Paternal mouthbrooder. The female picks up the eggs and spits them to the male, who broods them for 10-21 days before releasing free-swimming fry. The female leads courtship. Some breeders lose broods to the adults, so the female is often removed carefully a few days after spawning.
A small group letting pairs form.
80 L planted tank with caves and gentle flow.
Live foods and good water quality.
A male can hold up to about 60 young; incubation 10-21 days.
Fry take baby brine shrimp.
One breeding tank for the akar betta, drawn to scale from the breeding guide.
Water: 22–27 °C · pH 5.5–7.5
A plan from the breeding guide and an adult size of 8 cm. Tank shape is a standard 2 : 1 : 1.2 box, at least 6 adult lengths long. Check each step in the guide above.
A 120 cm rack for breeding the akar betta in numbers.
In total: 3 tanks, about 400 L of water. A litre of water weighs about 1 kg, so check that the floor and rack can take the weight.
Sizes are worked out from the breeding tank in the guide. Tanks fit a standard 120 cm rack when they can; bigger tanks go on their own stands.
Males grow larger, develop longer fins, carry more iridescent scales on the head and body, and have a noticeably stockier head (they brood the eggs).
Typical for mouthbrooders
Usually one male with several females. Feed high-quality food.
The female takes the eggs into her mouth and stops eating.
After about 3 weeks the female releases fully formed fry. Many breeders move her to a quiet tank first.
Fry eat crushed flake and baby brine shrimp straight away.
Fry are a few centimetres long after about 3 months.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Usually one male with several females. Feed high-quality food.
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.