Betta fish are egg-layers. Thus, they do not give birth in the same manner that mammals do. The female betta fish lay eggs, which are fertilized by the male, as opposed to giving birth to live young. Although it is not necessary, betta fish occasionally lay their eggs at night. Since the bettas are mostly inactive during the night time(they prefer sleeping), most of the betta fish lay their eggs during the daytime.
If you find that your betta is giving birth during the night, it should surprise you as it is a rare scenario to be seen in the nature of the bettas.
Though some bettas might give birth during the night, the age and health of the fish, the tank’s water quality, and the presence of a good spawning place are just a few of the factors that may affect the time of laying eggs.
Before proceeding, it is necessary to have some understanding of how bettas reproduce and how long they live.
Betta Fish Reproduction And Lifespan
It takes betta fish roughly three months to attain sexual maturity. The betta fish are oviparous, which means the female gives birth to eggs that hatch outside of her body.
In preparing for the eggs, male bettas construct a bubble or foam nest. They accomplish this by blowing saliva-coated bubbles into the water with their labyrinth organ, an organ that functions like a lung. The female then begins to lay her eggs after the male and female have performed a mating ritual. This procedure is known as “spawning” by scientists.
As soon as the eggs hatch, the male fertilizes them and then carries the eggs in his mouth to the bubble nest. He looks after the nest without the assistance of the female. Typically, betta eggs hatch in 1 to 3 days. Until the fries are ready to start looking for other food sources, they can survive on egg yolk.
Although the average lifespan of betta fish in captivity is three years, they can survive for two to six years.
Reasons Why Betta May Give Birth During The Night
Bettas may give birth because of the following reasons:
Suitable Environment
The best timing to deliver eggs depends on the environment as well. The possibility exists that the female bettas may lay their eggs at night if the surroundings are calm and quiet. Additionally, since the majority of predators would be less likely to bother them at night, bettas may feel more at ease giving birth at that time.
Temperature Of The Water
Betta fish require water that is between six and eight pH units and is typically between 76 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit in temperature. To breed, betta fish require this environment. Consequently, because the water is warm enough, betta fish may give birth at night.
Predators
If Betta lays their eggs during the day, they might not want predators to find and eat them. However, a predator won’t have as much of a chance to succeed if Betta lays her eggs in the early morning or late evening. As a result, Betta might give birth at night as a last option.
Factors That Can Affect The Time Laying Of The Betta Fish
It is not always necessary that the betta should only give birth during the daytime. It might also give birth to its younger ones at night because of several factors affecting the timing of laying eggs. Some of the factors are discussed below:
Age And Health Of The Betta Fish
Betta fish are more likely to lay eggs when they are healthy and at a good age for breeding. Female bettas that are most capable of giving birth normally are around one year old. If the age of the betta is old, it may cause problems during reproduction as they may not be capable of giving proper birth. Size is primary to age. Therefore, if your 3-month-old female is already fully grown, it is safer and healthier. The same holds for smaller elder females.
Water Conditions
Betta fish are sensitive to environmental changes and may be more likely to lay eggs if the tank’s water conditions are favorable. This includes factors such as temperature, pH, and water quality.
A temperature between 79 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit is the most suitable temperature for breeding. Also, if the pH level is maintained around 6.5 to 8, the bettas will be more likely to lay eggs.
Availability Of Suitable Spawning Site
A flat, smooth rock or a plant with wide leaves is a common place for betta fish to lay their eggs. Fish may be less inclined to lay their eggs if there is a poor site to spawn. Therefore, it is advisable to add plants and some flat rock surfaces to your aquarium to make it a suitable environment for a betta to lay her eggs.
Hormonal Changes
The time of egg laying may also be affected by hormonal changes in fish. For instance, female betta fish may lay eggs more frequently when they are around a male betta fish because the male’s presence can induce changes in the female’s hormones.
Lighting Conditions
Some betta fish might lay eggs more frequently at night when lighting conditions are reduced, while other betta fish might lay eggs more frequently during the day. From fish to fish, the time of egg laying can vary and may be influenced by several factors, including a combination of these.
What Do Betta Fish Eggs Look Like?
Betta fish eggs look like white balls that are only 1mm in diameter. The eggs have an uneven oval shape rather than being completely spherical. The mouthbrooding betta fish lay larger, 2-3mm-diameter eggs that take more time to hatch. The eggs will swallow a bit and become more yellow as they develop.
The Hatching Time Of Eggs
The hatching time of the eggs is determined by a variety of factors. The typical hatching time for eggs is two to three days. The mouthbrooder betta’s eggs might take up to a month to hatch.
During this, the fry will begin to consume food from its yolk sack while remaining reliant on its father for care. Since the fry can’t swim, the father must pick them up and put them back in the nest when they fall out. The fry can swim and become independent after another 2–3 days.
Your eggs’ precise hatching time depends on various factors, including:
Temperature
Because the eggs entirely grow in the water, their ability to hatch depends on that environment. Higher temperatures have a significant impact on how quickly the eggs will hatch since digestion and metabolism are accelerated. While eggs in colder environments may take longer than three days to hatch, they can hatch in 24 hours at temperatures of 75°F or higher.
The findings of a recent study on the relationship between water temperature and Channa striata (snakehead murrel) egg-hatching rates were rather conclusive. The hatching process progressed more quickly as the temperature increased. The survival and hatching rates of the eggs and fry were also significantly impacted by it. At 30-34°C, the eggs hatched more quickly, although the rate of normality and hatching decreased. The ideal temperature, with the highest factors, seems to be around 28°C.
