My betta has had babies. What do I do? I don't know what to do. I just got home and I looked into my aquarium and in the "betta corner" I found little white things on the surface. Also there are some on my heater. The male was getting them and keeping them at the top. Then the female had more. Then she went up to the eggs and he wrapped himself around her and then I nudged him to let her go and she laid there on her side for a second then got up and started swimming. I pulled him out of the aquarium. He's in a ice cream tub with some of the eggs. I'll probably end up getting a bigger tank, but what do I do when the eggs hatch? First time with babies. And it looks like my goldfish are going to have some kids too. PLEASE HELP ME!!!

annie

Many more people have asked me how to make happen what you have had happen than what to do after that fact. So, many would consider you lucky. If you don't want to bother taking care of fry, if you do nothing, the parents will eat the eggs and/or fry. Good parents (father mostly) will put the babies back into the nest but may turn on them once they're free swimming. Females are more apt to eat fry at any time. If you want to have lots of babies, then remove the babies now to their own tank (or alternatively, remove the parents so you don't miss any babies). If you just want some babies, you can leave the father with the babies at least until he turns on them (normally once they're able to swim). You may want to remove the mother if she's done spawning. I'm not sure if you left some babies with her, or they're all in the tub with the father. In the future, it's best not to disturb spawning fish. They (and more so the father) are more likely to turn on the babies if disturbed and/or moved.

The fry need very small food like infusuria (mostly paramecium). You can try liquid fry foods if you can find them (they stopped selling Liquifry which I used), grow your own infusuria by putting some hay in a glass on a sunny shelf until the water turns white, or add some green pond water (which has lots of tiny animals).

Your goldfish are spawning too? Many people would be very envious of you!

All the eggs are gone except for some on the heater. None of the fish have noticed them. I wonder what willl happen with them. I don't have money for another tank. Maybe I will next year and then I'll keep the eggs/fry. Thanks though! I'll let you know what happens with the eggs. If anyone one wants some bettas/goldfish (not sure what they are) let me know!!!


annie :D