BettaDance: May 2010

Monday, May 3, 2010

Red halfmoon

I was stunned to find 4 or 5 red halfmoon bettas for sale at rm10 each in my favorite fish shop last week. Without hesitation, i grabbed this one eventhough i was supposed not to buy any more betta as i will be migrated to New Zealand in 2 months time. Anyway, i think it will be worthwhile even if it will make me happy for only two days!

Breeding and Care of fry

It is relatively simple to breed betta. First, you need to choose a compatible pair; both male and female should be about equal size, matching colour and same strain. The female should have a stomach full of roe in order to get a good spawn. I prefer to use a container with size 1.5' length x 1' width x 1' height for breeding. The water level is about 3 inches and half piece of ketapat leave will be placed floating for the male to build nest. I would put the male in the container first, then put female in a 4"x4"x4" glass before placing it in the center of the container. This is to condition them for spawn, three days should be good enough. I will feed them with frozen worms to boost up their energy levels and sexual desire. After i released the female, courtship instantly begin. Most of the time, the male will force for a spawn by biting the female. The female usually give in after two days and lay eggs.It is advisable to add a few drops of anti-fungus liquid to protect the eggs. I would remove the female after notice its stomach is flatten. The male will continue to take care of the eggs for the next few days. The fry will normally hatch in two days. Once hatched, the male has to be removed to avoid fry being eaten by him. I would feed the fry with microworms or brine shrimps for first week, followed by frozen daphnia for the next one month. Subsequently, frozen red worms or pellets will be fed to them. Water can only be partially changed after one month.
#1)Do not put aquarium plant in breeding tank as there may have velvet or insects that would kill the fry.2) Brine shrimp is a preferred food for fry.

History

Prior to 1800s, people of Siam (Thailand) started to collecting bettas from paddy fields and rivers. They reared it as a hobby and sometime watched betta fighting as entertainment. King of Siam started licensing the collection of these fighting fish in 1840. He gave some bettas to his good friend, Dr. Theodor Cantor, a medical scientist from Bangor. Dr Cantor named betta as Macropondus Pugnax. In 1909, Mr. Tate Regan renamed it as Betta Splenders. It was not until 1927 that the first brightly colour, long finned betta arrived in the United States.Many variants of betta have been developed by hobbists through out the world. But, one particular person i wish to mention is uncle Sala from Thailand, he developed giant, halfmoon, crown tail and many other strains.

BettaDance

Monday, May 3, 2010

Red halfmoon

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