Friday, January 28, 2005
Betta Spawning
Male betta remains in fine form, and another female or two will be obtained.
As a re-publication, the following is a chronicle of a lay hobbyists initial experience with a Betta Splendans pair. NB: the pair were separately purchased.
Betta Mating & Spawning Behavior from 01-07-05
This chronicle of a Betta splendans pair spawning was first published at: http://community.webtv.net/AQUARIUM Its author, this blgger, re-publishes it here.
Observed preliminary mating behavior :: female introduced - male observed her casually while in separation - after barrier removed (plastic bag) male displayed fins and gills & female fled to the bottom of the tank under the rock and tilted filter bottom. She has periodically surfaced evading the male -- and he prowls the rock for her when she returns to her refuge. [01-07-05]
01-08-05
Betta female periodically swims about the top .. then stands about 10 inches from the male's position ... then she swims slowly away as the male approaches and then darts like a torpedo to the tank bottom or the other side, returning to a hiding place under the rock or filter. Female coloration: when introduced ivory-gold .. after sighting and playing chase with the male she displayed a florid red filigree (ie red-gilt damascene) .. still no embrace - but longer outings ...
01-09-05
Betta female color has changed from ivory-gold with red filigree to fuller red outline in fins and silhouette - with irridesence and turquoise mid-line. She hides less .. and appears to flirt -still evading 'capture' but staying closer at times. Male alternates aloof stance with awaiting her at her hiding place. He has not commenced a 'nest' - but she behaves more invitingly. [ courtship almost reciprcated ]. � ( half end of a filtered/aerated tank [enjoyed] has floating plants & water still enough for 'nest' )
01-10-05
Male Betta (WMRSTM-1) has begun building a bubble nest for the female (WMVSTF-1). Both in a courting ritual have been closing on each without an embrace. The female, now with a mixed red outline and varied blue mid-section is actually enlarging inhe abdomen. The chase is still on .. but the female comes alone to look at the nest or draws near with the male watching.
Originally expected the male to use a 'boom' of floating plants to contain a nest bubble -but he made no effort. Then today, two floating large (5cm) begonia leaves enticed him to attempt to build, but they were not totally flat and too convex at the water surface (did not appear to capture air bubbles free from a wash out). So I cut the bottom from a small styrofoam dessert dish (about 3 inches (6-7 cm) in diameter with a small circumferential lip. It sits flat with a slight concave 'dome' over the water; it is 'coralled' in his chosen preferred slower water corner of the tank; and he is filling it with air bubbles. The female, started alabaster-yellow is more florid part-red as described; and periodically comes to look -or when alone behaves as if contributing a bubble.
(The bubble nest will hold the eggs when fertilized -as betta rasiers know).
Somethng behaving like a flat leaf to protect the nest for eggs is needed. Many breeders (referenced on-line) use a piece of styrofoam cup ... some in Asia may also use a leaf or two as I tried -which dodrwa the fish' interest -but must lay semi-dry flat or concave (dome) over the surface.
WMRSTM-1=WalMart Red single-tail male #1
WMVSTF-1=WalMart Varicolored single-tail female #1
01-10-05
Tank II 20% water change
Betta nest secured to quiet corner - is being refilled with bubbles by male (bubbles dislodged with water level reduction) Female variant in color - fattening & interested Water adjustment now to avoid during spawning & to refresh Tank - filtration good heat : 80 F
01-12-05
Male & female still have not spawned.
Female colors have now progressed from the slighlty yellow and white alabaster/ivory when purchased to the red & vari-color as described. � She is now the color of a mottled red-blue-purple in her mid sections with a red fin and silhouette outline. The midsection also now has horizontal lines running the length of the body like a striped bass.
On a few occasions she has shown concentric frontward slanted symmetrical vertical rings or bars on her nid-sction back of the middle.. which bars, as I have read are not omnipresent at start but do appear and indicate an increased interest in spwaning. She also nearly noses the patient male who keeps the bubble nest. � He goes periodically to the opposite tank corner and leaves the female to skirt and see the nest.
The references describe this as normal courting behavior. The female still darts fully away from any fuller male intentions. She is enlarging in the abdomen .. and thus seems to verify that greater visible ovidity is a matter of readying before spawning. She was about half his size at start but has enlarged.
