How long are betta fish pregnant? (2024)

How long are betta fish pregnant for?

Female betta fish carry their eggs for 1-2 weeks before mating. The male fertilizes the eggs after the female releases them. Though betta fish are never actually pregnant, they do carry their eggs around in their ovipositor for 1-2 weeks before mating.

How long does a fish stay pregnant?

Fish pregnancy can last anywhere from 3 weeks to 3.5 years depending on the species. Fish pregnancies usually last between 3 weeks and 10 months. This huge range is due to the differences between various fish species. Aquarium fish like goldfish or guppies are at the lower end of the spectrum.

How do I know if my betta fish is pregnant?

A female Betta fish pregnant with eggs is called a gravid Betta fish. Look at its sides and belly when you want to know if a female Betta fish is gravid. You'll see white stripes on its sides and a visible white dot on its belly. The white dot is the organ for laying eggs, and it's called the ovipositor.

What to do with pregnant betta fish?

If the female is egg-bound, let them take care of it by themselves or help them out as gently as you can. If the mating process does not happen the first few times, separate the two bettas and try again after a month. After the mating is done, keep the female betta away in case the male harms her.

How often do female bettas lay eggs?

The average amount of eggs betta fish have per batch is between 30 and 100 eggs, but females can lay up to 400 eggs in a batch. Mouthbrooding bettas lay way less eggs, mostly between 10 and 20 a batch, since the male hatches them in his mouth.

What is the longest pregnancy in fish?

Pregnancy length can vary significantly by species. The spiny dogfish shark can carry young for about two years, while basking sharks can do so for as long as three years.

How do pregnant fish look like?

Pregnant female fish often develop a "gravid spot" on the abdomen near the rear vent. This is typically black or bright red, and grows more pronounced over the course of the pregnancy. Some fish always have this spot, but it will typically grow brighter or darker during once the fish is pregnant.

What happens when a betta fish gives birth?

Male betta fish will place the eggs into a bubble nest, which he will create. The baby betta fish will hatch in about three days. As they hatch, male betta fish will watch and remain under the bubble nest, catching any eggs that fall out. Once hatched, the babies are called "fry" and are very tiny.

What does it look like when a betta fish lays eggs?

After female betta fish mate, the females will lay eggs. The eggs come from what is often termed an "egg spot," seen encircled above. The spot looks like a grain of salt, and is actually the ovipositor tube where the eggs will come out of. This is a way to identity a female betta fish if you are unsure of the sex.

Should I remove female betta after laying eggs?

Once the eggs are laid, the female betta should be removed, while the male betta remains to take care of the nest and eggs. After the fry become free-swimming, the male can also be returned to his tank. This entire process usually takes about a week.

How do you keep baby betta fish alive?

Can you put a male and female betta together?

While it is possible for male and female Betta fish to live together, it is not recommended. Male and female Betta fish are very territorial and aggressive towards each other, which can result in injury or death.

Why is my betta fish stomach big?

Compression of the swim bladder is the most common cause of swim bladder disease. It occurs when a fish eats too quickly and swallows a lot of air, causing your betta's stomach to enlarge and push into his swim bladder.

How fast do female bettas grow?

Baby bettas can reach their full growth after 6 or 7 months after birth. However, it's not that simple. A variety of different factors influence their growth. The most important being water quality.

How long does it take for a female betta to mate?

The nest should grow larger and larger, and it should take 3 days for the fish to be ready to breed - by then the female should have produced enough eggs within her body. It's recommended that you cover your tank with paper/plastic to give the pair some privacy.

How many betta fry will survive?

Betta Fries have a survival rate of 90%, so if yours are dying, it's not a very common thing.

Will baby fish survive in my tank?

It is possible to raise baby fish in your main tank, but generally, few will survive this. Larger fish will see them as tasty snacks and even vegetarian fish may be tempted. They can also suffer injuries from being chased and bullied.

What to do if your fish gives birth?

What to do with baby fish you don t want?

Sell or give away extra fish.

Also consider selling or giving away unwanted fry to people with other pets that may use the fish for food, or else contact a local nature center, elementary school or similar organization about free fish for educational purposes.

How many fish survive after birth?

But even under the best conditions, at least 70% of newly hatched fish still die.

What fish has the most babies?

A Lotta Mola. The mola, or ocean sunfish, looks like an animal cracker someone bit in half. At 5,000 pounds, though, this temperate and tropical water animal is the world's heaviest bony fish. It's also the heavyweight egg producer, releasing 300 million eggs over a spawning season.

How did my fish have babies without a male?

Some fish do indeed get pregnant. The egg develops into a young fish inside the female, and the fish are free-swimming when they are born. Fish that get pregnant and give birth to live young are known as "livebearers."

Do fish swim different when pregnant?

They can increase about 10% in total volume over the span of just one week, but the volume of the abdominal region can change as much as 25%. This change in volume will have big effects on their swimming performance, for a large part caused by the drag increase that comes with the increase in volume.

How small fish give birth?

Fish reproduce by bearing live young or by laying eggs. Livebearers give birth to fully formed and functional young called fry. The eggs are fertilized and hatch within the female.

Why is my male betta making a bubble nest without female?

Making a bubble nest is something of an instinct for male betta fish. They do so even when there's no female around to mate with. The fish occasionally make nests because it just feels normal and natural for them to do so.

How do betta fish mate without killing each other?

