For breeding bettas you will need the following supplies:
10 or 5 gallon tank
A heater
Plants (either alive or fake)
thermometer
1/2 a Styrofoam cup (like you set the cup as if it is filled with water then take a sword raise it above your head and swing down to cut the cup in half, that is the type of half I am talking about)
a clear jar or glass chimney
Corner filter and required parts
baby food like microworm culture, baby brine shrimp, etc.
Infusia
And of course a male and female betta
Choosing the Breeding Pair
Before you can even start breeding you need to select your breeding pair. First off what is your goal? What do you want this breed to gain, color, tail type, etc. . So select the bettas that fit that description. Then make sure the bettas are between 3-8 months females can go a little older. This is the prime breeding age. Also if you are breeding for color or tail make sure that both parents have or show that gene.
Conditioning the Breeding Pair
You want your bettas that you are conditioning to eat live food for the duration of their conditioning period, usually about two weeks. If they are in a bowl or jar then 100% of their water should be changed everyday or if they are in a tank with a filter then 20% of their water should be changed everyday. The conditioning period should continue until you notice the female is fat with eggs and a white little organ is popping out of her belly. This is her where her eggs will come out of and means when showing she has eggs.
Tank Setup
This is how I set up my tank for breeding. Fill your tank up 1/2 way or about 7 in. Then I put my heater in the center back and turn it so it heats the water between 70F-82F. You can put your thermometer anywhere you can see it easily. Then I set my jar or glass chimney in the upper left corner and fill it with water so the water level in the jar is equal to the water in level in the tank. I put my 1/2 my Styrofoam cup in the upper right corner where I tape it to the side, this is where the male betta builds his bubble nest if he doesn't build it here it's okay. I would scatter your plants around the tank but away from the Styrofoam cup and most in the area around the jar. and take your corner filter and put it in the lower left corner and have in hardily bubbling. This is my tank setup.
Introducing the Breeding Pair
I usually put the male in a day before the female so he can get used to his surroundings. The male goes into the tank. The next day I put the female in the jar. The male when he takes notice of her he will go show off to her by flaring. After a while he should go build a bubble nest and will usually be built under the Styrofoam cup. After the male has built the bubble nest we are ready to release the female. Be careful not to disturb the bubble nest but any damage will be repaired.
The Spawn
The two bettas will bicker for a while dipping each other's fins. The female usually gets the worst of this and will seek a hiding place in the plants. The male will tend his bubble nest. He will go and try to court her from the plants to the bubble nest and will lure her to the nest. If she is submissive then they will go under the nest and spawn. The male will wrap around the female and squeeze out the eggs from the female them go scoop the up and put them in the nest and squeeze again. Do not be shocked when after the squeeze your female looks dead it is just shock and will wear off in a little bit. They will continue to spawn until no eggs will come out of the female. This is where the male will chase the female away and you will take her out and put her in her own tank treated with bettamax and stresscoat. The male will take care of the eggs until they are free swimming then he should be removed. Free swimming is defined by when they can swim horizontally. Put the male in his own tank treated the same way as the females and don't be shocked if he lays on the bottom, he is very tired.
Feeding The Fry
When the fry first start to hatch they have their yoke to munch on. But after 2 days from hatching I add some infusia and after three days of that and they are free swimming I use microworms until they are about 1/4 an in. then I use carefully cut up bloodworms or brine shrimp.
