Nymox Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 So after much thought and consideration, I decided to let my fighters have a go at spawning. After Zev built a bubble nest last night I removed the bit of news paper blocking their veiw of each other. He flared and carried on but she stuck there watching him and within a few minutes her verticle bands started showing really nicely. So, I put her in a fish transport bag and sat her in there with him. Her bands got darker still and he was swimming around her frantically displaying, then nipping off to work on the nest some more, then back to showing off. Ive released her now and shes swimming around with her fins held back and her head held down, shes had a look at the nest a few times but he chased her away. So Ill be here watching them closely all day, its really just up to him now any sign that they might end up hurting each other Ill remove her. Shes a tough lil fish but I dont wanna risk loosing either one. Everything seems to be going by the betta book of lovin though, Ive been readin some times it can take up to 10 hours for them to finally try and then they need to figure out the embrace, both their first times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 Congrats! I've tried spawning my fighters a couple of times but the males are too distracted by the females to build a bubble nest :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nymox Posted October 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 They've had all the time in the world to get to know each other, I wouldnt say its any where near a success story yet though, still alot can go wrong i imagine. Shes very receptive but hes still trying to figure things out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nymox Posted October 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 Here Ruth(less) showing her banding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 Wow, that's strong The little girl between the two males in the divided tank is getting so much attention. But her and the red guy were "flirting" heaps, swimming frantically up and down the glass flaring at each other and she has some slight vertical bars. But when I moved her into his partion, he just attacked her :-? He has blown an okay bubble nest but the male on the other side has a better one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N1CK Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 Try not to check on them to often , it seems to work thats some very strong banding on her as well :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nymox Posted October 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 Decided to pull her out, she was so receptive but he changed to the Zevinator, his frantic movements even broke his nest. Lucky shes alot faster both fish unharmed, perhaps some pride a lil damaged but nothing else. Im going to try again in a few days, lower the water level and a few other things.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nymox Posted October 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 Alright so im trying again today, Zev has been in another tank for a week now, hes in about 25 ltrs of water at about 5 inches in depth. I made sure there was lots of nooks and hiding places, and floating plants. Water flow is down to just about nothing and the temp is just shy of 27 C. He seems much more focused in there, constantly maintaining and building his nests even when he can see the female, rather then frantically swim back and forth flaring at her he poses, fins fully flared out and pumps bubbles from his gills. Im just waiting on the lps to open for a breeding trap, I was going to use a bottle but I couldnt drill the holes without them ending up sharp on the inside, I could spend a while deburring it but Ill just get a trap Also waiting on Mum and her camera, Ill photograph and film what i can without disturbing them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nymox Posted October 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 The Poser: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 Heh, heh, creative little guy, isn't he? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nymox Posted October 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 Shes been in the tank with him for about 5 hours now, hes not been back to the nest much and is very occupied with her. Shes once again showing very receptive colours, and swimming head down. Hes not attacking her alot, but has some very frenzied bursts at her. He mostly swims in a clumsey looking 'S' pattern (see pic below). Shes in a plastic bottle with holes all around for water flow. Im just wanting to know, how long can this go on for? Will it stress them out to a point they are hurting themselves? Should I let her go even though the nest isnt complete yet, Ive read that some males dont make the nest till the female is released?. She seems happy in the bottle , I have a oly cup in there with her so she has something to get out of his sight. Some websites say it could take 1 - 3 days like this, seems like it might over stress the male? Any tips or criticism very much appriciated. Zev doing the 'S' dance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N1CK Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 The nest doesnt have to be complete some fighters will have no nest at all and still manage to raise a good amount, and the 1-3 days is after you have let her out (i think) If I wre you I would let her out ion the morning and keep an eye on them and make sure they arent taking chunks out of each other (although some damage is alright huge amounts isnt) then leave her in there for a few days... