How Do I Know When My Beta Female Is Fertile?

Bettas are small gourami fish that make for popular aquarium additions. While they breed fairly readily, the mating process can be quite violent and can result in nipping, fin-tearing, or even death, unless the fish are carefully monitored. The best way to avoid this violent behavior is to have as little interaction between the male and female bettas as possible by only allowing them to interact when the female is fertile, which is easy enough to determine; once you know what to look for.

Things You'll Need

  • Hurricane bowl
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up a separate breeding tank for the bettas; the tank should be heavily-planted and/or have numerous ornaments with hiding places. Keep the water quality high and a bit warmer than the temperature of the other betta tanks.

    • 2

      Choose a male and female betta that are approximately the same size; if one is slightly larger than the other, then it should be the female. Feed both bettas with high-quality flakes and, more importantly, live foods -- such as brine shrimp -- for at least a week.

    • 3

      Move their tanks next to each other, allowing them to see each other without directly interacting. Wait several days and then move the male betta to the breeding tank. Wait at least an hour -- allowing the male to get used to his new environment -- before putting the female betta in a hurricane bowl and placing it in the breeding tank with him.

    • 4

      Watch for signs of interest between the bettas, such as fin flaring and the male constructing a bubble nest. Watch for the female betta developing dark vertical stripes on her body and a protruding breeding tube behind her pelvic fin, as these are signs that she is fertile and can be released into the breeding tank as soon as the male is finished making the bubble nest.