As I have just the pair .. and as she is relaxed in the tank ... they are remaining there with ample refuges for her. � Spawning by their behavior appears anticipated.
The male has begun a periodic � 'pacing' (anthropomorphically presumed) in the bottom half of the tank - but has no vicious attack or posture in him to the female; occasionally flaring at his reflection.
Am anticipating spawing within a few days now as the female is enlarging and displaying what apears to be a mutual & receptive course toward the event. Once again - the vertical bands appear and disappear.
01-14-05
Am waiitng today for male betta reaction to a weather front, now moving through my area. Literature references that as a factor; which I also considered and noted when the pair were introduced. No mating yet ..some of the courtship waltz (ie circling) but no full readiness by the female --but no hostility either. � A first mating is a factor . .her skittishness (running fear) was noted at the start; also her lack of fuller obvious ovidty - but her abdomen has been noticably larger. Today she responded more positively to the flake food option -rtaher than nibble at tank top or bottom to the large betta pellets - [Wardley's Betta food :: a dried blood worms & meal compound etc]. Also the male has relaxed 'nest building & tending' the nest has de-bubbled. Literature states that the nest building and mating are both territorial reactions: reactive to other males; or water changes or variances. Last water change ..which affected the nest resulted in an eager and hasty re-build before present abandon. Female is relaxed and companionable .. by reading-this is also a normal factor with two as a pair - there is no hostility but no mating. Hastening the mating and re-encouraging nest building may come later today when measure the impact of weather barometric pressure; including short-term removal of the female to a community tank; and another tack of bottom cleaning & filter rinse. Also - the male betta is not color-blind .. actually distinguishes color --and is attracted to his own.
My female betta's redding at start from a variant white-yellow, to the present mix od metallic blue-green stripe with gold mid-section countered by red fins and outline may affect short-term interest. Have also read ..that the initial white-yellow color of the female may be a 'stress phenomenon' by reason of shipping or container maintenance [see Just Bettas in the BETTA links table.]
'Java Moss' in the betta tank is growing and floating -- yesterday 01-13-05 was a food source for the female betta - not the plant actually but the infusoria 'java moss' generates (ie microscopoc rotifers etc) - she actually picked over it as if finding and eating crustacea in grass.
Two more helpful breeding links:
Ritter article Betta splendans
- references betta color perception
dave's Betta FAQ's
01-16-05
Male betta is completely indifferent to spawning now - female now is a mixed gold-red-blue midsection with a full red fin and silhouette. Weather system changed to high pressure - betta also receptive & docile to other tank mate - a bottom cleaning Corydoras aeneus albino catfish - to re-induce male 'nest building' & interest - female will be removed for a few days and returned in time for a low pressure system -pending rain/snow storm later this week. Nesting is induced as a form of territorial behavior at right time with a 'ready' female when the male asserts it. Styrofoam has been temporarily reoved and replaced with two large green floating begonia leaves -which invite a a similar canopy.
Notation on male feeding - receiving a standard prepared 'betta' pellet formula which includes ground blood worms & shrimp meal .. the male betta plays a form of 'head ball' ... soccer-style ... with the pellets ... bouncing and corralling them on his nose - moving them and then tossing them up for a gulp.
01-17-05
Female betta was removed [01-16-05] to the community tank for a week or so ..which will give her a continued growth period, and may when re-introduced, re-spark the male to nest building. The community tnak is a mix of peacefule grouping 'serpae tetra' , albino corydoras, and otocinculus suckermouth cats. She is the 'first' and currently only Asian species in the tank ... found her niche and privacy and has adjusted well -same for the other species. Male betta is 'lording' in the tank alone save for a Corydoras Albino cat ... and appears relaxed and spends more time cruising the tank - he has not resumed any nest building - but notes and uses the canopy of floating leaves, and a styrofoam shallow dish (about 8cm :: 3") as optional nest floats/canopies.
01-24-05
Male betta still in separate tank with Otocinculus added to him & Albino Corydoras 'cat' - to check glass algae ... female betta doing well adn adjusted in 'community tank' - growing and enlarging in the abdomen. Her colors have firmed now ..and she retains a materially red-gold look with some blue highlights mid-section & appears to be a 'crown-tail'. The pair may be re-united is week coordinating the full moon & an arriving weather system. [They respond to lows as if optimistic to rain]
This chronicle of this pair and their spawning continues at this Betta Blog RSS-XML Betta
As a re-publication, the following is a chronicle of a lay hobbyists initial experience with a Betta Splendans pair. NB: the pair were separately purchased.
