10 tips for a successful Betta splendens reproduction

10 tips for a successful Betta splendens reproduction

Betta splendens is one of the most wanted fish in everyone’s aquarium. Breeding Bettas is not hard, though you might face problems at spawning them. They are oviparous fish, the male builds a nest in which the eggs/fry are kept for few days under the strict care of the Betta male. If you follow the next advices, you have big chances to get nice results of your Betta fish spawning.

1. Reproduction tank equipment: volume of 15-20 liters, a heater, a thermometer and air pomp connected to an air rock which will spread small bubbles. You need small bubbles because the fry are very sensitive to water movements and you don’t want them to suffer.

2. The aquarium water must have a temperature of 28-29 C, a higher temperature will hurry the eggs hatching and the fry won’t be fully developed. Keep the temperature constant using the heater and check it with the thermometer to make sure it is at the right level.

3. The water depth mustn’t excel 10-15 cm because the Betta eggs are denser than water and they fall down from the nest. The male picks them up in its mouth and brings them back in the bubble nest, but a water column over 15 cm will tire it after few repetitions.

4. Cover the reproduction aquarium with a lid in order to keep the same temperature for the air inside the aquarium. The fry develop their labyrinth after about 30 days and they are very sensitive to temperature changes. The lid also protects against air flow which could ruin the bubble nest.

5. Select a compatible pair of Bettas. At first attempts you’ll only want to get some fry and you won’t be interested in colors/fins, but after some successful spawns you’ll be more pretentious. So you’ll chose same colored Bettas or even more, you’ll look for developing some nice fins (double tails, crown tails, half moons, etc) but this is another discussion…

6. Introduce the male in the evening and only next morning introduce the female, considering that the male has already built the bubble nest. During the night keep the female in a jar near the aquarium and assure some light in order to make eye contact between the male and female; this will stimulate the bubble nest building.

7. The next day, after introducing the female, the Betta male will brutally chase her. That’s why you have to put some plants in the corners of the aquarium in order to assure hiding places for the female. Also make sure you add some floating plants in order to help the bubble nest building.

8. After the first successful egg evacuation, the male (sometimes the female too) will take them (in the mouth) from the bottom of the aquarium and bring up in the bubble nest. You don’t have to panic because this is a natural thing, so don’t take the fish out thinking they eat their eggs

9. A good pair of Bettas can spawn up to 400-500 eggs, after which the female has to be taken out from the aquarium because the male will brutalize her in order to protect the nest. Put the female, for a few hours, in a jar with water where you added some metilen blue in order to prevent eventually infections caused by the wounds.

10. After about 48 hours the fry will hatch and the Betta male will assure they stay together in the bubble nest. After another 2-3 days the fry will swim free. Now it’s time to take out the male and start feeding them with Paramecium and/or Artemia salina (Baby Brine Shrimp).

This is it 10 tips for a successful Betta splendens reproduction. You can find advanced information on specialized websites, books, etc, but following this article should familiarize you with the Betta splendens reproduction needs.

Laurentiu Craciunas has been breeding Betta splendens for over 5-6 years now and wants to share his experience with others. You can find more aquaria related articles on www.tropical-aquariums.com

Basic Fish Anatomy - "What the heck is a Peduncle?!"
Basic Fish Anatomy - “What the heck is a Peduncle?!”

I’ve read too many articles by ardent fish hobbyists to not have to know the basics of fish anatomy. If you own a fish or would like to and ever want a conversation with someone who understands the animal then it will probably help for you to understand these terms of fish anatomy.

This guide is basically for anyone interested in knowing the labels of the basic body parts of a fish; the “heads, shoulders, knees and toes” of the animal.

So without further ado, let’s get to it:

The Operculum - Latin for “little lid” the operculum is the flap of skin that covers the gills and may move when the fish is breathing. It is what generally marks the end of a fish’s head and the beginning of its body. If enflamed it will flare (remain open) and this may be a sign that your fish has a parasite.

The Dorsal Fin - The dorsal fin follows the line of your fish’ back and is mainly for stability. It is also used by your fish in turning. Some fish will have dorsal spines that are used for protection in the wild. Often there is a second dorsal fin to a fish.

The Adipose Fin - This is not found on many fish but if you have a catfish you will be able to see it. It is a very small find behind the dorsal fin.

The Caudal Fin - This is the large fin at the back, the fish-tail.

The Caudal Peduncle - A peduncle is a mass of tissue that joins something to the body so the caudal peduncle is the bit nearest the body that joins the caudal fin. See, that wasn’t so hard, was it!

