[pweifan]

I’m about to try and breed bettas for the second time. I’m using one of the females from my first batch and a male I bought from the store. My concern is the male seems significantly larger than my female. I know males are typically bigger, but this time the size difference is a bit more drastic. Has anyone bred bettas that were dramatically difference in size? Is it a fool’s errand to try? I’ll definitely keep a close eye on the spawning process. I just wanted to know if anyone else has successfully bred large males with small females.

Thanks!
Scott

 

[pweifan]

Anyone ever try this? How did it work out?

 

[AquaAurora]

I have no experience breeding betta (or other fish) but you might have a giant/"king" betta male if hes 3" or a dwarf/small female. No clue if the size different might lead to death to the little one or not.

 

[pweifan]

He's not a king betta. He's about 2 inches and she's probably just shy 1.5 inches. He's also thicker than she is.

 

[pweifan]

Here they are together for a size reference (she's in the cup):



He's longer by about a tail fin and almost twice as thick.

 

[Art by Stef*]

How old is your gal? She appears to be showing stress or juvenile barring.
Maybe condition and grow her out a wee bit more, and try when the stripes are vertical
(breeding acceptance stripes)?

I found they will either accept each other or not. Even when you think they are perfectly matched for each other, they have their own preferences.
But, maturity is an important factor.
Expose them to each other (not directly), feed them well, and see how it goes for a couple weeks before putting them together.

-Stef*

 

[pweifan]

Stef,

You are exactly right, I haven't started conditioning her at all yet. I've got live food coming in the mail now. She's 9 months old. However, her mom's horizontal bars only disappeared when she displayed her breeding acceptance stripes and they came back afterwards. That's one of the traits I want to encourage in my babies.

I will show them each other, mix water and feed them a variety of food until they are ready. It was an involved process last time I tried this.

 

[Art by Stef*]

Scott, I just read your other thread and seen the pics.
9 months is plenty old enough, and I have seen older females with the horizontal stripes.
(I have a few females that are 6 months that constantly display them, and they are pretty durn big. Same reddish type base, too.)
Usually it's a stress/defense thing, and in the above pic she looks intimidated, lol.

My Giant Halfmoon was a most gentle daddy to his gal, who was much smaller, and his fry.
First go round with him, I tried a fish that was close to his size (3 inches) and she was blood thirsty. Second time, with the 2 inch female, he fell in love

I do not have any experience with Plakats, though. The large female I first paired him with, an import, arrived looking very much like a plakat. Very aggressive.

Since you were successful the first time, I guess do the involved process, especially since you are breeding for something specific (Horizontal stripes).

I envy people who just get 2 fish, chuck 'em together the day they get them, and they spawn. I'm not that adventurous to take a chance on sentimental or high $ fish.

Stef*

 

[pweifan]

My Giant Halfmoon was a most gentle daddy to his gal, who was much smaller, and his fry.
First go round with him, I tried a fish that was close to his size (3 inches) and she was blood thirsty. Second time, with the 2 inch female, he fell in love

This is very encouraging.

I'm not that adventurous to take a chance on sentimental or high $ fish.

That's why I'm so nervous I'm really proud of my babies!

Thank you very much for the info, Stef. It helps tremendously.