Betta Mating & Spawning Behavior from 01-07-05
This chronicle of a Betta splendans pair spawning was first published at: http://community.webtv.net/AQUARIUM Its author, this blgger, re-publishes it here.
Observed preliminary mating behavior :: female introduced - male observed her casually while in separation - after barrier removed (plastic bag) male displayed fins and gills & female fled to the bottom of the tank under the rock and tilted filter bottom. She has periodically surfaced evading the male -- and he prowls the rock for her when she returns to her refuge. [01-07-05]
01-08-05
Betta female periodically swims about the top .. then stands about 10 inches from the male's position ... then she swims slowly away as the male approaches and then darts like a torpedo to the tank bottom or the other side, returning to a hiding place under the rock or filter. Female coloration: when introduced ivory-gold .. after sighting and playing chase with the male she displayed a florid red filigree (ie red-gilt damascene) .. still no embrace - but longer outings ...
01-09-05
Betta female color has changed from ivory-gold with red filigree to fuller red outline in fins and silhouette - with irridesence and turquoise mid-line. She hides less .. and appears to flirt -still evading 'capture' but staying closer at times. Male alternates aloof stance with awaiting her at her hiding place. He has not commenced a 'nest' - but she behaves more invitingly. [ courtship almost reciprcated ]. � ( half end of a filtered/aerated tank [enjoyed] has floating plants & water still enough for 'nest' )
01-10-05
Male Betta (WMRSTM-1) has begun building a bubble nest for the female (WMVSTF-1). Both in a courting ritual have been closing on each without an embrace. The female, now with a mixed red outline and varied blue mid-section is actually enlarging inhe abdomen. The chase is still on .. but the female comes alone to look at the nest or draws near with the male watching.
Originally expected the male to use a 'boom' of floating plants to contain a nest bubble -but he made no effort. Then today, two floating large (5cm) begonia leaves enticed him to attempt to build, but they were not totally flat and too convex at the water surface (did not appear to capture air bubbles free from a wash out). So I cut the bottom from a small styrofoam dessert dish (about 3 inches (6-7 cm) in diameter with a small circumferential lip. It sits flat with a slight concave 'dome' over the water; it is 'coralled' in his chosen preferred slower water corner of the tank; and he is filling it with air bubbles. The female, started alabaster-yellow is more florid part-red as described; and periodically comes to look -or when alone behaves as if contributing a bubble.
(The bubble nest will hold the eggs when fertilized -as betta rasiers know).
Somethng behaving like a flat leaf to protect the nest for eggs is needed. Many breeders (referenced on-line) use a piece of styrofoam cup ... some in Asia may also use a leaf or two as I tried -which dodrwa the fish' interest -but must lay semi-dry flat or concave (dome) over the surface.
WMRSTM-1=WalMart Red single-tail male #1
WMVSTF-1=WalMart Varicolored single-tail female #1
01-10-05
Tank II 20% water change
Betta nest secured to quiet corner - is being refilled with bubbles by male (bubbles dislodged with water level reduction) Female variant in color - fattening & interested Water adjustment now to avoid during spawning & to refresh Tank - filtration good heat : 80 F
01-12-05
Male & female still have not spawned.
Female colors have now progressed from the slighlty yellow and white alabaster/ivory when purchased to the red & vari-color as described. � She is now the color of a mottled red-blue-purple in her mid sections with a red fin and silhouette outline. The midsection also now has horizontal lines running the length of the body like a striped bass.
On a few occasions she has shown concentric frontward slanted symmetrical vertical rings or bars on her nid-sction back of the middle.. which bars, as I have read are not omnipresent at start but do appear and indicate an increased interest in spwaning. She also nearly noses the patient male who keeps the bubble nest. � He goes periodically to the opposite tank corner and leaves the female to skirt and see the nest.
The references describe this as normal courting behavior. The female still darts fully away from any fuller male intentions. She is enlarging in the abdomen .. and thus seems to verify that greater visible ovidity is a matter of readying before spawning. She was about half his size at start but has enlarged.
As I have just the pair .. and as she is relaxed in the tank ... they are remaining there with ample refuges for her. � Spawning by their behavior appears anticipated.
