The New Guy

[sevenhelmet]

I picked up a great crowntail at the fish store a couple of days ago. His body and most of his fins are an iridescent blue, fading to royal blue up by his head, and he has some purple & red highlights along his ventral fin and red pelvic fins- a really handsome Betta. Here are his tank particulars:

Tank Size: 3 gallon (Eclipse 3 w/ built-in 2-stage filter)
Tank Floor: Gravel substrate
Decor: arch-shaped rock and small clay pot
Live plants: Red Ludwigia and green fern-like ones w/ name I don't recall
Temp: 80-82 deg F
Water source: Tapwater treated w/ Stress Coat and left overnight


He's doing great- a little irritated with me when I busted into his home routine to do a partial water change and add the flowerpot today, but I've got the little guy practically eating out of my fingers. I feed him freeze-dried bloodworms and Betta bio gold (recommended by the fish store owner) both of which he can't get enough of. I use a pair of tweezers to feed him, and he's not shy- he'll come right up to the "food zone" when I open the tank lid and practically snatch the food right out of the tweezer tips! He also built a bubble-nest last night and is adding more to it today, which I take as a very good sign. I've kept Bettas in the past, but never had one make a nest.

I am considering breeding him, or buying a pair to breed, and I know some people here breed their fish, so I was wondering where there might be a good place to start reading about it and places to buy/order female Bettas. I have bred fish before though under less-than-ideal conditions, and would like to try my hand at Bettas. If anyone has any information or recommended references, I'd appreciate it!

[amanichen]

He also built a bubble-nest last night and is adding more to it today, which I take as a very good sign. I've kept Bettas in the past, but never had one make a nest.

Only some male bettas regularly build nests, so if yours do, then more power to you, but it doesn't mean they necessarily have to be bred.

I am considering breeding him, or buying a pair to breed, and I know some people here breed their fish, so I was wondering where there might be a good place to start reading about it

Here's some reading to get you started:
www.aqualink.com/columns/k-betta3.html

www.bettas-jimsonnier.com/spawning.htm

...you'll find roughly the same information everywhere, with minor variations in the method. Try to stick to reputable sites. If you're not sure about a site, post it here and we'll have a look.

You can find some breeders at:
www.ibcbettas.org/

...you can also find fish on www.aquabid.com, or even at your LPS/LFS.

I have bred fish before though under less-than-ideal conditions, and would like to try my hand at Bettas.

What kind of fish have you bred before? Bettas don't always breed under ideal conditions, and raising the fry under less than ideal conditions can be a problem.

[sevenhelmet]

Thanks for the info! Looks like it'll take a little prior planning, which is part of the fun anyway :-) I'll probably wait a while before I get into breeding, since I'm hopefully moving to Texas before summer.

I've bred Corydoras catfish before, first round was unintentional, they did it on their own. I tried separating the fry from adults w/ tank divider (was in a community tank) and feeding with infusorian culture but I think most of the fry wound up on the bad side of town :-(

I've heard cories are somewhat difficult to breed, so I figure I was more lucky than anything and hit on the right temp, water quality, etc. My brother was jealous- he tried to breed Gouramis for a couple of years and never succeeded. But if I decide to try breeding Bettas, I'll go for royal blue crowntails since I really like the strain & crowntails are just a bit less common.