random betta question...
- Thread starter jamiejay09
- Start date
After the pair is finished spawning, remove the female so she won't be in the way of daddy, who has now positioned himself in the protective father role. As you know, bettas build bubble nests to house the eggs. They have to be able to scoop up the eggs from the bottom of the tank to place them in the bubble nest if they fall out, so leave him to do his thing for a few days. If he has conditioned well before spawning, an appitite repressant hormone will kick in until the fry hatch. As soon as the fry hatch, you MUST remove the male betta IMMIDIATELY. He will eat the babies and you will be crushed. If the male is in the proper environment (a 10 gallon tank at LEAST) then he shouldn't eat the eggs.
Note that the eggs cannot sit at the bottom without the father to put them in the bubble nest or they will rot and will never hatch. So ya, the daddy needs to be there for the eggs, but when the fry hatch kick him out.
Note that the eggs cannot sit at the bottom without the father to put them in the bubble nest or they will rot and will never hatch. So ya, the daddy needs to be there for the eggs, but when the fry hatch kick him out.
I have read and heard from betta breeders that you don't remove the male until the fry are free-swimming. When they hatch, they are called "wrigglers" and stay attached to the bubble nest. Daddy will catch any who fall and put them back in the safety of the nest. Once the fry start swimming on their own, then is the time to remove Daddy as that's when he'll start seeing the babies as potential food.
Well, bassbonediva, I have spawned bettas many times and have learned from experience that these little "wrigglers" are a favorite treat for a hungry daddy, and have lost many a batch of fry due to the assumption that they would be fine until the free swimming stage. 
It was a hard lesson... and who knows, maybe some have gotten away with that. It depends on the fish really, but as a precaution it's a good idea to yank him out trust me. In my calm objective opinion, I think it's better not to take that chance and take him out once they hatch.
It was a hard lesson... and who knows, maybe some have gotten away with that. It depends on the fish really, but as a precaution it's a good idea to yank him out trust me. In my calm objective opinion, I think it's better not to take that chance and take him out once they hatch.