The male has begun a periodic � 'pacing' (anthropomorphically presumed) in the bottom half of the tank - but has no vicious attack or posture in him to the female; occasionally flaring at his reflection.
Am anticipating spawing within a few days now as the female is enlarging and displaying what apears to be a mutual & receptive course toward the event. Once again - the vertical bands appear and disappear.
01-14-05
Am waiitng today for male betta reaction to a weather front, now moving through my area. Literature references that as a factor; which I also considered and noted when the pair were introduced. No mating yet ..some of the courtship waltz (ie circling) but no full readiness by the female --but no hostility either. � A first mating is a factor . .her skittishness (running fear) was noted at the start; also her lack of fuller obvious ovidty - but her abdomen has been noticably larger. Today she responded more positively to the flake food option -rtaher than nibble at tank top or bottom to the large betta pellets - [Wardley's Betta food :: a dried blood worms & meal compound etc]. Also the male has relaxed 'nest building & tending' the nest has de-bubbled. Literature states that the nest building and mating are both territorial reactions: reactive to other males; or water changes or variances. Last water change ..which affected the nest resulted in an eager and hasty re-build before present abandon. Female is relaxed and companionable .. by reading-this is also a normal factor with two as a pair - there is no hostility but no mating. Hastening the mating and re-encouraging nest building may come later today when measure the impact of weather barometric pressure; including short-term removal of the female to a community tank; and another tack of bottom cleaning & filter rinse. Also - the male betta is not color-blind .. actually distinguishes color --and is attracted to his own.
My female betta's redding at start from a variant white-yellow, to the present mix od metallic blue-green stripe with gold mid-section countered by red fins and outline may affect short-term interest. Have also read ..that the initial white-yellow color of the female may be a 'stress phenomenon' by reason of shipping or container maintenance [see Just Bettas in the BETTA links table.]
'Java Moss' in the betta tank is growing and floating -- yesterday 01-13-05 was a food source for the female betta - not the plant actually but the infusoria 'java moss' generates (ie microscopoc rotifers etc) - she actually picked over it as if finding and eating crustacea in grass.
Two more helpful breeding links:
Ritter article Betta splendans
- references betta color perception
dave's Betta FAQ's
01-16-05
Male betta is completely indifferent to spawning now - female now is a mixed gold-red-blue midsection with a full red fin and silhouette. Weather system changed to high pressure - betta also receptive & docile to other tank mate - a bottom cleaning Corydoras aeneus albino catfish - to re-induce male 'nest building' & interest - female will be removed for a few days and returned in time for a low pressure system -pending rain/snow storm later this week. Nesting is induced as a form of territorial behavior at right time with a 'ready' female when the male asserts it. Styrofoam has been temporarily reoved and replaced with two large green floating begonia leaves -which invite a a similar canopy.
Notation on male feeding - receiving a standard prepared 'betta' pellet formula which includes ground blood worms & shrimp meal .. the male betta plays a form of 'head ball' ... soccer-style ... with the pellets ... bouncing and corralling them on his nose - moving them and then tossing them up for a gulp.
01-17-05
Female betta was removed [01-16-05] to the community tank for a week or so ..which will give her a continued growth period, and may when re-introduced, re-spark the male to nest building. The community tnak is a mix of peacefule grouping 'serpae tetra' , albino corydoras, and otocinculus suckermouth cats. She is the 'first' and currently only Asian species in the tank ... found her niche and privacy and has adjusted well -same for the other species. Male betta is 'lording' in the tank alone save for a Corydoras Albino cat ... and appears relaxed and spends more time cruising the tank - he has not resumed any nest building - but notes and uses the canopy of floating leaves, and a styrofoam shallow dish (about 8cm :: 3") as optional nest floats/canopies.
01-24-05
Male betta still in separate tank with Otocinculus added to him & Albino Corydoras 'cat' - to check glass algae ... female betta doing well adn adjusted in 'community tank' - growing and enlarging in the abdomen. Her colors have firmed now ..and she retains a materially red-gold look with some blue highlights mid-section & appears to be a 'crown-tail'. The pair may be re-united is week coordinating the full moon & an arriving weather system. [They respond to lows as if optimistic to rain]
This chronicle of this pair and their spawning continues at this Betta Blog RSS-XML Betta
// posted by scotty of course @ 10:43 AM 
