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Hi Guy's,
Everything was going fine up until the other day.
I followed all the instructions (most of it came from FP, so I know it was good info).
But alas the babies have died.
I used the 25lt tank, 1/2 full, after a couple of days I added air and removed Dad, when they were free swimming of course.
Feed infusoria and they were doing fine.
I had to go away for work on the weekend and left strict instruction with the boss on how to care and feed them.
Phone rang Sat nite with the bad news that a few had died and that she had removed them from the tank. By Sun nite when i got home there was only about 10 left from around 300.
What went wrong?
Should I move the babies to a larger tank with really clean water and filtration? ( got one ready to go) or did i stuff something up along the way?
Please help as the parents are ready to go again. Nest is built and she is showing vert strips.
Ta Rob

Too many Kid's, not enough Fish

I wouldn't move them, that would cause a lot of stress, but that is just me.

If you want to breed your bettas again, you may want to try putting them in another tank.

Inky

Was the tank heated? how often were you feeding and what were you feeding other than infusoria?

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

Nope no heating. Tank stays at around 27C'.
Infusoria 3 x per day approx 1/2 ml.
was going to start the cooked egg yoke but they died.
Do you think not enough food?

Too many Kid's, not enough Fish

basic feeding is infusoria after they hatch, egg yolk (crumble it in water and then put the water in a spray bottle and spray it on the water's surface, don't just blob it in there ) for 2 days max, then microworms or vinegar eels for about a week or 2, and then BBS.

I think they might have gotten either a little chilled at night (that recently knocked off a batch of mine I was doing in this heat) or they didn't have enough food.

feed little and often rather than once-a-day big, It works better.

(and PM me postage details and I'll send bank details for postage and i'll shoot you up some MW and VE.)

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

i wouldn't breed the pair again so fast, as just because a female is barred doesn't mean she is ready, as u may know breeding is a tough process on the fishes body and a month or two is really best, as you dont want to keep breeding every week as it can be hard on the females and males body.

with betta fry, a alot of them will die, and that is natural. the only reason why animals(in general) would breed in massive numbers like bettas, would be that alot will die.

i would leave the remaining fry, and plan for next time.
with foods their are alot of good stuff to use. crushed up betta foods will be fine, as well as other packaged fry foods like first bites.

Thanks Guy's,
Calla I will send the info via PM.
Will keep you posted on events.
Ta Rob

Too many Kid's, not enough Fish

just to add to calla;s post, with the temp issue, often young bettas will die b/c of drafts caused by an uncovered tank.

Hey Chris,
Should i run the heater to be safe?

Too many Kid's, not enough Fish

it maybe to late to save these batch, but for the next batch it would be a good idea to have a small heater in their set at 86*F and a paper for the cover. (like computer paper) that way the temp is always in a stable rang.e

It's been 10days and the little fellas are still kicking.
They are about 3mm long now and I haven't lost any since the first thread.
Thankyou for the advice.
I took a big risk and set up another tank with heater and very slow filtration and air.
Took froever to pipet the little critters from one tank to the other.
Ta Rob

Too many Kid's, not enough Fish

thats great news.