What is this guy doing?
- Thread starter DojosWithMojo
- Start date
I did get a new male, a handsome apricot/bronze veiltail that Lady B seems to certainly like and Violet likes to quietly stalk around the tank. He's not quite ready to get to business as he's been busy establishing his territory, though he does chase the ladies when he catches sight of them.
Well, this (true) story has taken another turn for the worse. I woke up this morning to find Lady B had two bulging eyes and resting on a submerged leaf. After a slew of expletives, head count and quick check of all her tank mates, and a perfectly normal water test, my brain finally kicked in: Lady B never released her eggs! I remember reading that it's not uncommon for female Bettas to die if they don't let loose with the eggs, the pressure gets to be too much.
I left her resting on her leaf as Violet stayed very close to her standing guard, and waited for the inevitable. The male (name has yet to be determined, suggestions always welcome) swam up to her several times, flaring his fins with no aggression, but I think he knew it was a lost cause. He gave up after few minutes and went to rest in his corner.
I went to run a few quick errands and returned to find Lady B no longer with us, Violet still by her side. I promptly removed her from the tank, and out of sheer morbid curiosity, I gently pushed on her swollen tummy.
That *****! Eggs, tons and tons of eggs, just like that. Perhaps I didn't do such a great job finding a suitable suitor for Lady B, or else she would have expelled her eggs. They seemed to get on just dandy, but it seems I was mistaken. Maybe she never got over Leroy...
But it's not all bad news. Violet seems to be a very smart cookie with a wanting for some love. Immediately after the Late Lady B's removal, she instantly cranked up her sex appeal. Out came those golden stripes and she flared her bright purple fins. All I could think was "How nice, your best friend just died and all you can do is think about sex?!? Damn I'm happy I'm not your fish friend!"
And so it began. What was once a shy and demure Violet has now become a boy chasing fiesty vixen! I actually feel kind of bad for my guy at this point, he's not gonna know what hit him. I do; a petite purple-finned, gold-striped, very determined young lady who happens to have a belly that's getting fatter...
He better start making that bubblenest!
I left her resting on her leaf as Violet stayed very close to her standing guard, and waited for the inevitable. The male (name has yet to be determined, suggestions always welcome) swam up to her several times, flaring his fins with no aggression, but I think he knew it was a lost cause. He gave up after few minutes and went to rest in his corner.
I went to run a few quick errands and returned to find Lady B no longer with us, Violet still by her side. I promptly removed her from the tank, and out of sheer morbid curiosity, I gently pushed on her swollen tummy.
That *****! Eggs, tons and tons of eggs, just like that. Perhaps I didn't do such a great job finding a suitable suitor for Lady B, or else she would have expelled her eggs. They seemed to get on just dandy, but it seems I was mistaken. Maybe she never got over Leroy...
But it's not all bad news. Violet seems to be a very smart cookie with a wanting for some love. Immediately after the Late Lady B's removal, she instantly cranked up her sex appeal. Out came those golden stripes and she flared her bright purple fins. All I could think was "How nice, your best friend just died and all you can do is think about sex?!? Damn I'm happy I'm not your fish friend!"
And so it began. What was once a shy and demure Violet has now become a boy chasing fiesty vixen! I actually feel kind of bad for my guy at this point, he's not gonna know what hit him. I do; a petite purple-finned, gold-striped, very determined young lady who happens to have a belly that's getting fatter...
He better start making that bubblenest!
Oh man, I need to learn to bite my tongue and shut my mouth! I went to bed last night still saddened by Lady B's tragic departure, and apparently I was the only one.
My apricot/bronze male got busy with bubbles overnight, but he didn't make a nest- it was an entire WALL. 1/2" high, at least 1" wide and about 5" long. I'm not lying when I say it was a complete WTF moment as I stood there all groggy with my cup of coffee staring at it. Just wow, what a token of affection!
It seems that these two love birds were just waiting for Lady B to get out of the picture, as they've been "twitterpating" all morning!! I never realized what a strange (and brutal!) process Betta love is! It's kind of romantic the way he bends himself to support Violet as she goes still, but biting off bits of her fin? It would be like my husband ripping out a fistful of hair every time. No thank you! Violet doesn't seem to mind one bit since she keeps going back for more! Her retreat tank is already set up for when she finally releases her eggs (and she'd better!) and hopefully I'll be able to regrow those fins!
My apricot/bronze male got busy with bubbles overnight, but he didn't make a nest- it was an entire WALL. 1/2" high, at least 1" wide and about 5" long. I'm not lying when I say it was a complete WTF moment as I stood there all groggy with my cup of coffee staring at it. Just wow, what a token of affection!
It seems that these two love birds were just waiting for Lady B to get out of the picture, as they've been "twitterpating" all morning!! I never realized what a strange (and brutal!) process Betta love is! It's kind of romantic the way he bends himself to support Violet as she goes still, but biting off bits of her fin? It would be like my husband ripping out a fistful of hair every time. No thank you! Violet doesn't seem to mind one bit since she keeps going back for more! Her retreat tank is already set up for when she finally releases her eggs (and she'd better!) and hopefully I'll be able to regrow those fins!
LET THE EGG RELEASING COMMENCE!
so I came home this morning to find little miss Violet being bear hugged by her Beau. When he let her go, she wasn't moving. Oh great, he's killed her. Well, just as I was starting to get upset, she fluttered her little body, and *bloop* eggs came popping out! Beau swiftly chased down his kiddos and put them promptly into their little bubbles! They've been doing this song and dance now for an hour, taking sporradic breaks to chase away the curious young platys that usually hang out in the same plant Violet and Beau have decided to make their baby haven.
Now, some questions:
How long is this gonna go on for?
Since it's a community tank, should I remove Violet and the bubblenest into separate tanks?
Why are they going so nuts on the platys, but don't seem bothered by the pair of Kuhli loaches that have been hanging out less than an inch from their love nest?
so I came home this morning to find little miss Violet being bear hugged by her Beau. When he let her go, she wasn't moving. Oh great, he's killed her. Well, just as I was starting to get upset, she fluttered her little body, and *bloop* eggs came popping out! Beau swiftly chased down his kiddos and put them promptly into their little bubbles! They've been doing this song and dance now for an hour, taking sporradic breaks to chase away the curious young platys that usually hang out in the same plant Violet and Beau have decided to make their baby haven.
Now, some questions:
How long is this gonna go on for?
Since it's a community tank, should I remove Violet and the bubblenest into separate tanks?
Why are they going so nuts on the platys, but don't seem bothered by the pair of Kuhli loaches that have been hanging out less than an inch from their love nest?
