Breeding Betta Fish
Betta breeding is fairly easy if you follow some simple instructions. The best procedure to follow is to separate the male and female prior to spawning as the male is very territorial and will attack the female if the timing is not right. Placing them in an aquarium with a tank divider between them is probably the easiest as sometimes it will encourage the female to produce eggs just by being able to see the male.
The female is ready for spawning when you notice she is rather plump and her horizontal stripes will turn into a series of broad vertical bars in a "V" pattern. You can then remove the tank divider so that the male can fertilize the eggs inside of her. The male will have already built his bubble nest which consists of fragments of plants (if live plants are available) along with a sticky mucus secretion.
You need to watch this situation as male betta fish can be very aggressive and you want to make sure he is not harassing her or hurting her if she is not ready for spawning. It is a good idea to provide cover and hiding places such as rocks and caves and plants in the breeding aquarium so that she has a place to run to if the occasion calls for it. If you are not going to use the tank divider method, introduce the male into the female's territory as this will cut down on the aggressive behavior.
After fertilization, she will release her eggs and the male will gather them up with his mouth and carefully place them into the bubble nest. At this point you should remove the female or reinsert the tank divider as the rest of the job is up to the male. He will guard the nest and make repairs as necessary. After the eggs have hatched, he will guard them also.
The baby fry will need fed soon after they have hatched. Remove the male from the tank and feed the babies a proprietary food which is available in liquid, paste and fine powder form. Soon after that they will be ready for brine shrimp.
