Well... good news and bad!
First the bad. I covered their tank completely yesterday evening, left the light on all night (it has been on for 4 days now) and when I rushed down this morning to see the new betta fry... there was none. Not only that, but the next was gone too! Neither of them were in spawning mode.
I was meeting up with a local betta (and other kinds) breeder after work to get a microworm starter culter. I had visited her about 3 months ago and when I saw her today I described the situation.
The good news is, not all is lost. She asked me where I got the idea of leaving the tank light on overnight. I said bettatalk.com. She shoke her head and suggested I let them get some rest, and give them another couple days and it still might happen. Most of the time, bettas seem to prefer breeding at first light (morning fish I guess)
Some more good news. Finchy, who I thought had a bent spine, was misdiagnosed (by myself). I was wondering why I could see his spine on both sides of his back. The breeder explained that is very common on ST bettas and that it is not a defect.
So now, Finchy (who I adore), can be breed also. So now, I have 3 males I can breed and 3 females that are all the right age. So even if Rigel and Reena don't work out the first time around, I have a few backups I can use right away while they are recovering.
Rigel and Reena have till Sunday morning to spawn. If they don't, next up will be either Finchy or Riker and Ruby. She will get to decide during introductions - showing both males on either side of her tank and seeing who she stays close to.
I already have Ruby closer to Finchy, so they will not be strangers in the breeding tank should it be their turn on Sunday.