Finally... Fries!

[Shi Xuan]

Alas, the Betta persephone's eagerness to spawn seems to have died down, can't explain the reason, as the male neglected the nest. I think I'm going to attempt spawning them again once I've got a new GEX Five plan 12L tank ready.

On the other hand, Bernard, there's more than 40 fry because after I return home from my lesson, I found another 6 more in the plastic critter tank. There could be more but I think it's more than I can handle. I have separated the fry into two containers in case I lost em' all and it's time to rig up the BBS bottles once again.

P.S
The pair spawned on 280111 and fry released on 090211, so it takes 12 days. Relatively fast in relation to our local temperature.

[Emokidz]

Haha. That's really great news. Im not sure how that male does it, holding so many wriggling fry. Simply amazing. I hope they continue to stay healthy though. Probably can let him retire to a good life.

As for the persephone, it happens. The spawnings may be triggered by many factors and the ceasing of one could stop the process. I guessing that it's because of the warm weather we've been having these few days.

[Shi Xuan]

Yes, most fish spawning are somehow related to the temperature. I find that fishes spawn more readily during the monsoon season, which applies to Cory.

If the B.persephone is so stubborn, I'm going to move them somewhere cooler. They are currently in my study room but it's hot there, except during the monsoon season, when the temperature drops by a degree or two. Good side is, it receives a lot of sunlight throughout the year.

[Shi Xuan]

Curiosity got the better of me and I decided to check on the Betta persephone, and noticed a pair residing in the film canister. I believe one of them might be the female you singled out that day. The other one is hiding away under a piece of leaf, only coming out to snap at the artemia nauplii and grindal worms I fed them, just like an eel. This should be the less dominant one, because I can see some slight fin damages, nothing serious, perhaps hiding away to nurse it's pride.

It's time I'm going to get a tank tomorrow and set it up like yours, which I think is highly efficient and space saving for keeping small betta species. It's a very good idea from what I can tell.

[Emokidz]

Haha, a permanent set up is usually the best. With low bioload and proper water management, it's almost maintenance free!

[Shi Xuan]

A permanent set up doesn't seem feasible, at least for bubblenesters. I think it's my mistake. They could have spawned and I didn't remove the canister but now, I think I know better.

I'll move the betta sp., including the adult channoides to their new home, when I get a new tank for them tomorrow.

[Emokidz]

A few weeks ago, I separated 2 persephone pairs into a partitioned 1 feet gex tank - to be reserved for a buyer. Fortunately or unfortunately, the person never got back to me. Since then, they've stayed in my tank and have been happily eating. To my surprise, the past few days of heavy rain have somehow triggered one the pairs to spawn. And this time, I was lucky enough to witness the wrapping process - with my camera, of course.

Everything starting with a bubblenest - a sign of an upcoming spawn.

Welcoming her in.

The wrap.


The father picking up the eggs.

And after all the action, she takes her leave...

...and dumps all the dirty work to him. Typical.

[Shi Xuan]

Bernard, looking at all the updates and you have a lot of success with them. I tried all the methods to trigger them to spawn but it's always the same. The male builds the nest but no spawning occur. I'm starting to guess if the trio is an all male gang??

[Emokidz]

Hi SX, not likely I think. For a male to build a bubblenest, there has to be a female in the gang. At least that's what I've noticed so far with this species. If you're free, you could pop by some time the week after next (now's my exam period till Friday next week) with them and we can have a look and see how we can pair them up. Btw, what's the temperature you keep them at?

[Shi Xuan]

For a male to build a bubblenest, there has to be a female in the gang.

Frankly, that's what I really wanted to hear. Perhaps, you are right. My room temperature has never been cool but it's different when it rains and the temperature drops by 1-2°C. My water is soft and acidic, so this shouldn't be a problem.

The trio doesn't really like grindals, likewise for the other fishes I have and I believe this could be the reason. I will have to start feeding them tubifex worms soon if I ever want eggs.

I must admit, this is a difficult species but beautiful.

[Emokidz]

It's possible that it is entirely temperature driven too. I've kept them at 24 deg for the past 3 days using the aircon set at 23 all night. My intention was to induce the foerschi pair and try my luck with them - then these guys got in the mood. The foerschi pair still remains uninterested... I get what you mean though. My brownorums and lividas just sit around the whole day and dont do anything despite my efforts to lower temp, feed live foods, introduce peat granules, lower pH and make water soft.

Also, it could be that the reverse trio I gave you isn't compatible. We can try to mix and match to find a compatible pair. Though I never thought them to be so fussy.

[Shi Xuan]

I think the male is doing ok but the female might not be in breeding mood. I'll change their diet and see if it works. I have this gut feeling I'm not working hard enough on them.

[Emokidz]

You can also try splitting them up for a week or two and re-introducing them. And they do better in pairs from what I've seen so far.

[Shi Xuan]

I'll try to go about their diet first. I'll split them up if the result is the same.

[RonWill]

...this is a difficult species but beautiful.

B. persephone is no more difficult than B. macrostoma, unimaculata or B. simplex Type II from Nonn in 2004.

Breeders need better conditioning and your trio arrangement will not work like killifishes.

[Shi Xuan]

Breeders need better conditioning and your trio arrangement will not work like killifishes.

Yes, the trio is a problem here, especially for betta. I got them together and has been keeping them in a large container ever since. A reason I didn't separate them is that, the sub-dominant male is always hiding away. The only fishes I noticed most of the time, is the pair. I'll do what's necessary and see if it works better this time.

[Emokidz]

Yup, perhaps keeping them in a pair would work better. The pairs that bred so far for me, have always been by themselves. I've never had much luck with the other half of the tank where i keep a group of 7 mixed genders. Spawning is always disrupted - or eggs eaten.

[Emokidz]

Finally, A viable spawn! The eggs have hatched over the past few hours and the wrigglers are out and hanging in the nest now. Daddy is currently tending to them. I guess this is one of the most rewarding part of keeping any species of fish... Then reality sets in and the daphnia runs begin.. Not to mention the setting up of yet another grow-out tub
I need more space!

[Emokidz]

Some pictures:






Can't really get clear shots as the tank is very dark and there's a lot of reflection from the glass at this angle.
From the pictures, I'm guessing there should be about 20 fry. So this was a good spawn.

[Emokidz]

On a side note, I just got a trio of Pseudomugil sp. 'Red Neon' and I'm just fascinated with them. Probably my thing for little fish with blue sparkly eyes...



Male

Female