FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I'm not sure why this happening to me... But every FEMALE Crowntail I've ever owned has always ended up becoming egg bound.... and after a period of time, dies as a result.... The attempts I've made in trying to save the females are as follows:
1) Not feeding - hoping she would absorb the eggs.
2) Isolating her in a separate tank, hoping to relieve stress so that she would release the eggs.
3) Placing her in a mixture of epsom salts and water -- in the hopes that she would be "cleaned out"... (Following the instruction from a breeder)
4) Tried a tea bag remedy that I found a link in a thread on this particular site some time ago.
5) Though I knew I wouldn't raise fry - I even went through the breeding process (conditioning, "tempting" and then releasing the male) -- with NOTHING happening between the males and females involved - except for a little initial flaring!

Now I realize that by using the word "her" it sounds as if I only had one Crowntail and tried all of the above... In fact, I've had SEVERAL females.... and tried the different remedies at various times....

My other female Bettas don't seem to experience this problem... While they do produce eggs - they seem to release them appropriately.... But the Crowntails - NEVER!

I figure I must be doing something wrong to have so many failures in this area... Just don't know what I'm doing incorrectly!

Frankly, I love the contrast of the female Crowntail to the others --- but I'm too afraid to buy any more right now until I have some possible solutions for the eggbound business...

The girls by the way, are residents of my 55 gal tank -- which is dedicated to all female Bettas with the exception of a few Corydoras....

So can anybody help me?????



To thine own self be true...

How very odd! I have never noticed any difference between my CT females and my HM and plakat females as far as a tendancy to become eggbound. I am sorry for all your losses though, as it sounds like you have had a lot. Any female I had who did not release her eggs right away or absorb them on their own, I used the breeding method and it worked splendidly. How long did you leave the male and female together? What size tank? Any plants for her to hide in? I have even had females drop their eggs waiting to be released with the male (which is disheartening when you are looking forward to fry). Last time I bred (even after conditioning and everything) the male and female had to be together for a few days before anything happened (and this was with plakats, who seem to always be in the mood). After you fill in the other information for me, I will try to be of more assistance. Sad to think of you giving up on CT females in general... they are so pretty! One more question... have all these CT females come from the same place?

now you mention it, it is a problem i am seeing. not so much that they don't release, but they do produce an awful lot in comparison and always appear rather awkward.

I'll ask around, its not something i have heard of as 'fact' (or at least common fiction ) but maybe thats pecause most are concentrating on HMs.

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 used a 10 gallon.... Didn't go with plants, but provided hidey hole decorations.... Heated (76 degrees initially, and even turned it to 80 towards the end)... And frankly, I left the male and female together for 3 days... And since HE never appeared interested in her at all except for a little flaring right at the beginning, I started over with another male... And left them together for 5 days.... (Now bear in mind, this particular situation of trying to permit the breeding process --- trying 2 males -- was only done with the last girl.... At this point, I was willing to try anything - even repeating the effort!)

To thine own self be true...

Well, it sounds like you did everything right with the breeding process. Plants are great in a breeding tank though, but the lack of them would not hinder any breeding. It is just easier for a female to swim through the plants than it is a male, and she can retreat easily. I really am at a loss here because I have never had the issue. I guess we will all have to do a little research into it, as Callatya has heard of the same thing. I was actually planning on setting up my CT pair for a spawn this spring (have too much on my plate right now to be worrying about another thing), so I will let you know how they do. This whole thing makes me want to boost up the time frame a little and do it earlier. Must resist... must resist... Maybe I will move it forward a little...

Sorry Stormy5! I just realized that I left one of your questions unanswered.... My female Crowntails came from 3 separate sources.... Sarah @ Colorado Crowntails, Emiad on Ebay, and AquariumFish.net.... So you see, breeding lines could not possibly be the problem...... I'm just really stumped!

Sure wish that I could figure this out!!! As I said before, I really like the contrast of the female Crowntails with my other Betta girls!


To thine own self be true...

I asked today, however, one of my breeder friends has not experienced it. I asked her to keep an eye out though.



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

No problem! I figured it was more of an oversight than anything else. I have just never seen the problem either. Perhaps you could contact the breeders you got yours from and ask if they had ever seen the problem before.

Well, I am PLANNING (we will see what the fish have in mind) a VERY nice CT spawn a bit more towards spring. The parents are a nice imported pair (simply stunning). If the spawn goes right, I will save you out a couple of nice females and GIVE them to you... all you have to do is pay the shipping. Hopefully then you will have some pretty girls who will not go all eggbound and such on you. I'm not going to count my bettas before they hatch though, so no promises, but if all goes well, I am more than happy to share.

Hmmmm, now that you mention it,all female crowns that i've had have always been really big. They never got eggbound, but they were always huge with eggs....

ashley

1 of my 3 female CT's is always stuffed full of eggs, and she never releases any. I didn't even know that was bad