All living organisms on Earth have to reproduce in order to preserve life on the planet. So, why should our aquarium fish be any different? Although, unlike others, fish tend to breed in different ways. How do fish mate? Basically, fish use 2 main strategies for reproduction. One is by laying eggs and two, by producing living young (live-bearing). In the first method, female fish lays her eggs either at the bottom of the aquarium or (if there are plants) over the leaves of a plant inside the fish tank. The male fish will come and fertilize those eggs. Both male and female fish work together to protect the eggs/babies from all dangers till they are capable of defending themselves.

For the second method, the aquarium fish mate through live birth. Only some species of fish will reproduce in this manner. The male fish uses its anal fin in order to transmit the sperm into the female fish. This way female fish’s eggs will get fertilized and later on, give live birth to her fry (a fish that’s young). Now that you have slight understanding about how do fish mate, let’s take a look at how betta fish (Siamese fighting fish) and goldfish mate.

How do Betta Fish Mate?

Typically, male betta fish tend to mature sexually 3.5 months after their birth. Some male bettas start to develop bubble nests in the aquarium, which is a clear sign that indicates they are ready to mate. The female bettas use these bubble nests to store her eggs. To prepare herself for the mating process, females will start to acquire vertical bar markings on the sides of their bodies. Once both betta fish are sexually mature and ready to mate, then only place them together. Since they are aggressive towards each other, placing them in the same tank before mating is not recommended. When the male spots the female for the first time, he becomes aggressive towards her (this is an act of showing his dominance). It’s a normal occurrence, but make sure that neither of the fish are injured in any way.

When the female betta is ready to spawn, she will spend some time near the bubble nest. During this time, the male betta will circle around her, trying to twist and wrap his body around hers. The male betta might take a while to decide the best approach towards the female betta to spawn; again a normal occurrence. Finally, the male betta will find a way to wrap his body around hers.

After finding their proper positions to spawn, they will lock in an embrace with one another that may last for few seconds. Towards the end of betta fish breeding, they might just sink towards the bottom of the tank (while embracing). After releasing the female betta, the male betta will start collecting her eggs. He will fertilize the eggs and place them inside the bubble nest, which is usually at the top of the tank. Also, the male betta has to protect the eggs in the bubble nest till they hatch, as the female betta might want to eat them (if given the chance). Read the rest of this entry »