How to Breed Bettas for Color Combinations

There are in excess of 50 species of bettas. The best known of these are the beautiful Siamese fighting fish. Bettas are freshwater fish that are found in densely grown waters in Asia. Betta enthusiasts have selectively bred these small fish to obtain numerous color combinations. By beginning a breeding program with fish that exhibit colors that are close to those you looking for, you will eventually be able to obtain the color combinations you desire.

Things You'll Need

  • 10-gallon aquarium, at least 5-inches deep
  • Chlorine remover
  • Corner box filter
  • Filter floss
  • 1.5-foot plastic air tube, 0.75-inch diameter
  • Aquarium heater
  • Two 8 oz glass jars
  • Two plastic pegs
  • Light weight plastic leaf
  • Aquatic plants
  • Adult betta food
  • Commercial egg laying fry food
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Instructions

  1. Tank Set Up

    • 1

      Place a 10-gallon aquarium on a work surface. Ensure that the aquarium is at least 5-inches deep.

    • 2

      Fill the aquarium with tap water and add chlorine neutralizer.

    • 3

      Remove the lid from a corner box filter and place filter floss into the container. Replace the lid.

    • 4

      Push one end of a 0.75-inch diameter plastic air line over the inlet tube of the box filter and place the filter into the aquarium.

    • 5

      Attach the opposite end of the 0.75-inch diameter air line to the outlet nozzle of a vibrator pump. Place the pump on a ledge above the aquarium to prevent water draining into the pump during a power outage. Turn on the pump.

    • 6

      Set the thermostat on an aquarium heater to 82 degrees Fahrenheit and place the heater into the aquarium.

    • 7

      Fill two 8 oz glass jars with aquarium water and place them into the aquarium. Use a plastic peg to secure each bottle to the rim of the aquarium. Place the bottles next to each other.

    Mating Process

    • 8

      Choose both a male and female betta which exhibit the basic colors that you require. Request young fish, which are younger than a year of age.

    • 9

      Place each betta into a separate bottle.

    • 10

      Leave the bettas for up to 10 days, to become accustomed to each other.

    • 11

      Place a light weight plastic leaf onto the surface of the water, to assist the male fish to build his bubble nest.

    • 12

      Place a number of plants into the aquarium, among which the female fish can shelter as required.

    • 13

      Place the two fish together in the 10-gallon aquarium, after the 10-day period.

    • 14

      Observe the male making a bubble nest and the mating. The male will remove the eggs that the female has released and will place them into the bubble nest.

    • 15

      Remove the female at this point. You can return the fish to your local dealer or to the original breeder.

    • 16

      Adjust the vibrator pump's output, so that the filter is functional, but very weak.

    • 17

      Wait for the eggs to hatch in one to two days. The fry will feed from their yolk sacks for two days.

    • 18

      Remove the male on day four, after the fry begin to swim freely. You can return the fish to your local dealer or to the original breeder.

    Caring For Fry

    • 19

      Feed the fry on commercial fry powder for egg layers or day old brine shrimps at this stage. Feed twice daily.

    • 20

      Observe the colors of the young fish as they grow. Keep only those fish which exhibit the most amount of color and color combinations your want to breed for.

    • 21

      Choose future breeding stock from these individuals.

    • 22

      Repeat the entire breeding process and once again, choose only those individual fish that exhibit the most depth of color and the color combinations you are looking to establish.

    • 23

      Continue to breed, until you have obtained the exact depth and combination of color you require.