Aquarium

Female betta remains in a separate community tank, but is as yesterday
enalrging -ie showing signs of ovidity and the vertical bars more
latently apparent. (She will more visibly display those bars when
spawning in the male's presence .. the bars may also be muscular
developments of her abdomen to help her stain the rigor of the
spawning.)
Their spawning tank -a spartan 40 L (10 gal)- was further readied
yesterday with a graduated temperature raise to 80F (about 25C+ ... and
a cleaning of the tank bottom -which since by syphon vacuum lead to a
50% water change. The water change would also emulate a 'rain
freshening' with the passing weather front.
The tank bottom has two 'small-opening' places for the female size only
to enter and rest or escape a vigourous pursuit (her escape is her
protection until willingly embraced for spawn). [Used a two inch 5cm
piece of PVC pipe about 1.5 cm diameter & a small novelty ceramic
house].
Plants were removed - some floating anacharis and especially java moss
will be returned. Some of those plants, and the Corydoras and the
Otocinculus, which shared the male betta's tank, were moved to the
community tank.
If bettas have a proven sense of smell of chemical percepton to each
other as well as the referenced color enabled sight, then she reacted to
smell or chemical perception of the male on the plants or water with the
other joined fish. First excitedly and amoruoly to one small plant -then
to a second bunch of -planted anacharia -previously floated (in the
spawning tank) - by taking air and then staying on the bottom right next
to the rooted anacharis -almost pining. She is otherwise well and still
swims about -though less in the last 24 hours -maybe a mix of hiding and
anticipation. Were she an ordinary egglaying species - she would appear
almost eggbound -as if readying to lay her eggs; and a bit, newly,
territorial. She still eats normally. She will likely join the male for
a 'tantalus' today.