Betta Male: Is it possible that they can WANT a mate?

Question

I heard of bettas - when you INTRODUCE them to another (female) betta, (if they are interested in each other) he'll ... "swim" and "dance" to show that he's worthy to be her mate (I think). But is it possible that a male betta can do this before actually seeing the potential female mate? : O If so please tell me, because I want to know. I'm curious as to whether this is what my betta is doing or if he's just being ... himself. haha

I think he's just being himself (goofy betta <-likes to swim around the side of the tank as if I cared he were there! :P ) ....

and I'm not sure.... but... maybe it's just from the filter, but, is it possible that the male betta's can create a "nest" thingy before meeting the female (like I said earlier)???? ....


I'm seeing things. If not. Please tell me otherwise.

**When I meant "INTRODUCE" I meant by keeping the female in a baggy or cup <- away from the male but close enough for him to see**

Answer 1

Yes,a male betta can and often does do the mating dance stuff with no female in sight. Since he has also built a bubble nest I have no doubt that is the answer. He's not being goofy, just wants to find a girlfriend :)

Answer 2

To spawn bettas you need to first prepare the fish.

You'll need to make sure you feed them extra well, and provide a wide variety of foods. Betta's do well with meaty foods and many will feed them black worms in preparation to breeding them.

Now you'll want to introduce the females to the males. I find that the easiest way to do this is to put a divider in the tank and have the male on one side and the female(s) on the other. This will allow the male to see the females and vice versa, but not allow the male to beat up the females.

Alternatively you can put in several females into the tank with the male which will spread out his aggression.

Once you notice that a female is becoming gravid (filled with eggs) you should remove all of the other females and put the male and female together in the tank.

You should lower the water level in the tank so that there is about 3-4 inches of water in the tank. You'll also want to minimize any water movements as this will effect the ability of the male to build a bubble nest. You can do this by using a simply sponge filter and a small air pump for filtration.

The male will build a bubble nest at the top of the tank. This is where the eggs will be put once they are fertilized.

When the female is ready she will move up towards the bubble nest and they will do the mating dance, at which point she will start dropping eggs. The male will fertilize the eggs and then put them into the nest.

Once the egg laying stops you need to move the female to a different tank and leave the male with the eggs.

Here is a good article on breeding bettas:
http://www.aquaria.info/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=311

Answer 3

Male betas often want to mate, mine has never had that desire and the last time I introduced a female beta, he puffed up his fins and warned her not to get near him so that was the end of that. Betas need warm water, plently of plants rocks/sand and compatibility to mate, not all females will work out for him. But if the female and male do get along and you put them in a tank together, don;'t use brightly colored plants, it attracts some fish. Plants should loook natural, not fake. Also, having real plants just give you a mess at the bottom of your tank so just use fake ones.

Answer 4

male bettas often build nests with no female around. usually filters break it up though. they really need still water to build good nests. i think it passes the time and in the wild it might signal the female that he is a great dad so she might want to consider hanging with him.

they do "flare" they will spread their gills and fins and try to make themselves look bigger at all kinds of things including their reflection in the side of the tank or at you when you go to feed him.

many males adopt inanimate girlfriends -- usually something brightly colored like a plastic plant or glass marble. i have one that mates with his filter. ha -- he was just wrapped around his filter -- he gets mad when i catch him i think.

Answer 5

all male bettas blow bubble nests, and all male bettas display when they see eachother, thier reflection and sometimes shadows.

Answer 6

my male, i would put my female betas' home next to his home he would swim all over the place puffing out his face..so it must be what they do when they want to make friends.