Betta fry problem

[Michelle.g]

Hi, I have ~100 3 month old betta fry. They have been showing a bit of aggression towards each other recently, but just flaring. Yesterday I noticed around 10 dead fry in the bottom of the tank and they had all been partially eaten, so I watched the tank for ages and found that even though I had just fed them and there was heaps of microworms in the tank one of the fry was attacking and eating other smaller fry! So I have put that one into a separator within the tank. I can easily set up a second tank, or I have jars and a heating pad that works well. The fry are too young to tell whether they are males or females, but I think I need to separate some of the biggest fry. Should I put them into another tank or jar them?

[Aaron-Betta]

at three months old, yes you should begin splitting them up. This helps by feeding them individually and doing daily water changes on the single fish can help it grow quickly and big. I usually start splitting mine up when they are around 2 cm long. It means the fins wont be damaged etc. Also when it comes to having to sell them it's easier 3 - 5 a week rather than 100 in one hit. (If you were wanting to pass them onto shops or other fisho's)

[Michelle.g]

There are around 15 fry that are much about 2cm long, the others are quite alot smaller. Should I jar these 15 or should I put them into a tank (I have a 2 foot tank that can be used) and then jar the males as they get bigger?

[Adrienne]

The biggest fry from a fighter spawn are generally male. Jar up your bigger ones, if males they will definately have longer fins and tail. Then jar them up as they start to fight. To find out which fish are causing problems look for the ones with torn fins and tails - they are not so much the ones being picked on but actually the ones causing trouble. Unfortunately once you start moving them in and out of tanks the trouble will really start so if you just set up another tank and put the big ones in there will most likely be an all in brawl!

You will find that the fighting starts and stops, if there is a low pressure system in the offing or over Canterbury they will fight more.

[Michelle.g]

Thanks for the help. I have jarred 12 of the biggest fry. The ones left in the tank seem to be ok, and hopefully they will not be agressive for a while longer. Thanks again.