Is my female betta pregnant?!!! Help please!

Umm... is my female betta pregnant? Let me explain.

So yesterday I got my female betta from my LFS. She looked kinda plump but I ignored that. I took her home and noticed she had an egg spot. I read this and it freaked me out:

Look for a white tube or dot on her belly. This is her ovipositor (where the eggs will be released), and if it is visible, she is preparing to release eggs.

AND

I did a test. I did not feed her for one day and she was still so plump. I got very concerned then.

BUT
I didn't breed her and she has not come in contact with another male betta that I have allowed and/or seen.

WHAT IS GOING ON?? Is she pregnant?? If she is laying eggs, how in the world do I take care of the babies?!

Ugh...what mess have I gotten myself into....

 

Can I have a pic?

 

Can I have a pic?

Ummm...my phone is broken so I can't take pics. The pics I took before my phone broke don't show her egg spot and that she is plump. The pics I provide don't help but I can try. Here is one pic. In this, you can not see she is plump cuz of the distance and angle.

 

Hmmm, odd. I can tell that she's at least fairly thicc. Are you sure she's not just bloated? Betta'sAnonymous , can you tell what's happening?

 

Hmmm, odd. I can tell that she's at least fairly thicc. Are you sure she's not just bloated? Betta'sAnonymous , can you tell what's happening?

I am not sure. Maybe she is bloated. I got her yesterday and didn't feed her at all that day. The next day I fed bloodworms to the whole tank. 3/4 to 1/2 of a cube for the whole tank which has 6 sterbai corydoras, 7 rasboras, and this female betta. So, she MIGHT be bloated. Should I fast the tank for one day and see what happens?

 

I am not sure. Maybe she is bloated. I got her yesterday and didn't feed her at all that day. The next day I fed bloodworms to the whole tank. 3/4 to 1/2 of a cube for the whole tank which has 6 sterbai corydoras, 7 rasboras, and this female betta. So, she MIGHT be bloated. Should I fast the tank for one day and see what happens?

I would fast for a few days. Just a day doesn't always make a huge difference.

 

Hmmm, odd. I can tell that she's at least fairly thicc. Are you sure she's not just bloated? Betta'sAnonymous , can you tell what's happening?

Don't have much personal experience with female bettas. I do see a belly, can't tell at this angle if bloat or full of eggs.

 

Ok, well. Thanks, guys. I will fast the betta for a few days and see what happens and update you guys.

 

Um...I think the betta is going to give birth TODAY. She is frantically swimming around crazy and going up for oxygen a bunch. She is for sure not bloated but pregnant. 100000% sure. I tried everything in my power to convince my mom to keep the betta but she didn't listen. I have to return the betta. I am so sad but my mom won't listen. Will the female lay the eggs or does the male have to fertilize them?? PNWBettas , will the female lay eggs without a male? Do the eggs need to be fertilized? I don't have a male present currently. Will the female eat the eggs??

 

Um...I think the betta is going to give birth TODAY. She is frantically swimming around crazy and going up for oxygen a bunch. She is for sure not bloated but pregnant. 100000% sure. I tried everything in my power to convince my mom to keep the betta but she didn't listen. I have to return the betta. I am so sad but my mom won't listen. Will the female lay the eggs or does the male have to fertilize them?? PNWBettas , will the female lay eggs without a male? Do the eggs need to be fertilized? I don't have a male present currently. Will the female eat the eggs??

Why do you have to return it?

 

Why do you have to return it?

My mom doesn't want to get through the trouble of buying another tank, cycling it and getting the supplies.

 

My mom doesn't want to get through the trouble of buying another tank, cycling it and getting the supplies.

At least let her release her eggs before returning her, they’re usually fertilized on the way out by the male, so they shouldn’t be fertile. Once she’s released them, then she should be fine.

 

Yes - a male needs to fertilize the eggs.
Yes - she will eat them if there is no male to do this.
No - don't just add a male.

I would say she's maybe gravid but not laying eggs. Usually those are resorbed inside the body.

There will likely something else be going on.

And just some general info on fish reproduction: Fertilisation happens outside the body.
Except livebearers (hence the name) like Guppies oder Platies there are very few fish that are kept in home aquaria that give birth to live young.

So no panic.

 

At least let her release her eggs before returning her, they’re usually fertilized on the way out by the male, so they shouldn’t be fertile. Once she’s released them, then she should be fine.

Yep! We don't have to return her. Like you said, the eggs won't be fertile therefore, the eggs will be laid but not hatched. We called the shop owner and he confirmed the eggs won't hatch.

Yes - a male needs to fertilize the eggs.
Yes - she will eat them if there is no male to do this.
No - don't just add a male.

I would say she's maybe gravid but not laying eggs. Usually those are resorbed inside the body.

There will likely something else be going on.

And just some general info on fish reproduction: Fertilisation happens outside the body.
Except livebearers (hence the name) like Guppies oder Platies there are very few fish that are kept in home aquaria that give birth to live young.

So no panic.

I guess we do not have to return her! This post was very informative. Thanks MacZ


Thank you so much, guys. I very very greatly appreciate it. I really do.

 

Yes - a male needs to fertilize the eggs.
Yes - she will eat them if there is no male to do this.
No - don't just add a male.

I would say she's maybe gravid but not laying eggs. Usually those are resorbed inside the body.

There will likely something else be going on.

And just some general info on fish reproduction: Fertilisation happens outside the body.
Except livebearers (hence the name) like Guppies oder Platies there are very few fish that are kept in home aquaria that give birth to live young.

So no panic.

Agreed. And based on the photo the female doesn’t even look eggy to me. If there behavioral concerns I would like you said, look at water parameters or other factors.

 

I am not sure. Maybe she is bloated. I got her yesterday and didn't feed her at all that day. The next day I fed bloodworms to the whole tank. 3/4 to 1/2 of a cube for the whole tank which has 6 sterbai corydoras, 7 rasboras, and this female betta. So, she MIGHT be bloated. Should I fast the tank for one day and see what happens?

My female Betta is a giant hog. I have to put her in a plastic baby box at feeding time or else she will eat more than all the rest of the fish....She looked literally like she was going to explode. Needless to say she got no food for a few days....little piggy. Im guessing yours ate too much?

 

How does she look now?

 

Um...I think the betta is going to give birth TODAY. She is frantically swimming around crazy and going up for oxygen a bunch. She is for sure not bloated but pregnant. 100000% sure. I tried everything in my power to convince my mom to keep the betta but she didn't listen. I have to return the betta. I am so sad but my mom won't listen. Will the female lay the eggs or does the male have to fertilize them?? PNWBettas , will the female lay eggs without a male? Do the eggs need to be fertilized? I don't have a male present currently. Will the female eat the eggs??
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Female bettas are not live bearers. Male builds a bubble nest, female spawns, male fertilizes then pops them into one of the bubbles of the nest. Female is done with her work.

So, if she is full of eggs, then she would either resorb them or drop them. Without a male to fertilize and care for them, they'll never hatch out.

So, you can keep that pretty girl. There will be no babies.

 

How does she look now?

I am at my dad's house and the tank is at my mom's house so, when I get to my mom's house I will update you guys.