Breeding Comet bettas

[L333]

Hi all,

I have a large pair of comet Bettas that breed often in a pattern of several spawns and then a break.

Im fortunate in that the cave utilised by the male is very easy to see from the front and side of the tank.... and the roof of this cave I could remove out of my reef tank to hatch the eggs.

The egg ball is quite large and white and then turns black and eventually it kinda hangs down in threads before hatching.

I have not tried to remove the eggs to raise them so Im wondering has anyone tried this?

What culture method would suit, greenwater, rotifers etc?

Tks 4 Your time

James

 

[FMarini]

james-
welcome -since this is your first post.
If you can do a search you'll see that others have also bred this fish-primarily by accident, but like you they find eggs dangling from caves or side of rocks.
Both large commercial ventures (ORA, and C-quest) have also produced this fish, its interesting becuase the problem w/ raising this fish does not lye in raising the fry, its getting the fish to bred reproducibly. You've solved that...
but to answer your Q?
the larval period is short about 20-25 days. They will start on enriched rotifers as first foods. The fish is hardy and easy to raise

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=712013&highlight=betta
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=535270&highlight=betta
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=173961&highlight=betta
Best of luck
frank

 

[L333]

Comets

Comets

Thanks for the links Frank. Seems I am lucky to have a spawning pair and in such a good viewing spot.

I have a kinda dumb series questions regarding rotifers and algae cultures.

I am fortunate to have access to L and S strain rotifers and algaes (Nano and others). I have read a bit of info on both the culture methods so I think I am ok for that part of it....but

If I was to try greenwater culture in an isolated tank what would be my method of adding algae to the GW culture when I could see it was clearing up to much? How much lighting and what photoperiod would I need to maintain over the culture tank? Should I use open ended rigid airline tubing like reticulation dripp tubing or weighted large bubble plastic airstones and does it need additional airation during the night time cycle as the algae may deplete the oxygen?

Also with harvesting the rotifers would I strain them thru a suitable screen then dump the concentrated rotifers into the GW culture?

I have 120 liter glass tanks to use a GW culture vessels....although if it would be easier in bigger vessel then I could devote a larger tank...then maybe I would have to make the lage and rot cultures mamoth size as well.

Im hoping to use greenwater culture because I can't be there to feed things 6 times per day so im hoping this way I can topp up algae and rotifers in morning and that be ok till following day...figured no point putting more rotifers in at night?

James

 

[FMarini]

hi james- no problems.
Have you read the stickied thread entitled microfoods at the top? it has both GW and rotifer culture techniques prety well spelled out.
It will also answer your Q? about how much and what to add to make GW.
AS for rotifers same applies (read above), but yes a appropiate sized screen mesh or strainer will work
I'm glad you have access to all these goodies. The glass containers are fine, just harder to work w/ becuz you'll have to sterilze them inbewteen cultures- but they will work