Anal Fin ” This is just what it sounds like; fins near the fish’s anus.

Pelvic Fin - This fin should be on the bottom of the fish fairly near below the operculum. They are used for direction and turning.

Pectoral Fin - If your fish has one it will be located on the side, just behind the operculum.

OK now that we’ve covered the basics of the outside, I am going to describe a little of what is inside your fish. Don’t worry; we’re only covering the absolute basics.

Swim Bladder - One thing that fish have that we don’t. It is a gas filled sac that the fish uses to control its depth in the water. When it wants to descend in the water it simply empties its swim bladder of air. It has expandable walls so that it can fill to allow air in for surfacing.

Gonads - These are basically the testicules or ovaries of your fish and they are both located inside of it. When the time is right they either secrete sperm or ova.

Teeny Tiny Brain - Look at any cross-section of a fish’s body and you will see that the brain really is tiny in comparison with its body and the relative size of ours. This has led some people to come to the inclusion that fish cannot feel pain and yet we know that they have memories of up to three month and can be reliably trained.

Anyway, I hope you have found this article to be of some use to you.

If you are a fish owner or this has sparked your interest then you may be in need of some aquarium-related products online. If so I highly recommend http;//www.desertcoralaquatics.com

Feel free to distribute and host this article wherever you please and free of charge as long as none of its content is changed. For more infromation about search engine optimization please visit:<a href=http://www.desercoralaquatics.com>HER E</a>

How To Choose A Tropical Fish Aquarium
The first decision you must make when you buy an aquarium is whether you plan to keep freshwater fish or saltwater fish. It s up to you whether you want to keep saltwater or freshwater, but if this is your first aquarium, then I suggest you start with a freshwater aquarium.

Here s why: Saltwater tanks are more expensive and more complex. You have extra things to worry about such as the salinity of the water, water conditioning, and temperature. Because of this, freshwater fish are much easier to care for if you re new to keeping tropical fish.

Here s a few other things to keep in mind when buying an aquarium:

Location
When you re deciding on a location for your aquarium, remember that it can t be placed in direct sunlight, or anywhere else that could result in changes in temperature.

Also remember that your aquarium, when filled with water, can be very heavy. As an example, a filled 20-gallon glass tank will weight about 225 pounds. Bear this in mind when you choose on a location for your aquarium as it will be impossible to move afterwards.

Level floor
You will need a level floor for your aquarium, as this will reduce stress on the tank and reduce the chance of any cracks forming over time due to the floor being uneven.

Electrical outlet
Make sure your new tank is located near an electrical outlet so you can plug in the heaters, lights and pumps.

Accessible
You ll need to have easy access to your tank so you can use the heater controls and air valves. You also need to have room for a net, and room to move decorations around.

Shape
When you re choosing the shape of your aquarium choose short, longer shapes over tall, thinner shapes. This way there will be more surface area at the top of the water, which is much better for your fish.

Size
It is best to choose an aquarium over 10 gallons. Why? Because it s just easier to take care of a fish in a larger tank than a smaller one. Whatever aquarium you choose, it is going to, over time, have a build up of waste material. In a large tank these toxic materials have more room to be dispersed. This means the water stays cleaner for longer, and will require less cleaning than a smaller tank.

Material
Aquariums can be made from glass or acrylic. Both have there pros and cons, but I recommend beginners to start with a glass aquarium. Why? Firstly, they cost less, secondly, they don t scratch so easily, and thirdly, they only need to be supported by the edges.

As you can see, you need to put some time and consideration into where you choose to place your aquarium. All these things will play a part in which aquarium you choose to buy.

Learn all about tropical fish at the author sites: <a href="http://tropical-fish-.blogspot.com">Tropical Fish</a>, <a href="http://saltwater–fish-.blogspot.com">Saltwater Fish</a>, <a href="http://freshwater—-fish.blogspot.com">Freshwater Fish</a>

