Round Two!! Finchy + Ruby

[TurbineSurgeon]

I just read this entire thread with complete fascination and awe.

Congratulations!!

Any updates?

[Iggy]

Well, I have 40 jars in operation, and about another 30 sitting empty until I can get more fiberglass mesh for covers. I like the fiberglass mesh (ie: bugscreen) because it is flexible yet rigid enough to work with and allows air but no hairs and other floaties into the jars.

The males have grow considerably faster in the jars, and are acting like males now, flaring at each other, growing longer fins, ect... while the males left in the grow-out tanks are still pretty small.

I am cleaning the jars each week, by shiphoning each jar with a small tube (1/4" dia. line) to clean the bottoms, changing about 80% of the water each time, then putting a pail of fresh water on top if my shelving, and siphoning the water back into each jar from the top. It works pretty good, I just use my fingers to stop the siphon line flow in between jars and I can move along pretty quick. About 40 minutes to do 40 jars, including getting a couple pails of water from upstairs.

I am feeding them twice a day, staple flake food in the morning and frozen brine shrimp at night. I crush the flake and thaw the shimp cubes, then use one of those childrens medicine dispenser/needle-like things from my drug store clerk (free) and added a like airlline tubing to hold the water/shrip so I can put a drop in each jar through the small hole in the fiberglass mesh covers.

I am likely a month or so away from selling them yet, but so far I still have around 236 young adults in total, and I am managing to keep up so far.

[TurbineSurgeon]

That is just amazing... and so is your dedication. Thanks for sharing this wonderful saga with us!

[Iggy]

I just jarred another dozen males today. I have about 5 females mixed in with the original 40 I jarred at the beginning, and that is how they will stay till I sell them. So a total of 52 jarred betta for now.

I found some nice large GEM brand jars from my aunt, that hold a little less than a gallon each. My water change process eats up a good hour, plus another hour or two for my 4 other tanks, including the 2 grow-out tanks.

I also found my first case of fin-rot on one of the jarred females. This is my first illness for my fry (besides sudden death!) and I treated her with some Melafix and a little Kanacyn antibiotic. Her top fin is rotten down to the body, so it may turn into body rot or it might get better, only time will tell.

I have a few males at about 1 1/2" long now with fins. I am hoping I can sell them in April sometime, so I can re-claim my grow-out tanks and reduce my workload.

No regrets, and I might do this again, but I will certainly reduce the number of eggs from the onset and hope for a smaller (40-60) spawn the next time.

I am expecting my 2nd (human) baby in September 21st or 23rd, so I doubt I will be spawning for another year so I can spend time changing diapers instead of cleaning jars

[Iggy]

I lost my first jarred male this morning. I am not sure why.. but his stomac looked really full...

... in fact, quite a few fry have pretty big tummies ....

I really, REALLY hope this is not an early signs of Dropsy

That would just be terrible! I think maybe I am cheating on the water changes, not frequently enough, so I think I will try a 4 day water change rotation instead of a 7 day change and see if the better water quality reduces the symptoms.

I am not sure its dropsy... but I cannot rule it out either - there daddy (Finchy) died from dropsy-like symptoms a month or so ago.

I also accidentally killed a fry during the water change today. The fry swam underneath the syphon and it had enough pressure to blow his stomac open. I used scissors and cut him in two quickly so he did not suffer long.

I am going to keep a real close eye on the fry for the next few days. I am hoping this bloated tummy is just cause of food and not something else.

Oh, the fry in the grow-out tanks show few signs of bloating, likely because there is more competion for food.

[mcshell]

sorry about your lost.
in fact, i lost my first jarred male last sat too.
pretty upset.
i wasn't sure why either.
he had suffer long enough, so i placed him in ice water and let him go.

[Iggy]

No other deaths lately.. just fat & happy young bettas

I plan on jarring the last 16 or so males soon (68 total)... the other males in my grow-out tank are getting a little nastier.

I also spoke with some smaller fish stores in my area about them buying some stock. The going rate is about $1.25 ea male, which is pretty low.

I will try to sell as many direct as I can first ($5.00 ea) to cover some of the costs of the equipment and food.

I will be selling them early to mid May sometime ... anyone in the greater Edmonton region send me a private message if you are interested!

[MrMup04]

good job on the spawning and the fry, have any updated pictures ?

[Iggy]

One of my larger jarred males ... 5 months old:

[Iggy]

A closeup (quickcam - not great quality)