While most new owners confuse betta’s unusual behavior with her pregnancy, guess what? I’ve been breeding them for years and listing here all the signs to help you make an educated guess about it.
Read the symptoms thoroughly and check if your betta is pregnant.
Signs Of a Pregnant Betta Fish
It can be difficult for new owners to tell if their Betta fish is carrying eggs. However, you can make an educated guess about it.
Notice a round white patch on her stomach. This patch is called an ovipositor, an egg-laying organ between her ventral fins.
Female betta fish, when carrying eggs, look bloated from one side of their abdomen. Detect vertical white or pale stripes along their bodies.
Gravid bettas may show behavioral changes like loss of appetite and more interest in the male Betta and bubble nest. If the resting place is not made properly, the female Betta destroys it.
Lethargy gets the better off the female Betta, prior to the egg releasing process.
The shape of a gravid betta’s belly appear full and bulging.
N.B. Don’t confuse a gravid betta with a fish suffering from constipation. She could be constipated!
Betta Fish Conditioning
If you intend to breed your bettas, provide them with extra affection and care. A pampered fish will lay healthy eggs that males can fertilize easily.
Provide them with nutritious food and prepare them for the spawning process. This includes live food such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, and earthworms.
Use a hurricane glass or a divider to acclimatize the relation between a female and male betta. This will give you an idea of their response and subsequently, the mating process.
Betta Fish Reproduction
According to research, a 3-month-old betta is ready for reproduction. As mentioned earlier, females show vertical stripes while males create bubble nests in the tank before mating. As the male and female go intimate, egg formation and release process occur subsequently.
The male fertilizes the eggs and brings them to the bubble nest with his mouth. The hatching process takes 1-3 days.
Do you want to breed your bettas? Follow the above-mentioned process.
How Long Does Betta Keep Eggs?
Female bettas keep their eggs in the ovipositor organ for 1-2 weeks. After the mating process, they release the eggs into the water.
How Many Eggs Can a Betta Produce?
Betta fish lays 100-400 eggs at a single time, sometimes 500+ eggs. However, not all released eggs are hatched, especially in the open where predators are present.
In aquarium settings, you need to be cautious about the overpopulation problem. Try shifting the bettas to a new place for better care.
Bottom Line
Bettas can reproduce by dozens! Check their sex before getting them home. If you happen to have a male and female together in the same tank, you’ll soon become the owner of dozens of new betta fry!
I hope you found my insights helpful. Don’t forget to give ample care to your aquatic pet during the breeding process.
