For those of you who have decided to embark on the exciting adventure of breeding Betta fish, we have laid out certain steps - selection of Betta parents. Without knowing how to pick the right breeding pair, your breeding efforts will come to naught.
Both prospective Betta parents must be healthy, of course, but they also must be compatible.
Age and Experience
Many people may not realize that Bettas sex drive is strongest in its first year of life.
The age of most Betta fish found in the pet stores is six months or more.
It's best to combine fish with the same experience in mating.
Health
Bettas are gorgeous fish. It is their intense and vibrant coloring that makes them such popular pet fish.
And their colors are one of the best indicators of their health. After a Betta reaches "maturity" (6 months), its colors should be developed and bright.
Stay away from Bettas without bright and intense colors - that might be a sign of disease or inferior genes.
Betta Gills and Scales
Here is this vast, savage, howling mother of ours, Nature, lying all around, with such beauty, and such affection for her children, as the leopard; and yet we are so early weaned from her breast to society, to that culture which is exclusively an interaction of man on man,—a sort of breeding in and in, which produces at most a merely English nobility, a civilization destined to have a speedy limit.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
The gills and scales on the Betta need to be smooth. The best Bettas for breeding purposes will be very sleek.
The gill area should also not be too thin. That might be an indication of malnourishment or stress.
When the gill area is bloated or has bulges, it could mean many things, constipation being among them.
These may not seem like major problems, but when it comes to finding potential mates, you have to find gish that is as close to perfect as possible. Otherwise you risk rejection by the other partner.
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 Eyes
Bettas 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 Beard
Have you ever heard of the Betta beard? Both males and females have it, although it's barely noticeable on the females, because it's transparent. It will be unmistakable during flaring.
By nature servile, people attempt at first glance to find signs of good breeding in the appearance of those who occupy more exalted stations.
—Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860–1904)
Look for a male Betta that reacts to external stimuli by displaying its beard.
Betta Behavior
After 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 test
Even after selecting the best possible mates, it still can happen that this "arranged marriage" won't work.
Now it's time to condition the potential mates, prepare the breeding tank and finally introduce the pair to each other.
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.
Mischa Hill is a Betta fish enthusiast. He likes to contribute to the well-being and health of all Bettas by providing information and resources to Betta fish owners.
More about breeding betta fish here: www.betta-fish-care.net.