Breeding Beta fish is a lot of work, so make sure that you are prepared before you start. Breeding will require space, time, money, ponds or extra tanks and solid experience in caring for Beta fish.

If you believe you are ready, then the next step will be obtaining a female. Finding a female Beta can be difficult since few stores carry them. You may want to start with inexpensive Betas at first, until you become well-versed, then and only then, should you begin breeding the more expensive Beta species. For Beta breeding, the best fish to find are the ones that between 7 months and 18 months old and show a good amount of energy. It might be wise to be an extra pair just in case there is a problem with the first ones. Once you have your pairs don't leave them in the same tank.

Now to prepare a mating tank, ideally a ten gallon tank would work perfectly. Keep the water about 6 inches deep until the fry begin swimming around. Make sure the temperature of the water is maintained at around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Don't add much decoration or gravel, just a few large leafy plants that will provide the female with hiding places from male Betas. When it comes to Beta fish, normally you would not need to be concerned with air filtration, but the newly hatched fry will require it. Be sure the filter is not too powerful the older box type powered by an air pump is best. Make the filter used floss or sponges instead of carbon. Allow a complete cycle to pump through before introducing the male into the tank. The male should be able to see the female in her tank, and then start building a bubble nest.

Make sure that you are feeding your Beta's the highest quality fish food. Do not overfeed your fish because this will force you to replace the water and clean your aquarium more often that normally necessary. Many breeders like to use different types of food such as: BettaMin, Freeze Dried Blood Worms, live or froze brine shrimp, tubifex, and black worms. Many breeders will come up with their own combination's for their fish's diets, but it is important that you try to add a variety of food for your Beta fish.

If the female has had a high quality diet, she should begin to plump up as the eggs are produced. In lighter breeds you may actually see the eggs. When the female is ready you should be able to see horizontal stripes on her body or a white gravid tube near the anal fin.