Guidelines in Buying Koi Fish
If you are thinking of purchasing Koi fish, there are several guidelines that you must first consider before buying. It is important that you must first be acquainted with what there is to know regarding Koi fish. It is also important that you must not hastily buy the first Koi fish that you like, because you might be disappointed buying them. Remember, Koi fish are ornamental pet fish that is usually enjoyed for a long time (for those who do not know, Koi fish can live as long as six decades or sixty years and can also grow as long as three feet).Koi fish is a Japanese-bred fish that is related to the carp family and is primarily designed as an ornament. Koi fish are major attractions to homeowners and pet lovers because of the immense beauty and coloring. Guidelines in Buying Koi fish Nowadays, there are many people that are captivated by the dazzling and magnificent beauty of Koi fish. Most of them are enticed to collect numerous and sometimes expensive Koi fish. The most dazzling and magnificent Koi fish can cost as much as half a million dollars. Koi fish can be purchased on your local pet shop or through a public or private source, or through amateur or expert Koi fish breeders or collectors. A pond set up for a collection of Koi fish cannot be completed at once with just a wink of an eye. Accumulating and gathering Koi fishes for breeding usually takes time. Accumulating sufficient amount of Koi fish collections is surely an investment that accounts to sufficient money, heartache, and time devotions. Things that you must expect when buying Koi fish Most people have lots of expectations when buying Koi fish. Mostly these expectations are the main reason why they want to buy these beautiful ornamental pet fishes. For the most part, it is important that you will be the one to choose your own personal taste when it comes to the type or variety of the Koi fish that you want to obtain. If you are planning to purchase Koi fish, it is important that you first consider several factors such as the variety of the Koi fish, quality, the price range and where you will be buying the Koi fish. Most of all always make sure that your budget for the Koi fish is sufficient enough. Bear in mind that it is essential that you must have sufficient or adequate funds to sustain the maintenance of the Koi fish (such as foods, maintenance and in some cases, medications). Keep in mind that having Koi fish is not as easy as other types of pets. These dazzling ornamental pet fish require extra effort in keeping them (such as garden pond or aquarium maintenance, foods, electricity for the filter, etc.). They typically need added attention especially during spring season. That is when the water temperature of the garden pond or aquarium becomes erratic, of which can cause consequences. Read more information about guides in buying koi fish at http://www.about-koi-fish.com/buying-guides

Sherlock Four is a writer and author of http://www.about-koi-fish.com

Quality Pet Care and Health
Quality Affordable Pet Care ProductsCanine Buffered Aspirin Chewables Dogs, just like us, need relief from the daily rigors of life. If your companion has suffered an injury, has had surgery or some o

Aeration: - essential factor to aquarium fish.
As we all know rivers and lakes are the natural habits for fish and other marines. Rivers and lakes have large surface area which makes maximum provision of oxygen for fish survival possible. On the other hand aquarium is not like river or lake, it has a smaller surface area and there is limited movement of habitats. This makes provision of alternative means of oxygen for fish to breathe important. This artificial process of providing oxygen is called aeration. It’s a simple process of re-oxygenating the water in aquarium tank. The Aerating System: This is the series of material that increases the supply of air (thereby increasing oxygen concentration) they are: the air pump t-pieces rubber tubing clamp or regulator diffusers or airstone Air pumps come in different shapes and sizes but the most popular ones are tecax air pump from Taiwan together with ‘dyna free, and the dragon’ another popular one is super 555 from India though cheaper, but not as rugged. Occasionally available are the more expensive whisper and rens air pumps from Uk and rance respectively. Always place air pumps above the water level hooked to a non-vibrating material. You can accomplish aeration in your aquarium tank by using the above listed aeration materials. This materials form aeration system. For small tanks all you need is to attach simple aquarium air pump to airstone by means of rubber air tube. The system will be blowing air into the water which cause motion in aquarium tank and thus provide necessary oxygen your fish needs to breathe in aquarium. If you would like more articles on Aquariums, and Aquarium fish…come visit my new blog: Fresh Water Aquarium

For more Aquarium Info!: <a href="http://freshwater-aquarium-.blogspot.com/" title="Fresh Water Aquarium">Fresh Water Aquarium</a>

Tropical freshwater aquariums: Importance of proper temperature inside the tank
Many fish keepers house fish without basic knowledge of how-to create a suitable conditions and environment for their pets. Depending on each species, you should know it’s natural habits not through the breeding period only, but through the day, night, Winter or Summer as well. The most important aspect of proper and equalized fish tank temperature is to keep it as natural as possible.

Because the most common species available in fish shops come from tropical rainforests where it’s not unusual if the water temperature increases to 28 C through the day and lowers to 20 C through the night, you need to realise that stable temperature isn’t what your fish are looking for. Thanks to metabolism which works faster when temperatures are higher, fish are able to swim, search food, breed, breath and basically everything what they do during days. Unlike shiny middays, nights are characterized by sleepy and peaceful atmosphere; Of course, just those species take rest during nights which are active during days. It is important to keep the night temperature lower because fish need to scoop up the energy.

