If you have fallen in love with Bettas and want to start breeding them, you need to learn a few things. One of the more important ones is also the very basic- how to choose your Betta parents.
Both prospective Betta parents must be healthy, of course, but they also must be compatible.
Age and ExperienceYou may be surprised to learn that Betta's sex drive decreases dramatically after its first year of life!
The age of most Betta fish found in the pet stores is six months or more.
You want to select a pair with approximately same level of experience when it comes to mating.
HealthOne of the reasons Bettas are so popular is their coloring.
Betta's colors intensify with maturity. Around 6-7 months of age the coloring starts to be evident on them.
Stay away from Bettas without bright and intense colors - that might be a sign of disease or inferior genes.
Betta Gills and ScalesObserve the gill area on the Betta. It needs to be smooth and free of any bulges.
A gill area that is too thin could mean malnourishment or excessive stress.
When the gill area is bloated or has bulges, it could mean many things, constipation being among them.
Bettas are very selective when it comes to choosing their breeding partners and may not accept a fish showing any signs of inferiority or illness.
Watch also for any loose or missing scales. If the scales are bulging, the Betta might have dropsy.
When selecting a breeding pair, you want to pay particular attention to the fins and make sure they spread fully when flaring.
The fins also need to be undamaged.
Betta EyesBettas eyes can also tell you if the Betta is healthy. Their iris needs to be pitch black, while the rest of the eye can be a variety of colors. Make sure they are not cloudy or hazy. They should also be proportional and not protrude too much from the head.
Betta BeardThe Betta beard (noticeable mostly on the males) is found directly beneath the gills. It will be prominently displayed during flaring.
Look for a male Betta that reacts to external stimuli by displaying its beard.
Betta BehaviorAfter you have screened your potential breeding partners for physical health, you need to notice their behavior. Watch for any signs of laziness. Your Betta needs to be active and responsive to any external stimuli. If the Betta does not become more active with you there, it's best to look for another.
Final testEven with all that preparation, there is no guaranty that your Bettas will like each other, but you have prepared the ground the best you can.
When you finally decide on the best breeding mates, you will need to condition them for a few days (more about that in any good Betta breeding guide), set up the breeding tank and put them together for the final test of their compatibility!
Now comes Betta courtship. They are now both getting ready for spawning. The male will start building the bubblenest and both will be prominently displaying their finnage and magnificent colors.
If there is no spawning after 3 days from the time you introduced the female to the breeding tank, the pair is not compatible.
Ready to get started? Why not get your guide to
breeding betta fish from a pro.