The male wraps his body around the female and hold that position for a time, squeezing the eggs out of her body. After the "hug," the male will chase the female away -- or the female will make her escape -- and begin to herd the eggs toward the bubble nest.

What do baby betta fish eat?

A baby betta fish needs different types of foods for its healthy growth. Hence, the pet owner needs to provide living Grindal worms, Black worms, White worms, living or dried Tubiflex worms, and live or frozen Brine Shrimps as the first foods of this baby fish.

What is my betta fish making a bubble nest?

If you notice your betta fish making a bubble nest in their tank, there's no need to worry. Bubble nest making is normal for males, as it means they're ready to mate. Although it's less common for females to make bubble nests, you might notice your female betta making one. That's okay too.

Can you put female bettas with other fish?

Yes, depending on your betta's personality, he or she can peacefully cohabitate with other fish and invertebrates. However, make sure their aquarium is at least 10 to 20 gallons with lots of cover and live plants or else the betta fish may become overly territorial.

Is my betta pregnant or bloated?

If your Betta fish appears bloated, has white stripes and a visible white dot (ovipositor) you can assume she is carrying eggs. It is important to remember that just because your female is carrying eggs it may not result in eventual fry.

How many eggs does betta fish lays?

What time of year do betta fish breed?

Betta Fish Breeding Season

However, in the wild, Betta fish typically spawn between February and June, as this is when the water temperatures are warmer and breeding is easier. Since the aquarium is typically a controlled environment, the conditions should be stable enough that Bettas can spawn whenever they want to.

How old are bettas at Petco?

Because a Betta purchased at a pet shop is often one year old already. Males, in particular, are allowed to fully mature, so their fins and colors are well developed. Females may be sold at a bit younger age, but they will generally be at least six months old when offered for sale.

What happens before a betta fish dies?

You can tell if a betta fish is dying when its body color changes and fades, and it becomes lethargic, unresponsive, agitated, feeble, gasps for air, or stops eating. The symptoms of a dying fish vary depending on the ailment it's afflicted with.

What keeps killing my betta fish?

Poor water conditions: Clean water is a must for any fish, especially bettas. Low water temperatures: Bettas are tropical fish and need water temps between 75 and 80°F. Overfeeding: Excess food can kill your fish. Harassment by tank mates: Aggression—both from or directed at a betta—can reduce its lifespan.

What color are fertile betta eggs?

What Color Are Fertilized Betta Eggs? Fertilized eggs are white with a different gray spot. Most fertilized eggs will develop a brown or yellowish shade before hatching. Betta eggs will also begin to show the growing embryo inside.

What do unfertilized betta eggs look like?

On the other hand, unfertilized fish eggs will be completely white, and if you notice them for a period of days, you would see they have turned fuzzy and are not growing. Moreover, you won't see any grey spots in unfertilized eggs.

How fast do betta fish reproduce?

The nest should grow larger and larger, and it should take 3 days for the fish to be ready to breed - by then the female should have produced enough eggs within her body. It's recommended that you cover your tank with paper/plastic to give the pair some privacy.

How many babies do bettas give birth to?

How many babies do breeding betta fish have? Most betta fish will lay between 40 and 50 eggs per spawning. However, this number can vary greatly depending on the fish. Some aquarists who have experience breeding betta fish may find that their fish lay up to 500 eggs.

Can you put 2 female betta fish together?

Unlike male betta fish, female betta fish can live together comfortably in the same tank. When they live together, the cohort is called a 'sorority'. Generally, a good number to keep together is 4-6 female betta fish.

Can I put a male and female betta together?

To keep your Betta Fish healthy and alive, it is best to keep them alone in their respective aquariums. While it is possible for male and female Betta fish to live together, it is not recommended. Male and female Betta fish are very territorial and aggressive towards each other, which can result in injury or death.

How long do betta fish live after you buy them?

But, many people don't realize the commitment they're making when choosing betta fish as a pet. Betta fish lifespan. Betta fish on average live to be 2-4 years old. The length of your betta fish's life is directly related to the environment you keep them in.

Can betta fish live with their babies?

The baby betta fish will hatch in about three days. As they hatch, male betta fish will watch and remain under the bubble nest, catching any eggs that fall out. Once hatched, the babies are called "fry" and are very tiny. Neither parent will care for the babies - they will find their own food as they grow.

What is the white dot on my betta fish's belly?

Ich is a common parasitic infection in betta fish that causes white spots. Although Ich can be deadly, it doesn't have to be if you catch and treat it in time. So, we'll help you understand how Ich works and the best way to remove it from your betta's tank for good.

How old does a female betta have to be to breed?

Your female betta fish should be between four and twelve months old to breed. She should have a round belly and a small white egg tube just behind her ventral fin. Vertical stripes on her sides are also a sure sign that she is ready to breed.

What happens if you overfeed a betta fish once?

Overfeeding can end up killing your betta fish if not corrected in time. When a betta's stomach is full, digestive juices start to digest the food inside. If this continues for too long, the food will start to rot and produce toxins that can poison your fish.

How long can betta fish go without food?

How Long Can Betta Fish Survive Without Food? Most betta fish can survive anywhere between 10-14 days without food. Even though betta fish are generally picky eaters, they have a stomach as small as their eyes, so they don't need a lot of food to survive.

How often do you feed a betta fish?

Betta fish should be fed twice a day. You can take a small pinch of food in the morning, and a small pinch in the evening. You should make sure you do not overfeed them. Extra food will become waste and generate toxins when they sit in the bottom of the tank.