying completely.
One of the main reasons I wanted to breed is to provide people with quality Betta at lfs prices, not breeders prices.
True that all Betta end up in homes with people who may or may not know how to care for them. But for me as a Betta keeper I have gotten many lfs Betta. Who should have lasted much longer due to being at the lfs so long they weren't healthy enough to do so. At least if other people are breeding them, then those people beginners or not have better quality betta to work with. Maybe be more tolerant of beginners mistakes.
Another possible reason the Betta shipped from overseas are so sensitive is they are from water from the other side of the world. Betta bred in North America would be use to our water's condtions.