Should bettas be fed when they re breeding?

Question

Hi guys, a friend wants to breed his bettas and he read that once the two bettas are together in the tank, with the eggs and all, they shouldnt be fed untill the process is over, im talking days of no feeding... is this true? any other tips? thanks

Answer 1

I've actually bred bettas a few times, although I wouldn't call myself an expert. Bettas can go several days without eating, so this wouldn't be a problem if your friend decided to not feed his.

When I spawned mine, however, the couple wasn't in the tank long enough for it to be an issue for the female. The male has to stay in the spawning tank to care for the eggs and fry, and during this time if either falls from the nest, the male will pick it up off the bottom of the tank (you can't use gravel or he won't be able to find and pick up eggs that fall in the spaces between the pieces) and put them back into the nest. I've usually fed my males when they're caring for the eggs and fry, but I put the food in a different part of the tank and use bloodworms, which he could never mistake for an egg or young fish. Although I suppose a betta might mistake an egg for something like a frozen daphnia and eat it, I'd imagine such events would be rare.

You can pass this on to your friend for another source on breeding bettas: http://www.bettatalk.com/breeding_bettas.htm

Answer 2

No. he or she should just feed them as per normal. however, they will survive for a month or so without food like most or all animals. If it is a healthy fish, it would be naturally hungry all the time anyway.

Answer 3

NEVER leave an egg layer hungry in a tank. Allow me to illustrate in one act-
Hungry male says,"Honey! (to his mate) Why you have caviar coming out of your butt! And right when we were SO hungry!"
Female says,"NO-NO NO NO NO!!!!" But does he listen? Yeah. He listens with his stomach.