Since betta fish are similar to channa fish in terms of environment and genetics, this study suggests that temperature has an impact on betta fish eggs.
According to my observations, the ideal range for betta fish breeding is between 26 (79°F) and 28 (82°F) °C. In this manner, you will get rapid growth and a high rate of survival for younger bettas. Since mature bettas lose their life more quickly in warmer water, it is not advised to maintain them there.
You can use one of the following heaters:
- Eheim 3619090 Jager Aquarium Thermostat Heater 300W, Black
- Fluval E200 Advanced Electronic Heater, 100-Watt Heater for Aquariums up to 65 Gal., A773
- Fluval M200 Submersible Heater, 200-Watt Heater for Aquariums up to 65 Gal., A784
Water Quality
The quality of water has a significant impact on how quickly your betta eggs hatch and the hatch rate. If your water is of poor quality, some of the eggs or fry may expire quickly, or in the worst situations, they may all perish.
If the biological balance in your water is off, ammonia levels will rise, which are extremely toxic to fish. Ammonia is a natural waste product created by bacteria and fish feces. There are many additional hazardous materials and metals besides ammonia. Your eggs and fry may be harmed if your tank isn’t clean enough or if you haven’t cycled it.
Fortunately, there’s a very slim probability that any chemical will accumulate in your tank in unsafe quantities, so as long as you effectively use the water from other tanks, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about it.
Before spawning, always replace the water in the tank, add some catappa leaves, and possibly a sponge filter. By doing this, the chance of dangerous chemicals being discharged is decreased.
Species
The eggs hatch at different periods for various Betta species. Compared to other mouthbrooding species, betta fish that nest in bubbles have eggs that hatch quite quickly. It can take more than a month for some betta species, such as the Betta macrostoma, for their eggs to hatch and begin swimming freely. The majority of mouthbrooding species take between 10 and 14 days on average.
How Do You Know If The Egg is Fertilized?
The egg is fertile if it is slightly expanding and displaying gray patches. A little fish with such a white yolk sack could be seen in the egg close to hatching.
You can’t always expect to receive fry when you spawn your bettas. A portion of the eggs may not be fertile because the male or female may not be productive or because the pair is inexperienced. It is uncommon for all eggs in a spawn to be fertilized, and in some circumstances, no eggs are fertilized at all. This suggests that either a single or both of the parents are infertile, most likely both.
The male will only care for fertile fry and will devour damaged or infertile eggs. Males who lack expertise occasionally consume all the eggs, which is typical. Giving the male betta enough sleep in a safe setting reduces the likelihood that he will become stressed out and eat the eggs or fries.
How Long Is A Betta Fish Pregnant For?
Betta fish do carry their eggs in their ovipositor for a period of one to two weeks before mating, even though they are never truly pregnant. The eggs are released into the water to be fertilized when the females are ready to mate. The male is responsible for fertilizing the eggs and taking care of them once the female releases the eggs.
How Can You Tell If Your Betta Fish Is Pregnant?
An unskilled pet owner could find it challenging to determine whether the betta fish is pregnant. But it is possible to estimate reasonably. Female bettas who are pregnant frequently appear bloated on one side of their belly or the other. Vertical white or light-colored stripes will also appear on her body. The ovipositor will noticeably enlarge and whiten in front of her anal fins.
A female who is pregnant will also exhibit altered behavior. Generally, the male and his bubble nest grab her attention more. If she doesn’t like how it was constructed, she might even destroy it. As the egg-laying season approaches, her lethargy will worsen.
How Often Can A Betta Fish Get Pregnant?
Every two weeks, female betta fish can release eggs through their egg site. She can accomplish this without a male present, though she frequently absorbs unfertilized eggs. In the tank, males will make an effort to fertilize any eggs. Even if new ones come along, the male still takes care of all the eggs and fries.
How Many Fry Can A Betta Fish Produce?
Betta fish normally lay 30 to 100 eggs at a time, although they can lay as many as 500. Not every egg will hatch, particularly in the wild, where there are many predators.
However, pet owners must understand the likelihood of a rising population in the tanks and how to control it. There will be health issues and cannibalism if there are too many fish in one tank, especially if there are too many males. Unfortunately, betta fish frequently devour their eggs. When purchasing your betta fish, make certain to ask about the gender. If you keep a male and a female in the same tank, you could end up with dozens of new bettas.
FAQ
Are Betta Fish Active At Night?
Most of the bettas are inactive during the night. However, while sleeping less than you do, your betta still has a similar sleep schedule to you. Bettas are most active during the day and prefer to sleep at night. As a result, your betta is the perfect bedtime companion because it doesn’t need a tank light. Yeah, and some slothful bettas enjoy taking daytime naps, much like us.
Does Betta Eat Their Babies?
Unless the father is suffering from a condition, betta fish rarely eat their young hatchlings. This only happens when you have a male betta who is unable to care for the young. If you have a bad male betta, he might eat his fries while they’re still a few days old because they usually parent their young.
Conclusion
The bettas don’t always have to give birth solely during the day. Additionally, it might give birth at night. Betta gives birth at night due to several reasons, including the surroundings, the water’s temperature, and the water’s quality. As the bettas are inactive during the night, it may surprise you to notice that your betta is giving birth at night.