Unlike salt-water aquariums which require stable water temperature, freshwater species require varying temperature because of another reason; The level of oxygen in the tank. It is well-known fact that oxygen remains in cold waters easier than in high-temperature water. And because you don’t want your fishes to swim closely below the water surface all the day, you must consider improving water conditions in order to meet the imaginary quality criteria.

Let’s go to exact examples. If you keep Siamese fighting fish, water temperature shouldn’t exceed 30 C and shouldn’t be less than 20 C. Siamese fighting fish comes from tropical Asia regions. This geographic location is home of Paradise fish, Flower horn (which isn’t a natural species, it was created in laboratories!), Botia species, Gouramis, etc. Another temperatures are required by fish which come from North and Central America. Fish like Red devil cichlid or Xiphophorus species like more stable conditions; about 22 C through the night and about 27 C through the day. As we go to the South America, we will find similar environment like Asia there. Special care should be taken of African cichlids which prefer lower temperatures since they usually swim in cold waters. All in all, minimum of 20 C and maximum of 26 C will be welcomed.

Even though you must care of your pets as much as possible, there are times when you must increase temperature because of sick fish. Usually fish get the White spot disease and the best cure for such illness is increasing the temperatre to 30 C or sometimes 31 C and adding sea salt into the water.

Another reason for higher tenperatures is breeding. Almost every species breed only if temperature is higher than 26 C, which is a sign of enough food. Because tubifex, various larvae, insects reproduce themselves during hot periods, fry will have enough food. On the other hand there are species like Corydoras Panda which breed in colder waters only. So it is up to everyone which fish you keep, but bear in mind their compatibility not only from aggressivity point of view, but from required environment aspect as well.

Jan Hvizdak is the author of other articles devoted to home-kept fish and ponds. He also owns a web site devoted to fishkeeping. According to this article, you should be interested in the article on <a href="http://www.aqua-fish.net/show.php?cur_lang=2&what=article&id=62" target="_blank">aquarium thermometer</a> usage and those who keep fish outside of their houses should read the article on <a href="http://www.aqua-fish.net/show.php?cur_lang=2&what=article&id=63" target="_blank">fish pond</a>.

Acclimation - Safely making your new fish feel at home step-by-step
Acclimation is basically the technique of making sure your fish isn’t too shocked when moving from tank to tank or from the wild to your tank. It’s basically making your fish feel at home and making sure there are no consequences to the health of your fish afterwards.

As any of you can imagine, being moved from one aquarium to another is a very stressful experience for any fish. If done right this stress can be minimizing as can any possible adverse health consequences for your fish.

So here is your basic, step-by-step guide to making sure that your fish is properly acclimatized.

Firstly, if your fish has been shipped from an online website or has otherwise come from a dark environment then make sure the tank is dark too, at first. Turn off the tank lights and make sure that the room is as dark as you can get it right away.

What you DON’T do is just plunk the fish from the bag into the aquarium. The temperature difference between the bag and the aquarium could be enough shock to kill it. Think “jumping in an icy river”.

A better method is to float the bag in the aquarium for fifteen minutes before opening. This, obviously, allows the bag to reach the same temperature as the tank.

After this, you should open the bag and trap some air inside to allow them to float.

If you want to you can move the fish or other animal to another bowl of water or something at this point. Now it has gotten use to the room temperature a little, being out of the bag will help complete the processes.

Another, perhaps better, way of doing this is to begin to empty cups of the aquarium water into the bag with the fish. If you just add a half a cup every five minutes then eventually after about fifteen minutes, the conditions should match perfectly.

Net your animal/fish from the bag at this point and slowly drag it over into the tank. Obviously, you should get rid of the water from the bag that it was carried in. If it was shipped from a seller then it is probably very dirty and deoxygenated. If it wasn’t then it still wouldn t hurt to provide your new pet with some nice clean water.

Observe your new pet for a while in the water. It may be a little lethargic and may not move very much for a little while but soon the increase in oxygen will lea to steadier breathing and it should perk up. Give it a half an hour to an hour to get used to its new surroundings.

If you follow all of the above steps then your fish or other animal should be more than fine in their new tank. The key things to remember are the light levels and the temperature.

If after this you re looking to order any form of aquarium animal, aquarium or other fish-related equipment online then I highly recommend http://www.desertcoralaquatices.com for a decent price and high quality.

Feel free to distribute and host this article wherever you please and free of charge as long as none of its content is changed. For more infromation about search engine optimization please visit: <a href=http://www.desertcoralaquatics.com>http://www.desertcoralaquatics.com</a>

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