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nymox Posted October 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 This morning was a bit different, he started a new nest on the other side of her bottle. Hes been at it for nearly 7 hours and only stops to have a quick pose and wiggly swim at the female. Took this video earler, the nest already covers the underside of the cup completely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nymox Posted October 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 Im a little confused today, Zevs been swimming back and forth between the nest and female. Its like hes saying 'Babe come look what I did!' Shes still in the bottle, but shes dropped 4 or 5 eggs, still holding. Should I let her out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jfishfanatic Posted October 19, 2009 Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 You could let her out. See how shes goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nymox Posted October 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 Shes out, all looks to be going well in my understanding. Heres a short clip. Is everything looking alright? I want to have a shower soon and go get some subway, have I got much time on my hands or need to be here always watching from a distance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nymox Posted October 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 Hmm no violence other then a little bit of chasing every now and then. She destroyed the nest but hes quickly rebuilding in another spot.... What im worried about however is shes still dropping eggs ever so slightly and eating them does this mean anything?? perhaps she doesnt like him or his nest? He managed to save a few eggs, not sure if he ate them or not but he went strait to the nest with them so im thinking he save them. As long as they not trying to kill each other should I leave them? or is it all over with her dropping eggs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jfishfanatic Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 This is my understanding; (anyone more knowledgeable please correct me)When a female fighter starts dropping eggs it is because she has been producing them to be ready to breed, but then has been waiting for to long and needs to get rid of them. Otherwise she can become egg bound and die. You may have to recondition her before reattempting to spawn them. -As you probably know if there is no embrace, then the eggs won't be fertile. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottie841 Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 From my understanding you are partly right As you probably know if there is no embrace, then the eggs won't be fertile. Hope this helps. The male can pick the eggs up and fertilise them as long as she or she does not eat them. The male fertilises the eggs after they are dropped so the embrace has nothing to do with fertility. This is my understanding; (anyone more knowledgeable please correct me)When a female fighter starts dropping eggs it is because she has been producing them to be ready to breed, but then has been waiting for to long and needs to get rid of them. Otherwise she can become egg bound and die This is 100% correct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nymox Posted October 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 shes been holding for a long time now, about 3 weeks id say perhaps more. I should really let her drop them and recondition her then. Its been a great learning curve so far, and Zev is a real sweetheart compared to what ive heard some males can be like. Would it be ok to condition her in a breeding trap in the same tank? or get a devider? I dont really want to put her in another tank just now as the bol rams are spawning right now and I have albino cory fry in the other. If i have to get another tank tomorrow I will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottie841 Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 I would say another tank just because I dont like having them in less than 10L of water. I always feel mean confining them to a small cage for more that a couple of days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze-dragon Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 probably best to take the gravel out of the tank next time as well, as he wont be able to pick up the eggs once they fall beneath the top layer. a bare bottom tank is best although our fighters also did well with a substrate of sand. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nymox Posted October 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 probably best to take the gravel out of the tank next time as well, as he wont be able to pick up the eggs once they fall beneath the top layer. a bare bottom tank is best although our fighters also did well with a substrate of sand. HTH The reason I decided to go with the ugf is because of the water flow, hob and sub filters all produced way to much water flow, poor lil Zev had to work hard just to stay still let alone build a nest. I have a small section of glass under where he built the nest, I hoped that the eggs would rest well on there but unfortunetly I didnt get a chance to find out. I might go get another breeding tank tomorrow then, if anyone would be kind enough to recommend a tank size and filter model. I have the female with my corys at the moment, she strait away lost her verticle banding, but hasnt dropped any more eggs. How can encourage her to drop those eggs? She has taken no damage so it would be good to get her to drop the eggs, and start reconditioning her. I guess not feeding her for a few days? I feel mean even thinking about it my poor sweety she loves food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jfishfanatic Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 A 2ft tank is good to breed in; 60x30x30cm (LxWxH). And you don't need a filter, although that does encourage and provide good bacteria. You can always add a sponge filter once they have spawned and the fry are free swimming. You could even have it cycling in a different tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nymox Posted October 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 I guess if I have to go as big as 2ft then Ill be better off getting my 240 ltr ready asap, then that gives me 3 smaller tanks just for fighters and 1 even smaller tank to spawn and raise fry in. So whats a good internal or hob filter that has a low flow rate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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