Veil Tail Betta Babies

[High-PH]

Re: Veil Tail Betta Babies

It's been a long time since I took my shot at amateur betta breeding, but have you started saving up all those little jars to
separate the males when they get a little bigger?

[PhishPhreek]

Re: Veil Tail Betta Babies

If you can find a restraunt supply place, they sell a stack of clear plastic disposablel cups (w/ lids) at verry reaqsonable prices.   Bigger is bertter.

[nacra99]

Re: Veil Tail Betta Babies

The newly born fry will be tiny. In some cases, too small even for BBS.
If that is the case, it might be good to have some vinegar eels on hand, that would be great for betta first foods for the first couple of days, then switch to BBS.
Otherwise a clump of vegetation (hopefully complete with rotifers and stuff) might be another alternative.

[AnotherWoogie]

Re: Veil Tail Betta Babies

Thanks, guys : )

[PhishPhreek]

Re: Veil Tail Betta Babies

Keep a cover on the tank to avoid drafts.  The first 3 days, the fry will live off of their egg sack.  when they start free swimming (can make it back up to the surface on their own) you should remove Papa and start feeding micro food (vinegar eels or microworms) and add a sponge filter.   Add a little water every day until you fill the tank and syphon all the sludge off the botom of the tank with a turkey baister.   By day 10 they should be able to chase and eat BBS.

[AnotherWoogie]

Re: Veil Tail Betta Babies

Thanks Phish, that's all really helpful! I'm kind of worried about the dad, though because he's so busy making sure the babies stay in the bubble nest that he's not eating and I wasn't really concerned until today when he started disappearing more and more. Now...I don't see as many babies. : (

[nacra99]

Re: Veil Tail Betta Babies

It should be ok.
I typically don't feed my male while he is looking after the fry, although some people do.
You can remove him and feed him when the fry start swimming horizontally (instead of just up and down).

It's quite normal that the first spawn doesn't make it, especially for a first time dad.
Hopefully he'll start getting his act together as he gets more practice.

[AnotherWoogie]

Re: Veil Tail Betta Babies

We'll have to see. I'm hoping at least a few survive >.<


Right now, I can still see the egg on the fry with their little tails sticking out, but what do they look like once they fully hatch?

[AnotherWoogie]

Re: Veil Tail Betta Babies

We have swimmers : ) They're staying close to the surface of the water, though. Is that okay?  I think Rico (the Daddy) ate some, though because I'm not seeing any more than I'd say 30, but this is mine and his first time.

I put in some microworms, but didn't see them eating any. Please let me know if I'm doing anything wrong or right. I put an air tube in there (no stone 'cause I don't have one that isn't already attached to something else) and it's just right under the surface of the water, so we have a little bit of surface agitation, but not too much and I figured it would help oxygenate the water.

Any advice for a new mom with betta babies?

[PhishPhreek]

Re: Veil Tail Betta Babies

What you see is the hatched fry with his egg sack. The sack will feed him for the first few days,  it will get smaller each day as he grows.

You should not feed mother or father while they are ini the spawn tank.  Any leftover food or poop will decay and produce ammonia (see tank cycling)
Mom comes out after spawning.  After about three days the fry get good at swimming and daddy gets frustrated trying to keep them in the nest. (like having 100 teenagers in your house) So you should remove him before he goes beserk and starts eating them  

[AnotherWoogie]

Re: Veil Tail Betta Babies

He's out of there, but I do think he ate a few. And the mom I was talking about was me :)

[AnotherWoogie]

Re: Veil Tail Betta Babies

Question...


When do they take their first breath of air with their lungs? They're 11 days old now...has it already happened? Does it happen when they're older?

I only ask because I had a friend who bred gouramis and he lost a lot of the babies after they took their first breath of air and the air wasn't moist enough or warm enough or something. Was he talking crazy? My betta book doesn't say anything about this...so I was just wondering.

Please let me know : )

[PhishPhreek]

Re: Veil Tail Betta Babies

At 3 to 5 weeks old they will staart coming to the surface for air...
make sure you have enough air bubbles to keep a layer of skum from covering the surface and cover the tank with seran wrap to keep the humidity up.

[AnotherWoogie]

Re: Veil Tail Betta Babies

Thank you so much :)  I'll be sure to keep the air flow on.


I have the temperature set at 80* should I raise it to 82*?

[PhishPhreek]

Re: Veil Tail Betta Babies

high 70s or low 80s. Personal preference.  you just need to keep it from droping into the low 70s - 60s overnight.