This is my second attempt breeding this male. As with the other time, once the female is introduced (at night) he goes nuts courting her. Dances, flirts, flares, the whole nine. By the time morning comes around he has build a HUGE nest and the female is all barred up. And then he "guards" the empty nest and chases her away.

She is still barred and full of eggs, the nest is empty, and the male is being a dunce. He's still chasing her off. I'm at my wits end.

I have them both in a 10 gallon with Atisons Betta Spa. (my first attempt using it, just got it the other day) She has places to hide, and has a few nips but nothing serious.

I have a mirror up for him now to flare at and feel manly. Any other suggestions?

I would do what yeeves does and make the 10 gallon alot smaller like 1/3 to spawn after awhile he says it forces them to spawn, Plus my own persoanl experience I have attempted 5 spawns and tehy were all succesful and i spawn in 2.5 gallons and once I did ina ten gallon but I made it like a 2 gallon with a glass divider i made. and all my femaels leave looking preety nice no to beat up if at all :Y so maybe there is just to much room for him, But there your fish and I'm just saying thats what I would do but you know your fish better than any of us and I woudln't want something bad to happen , this is just a suggestion, I always feel weird giving advice when A little girlie bettas life could be in jeopardy if info is wrong :blink: so follow your instincts..also this is something I always Do I make spawning a fun thing for me I love it for some reason..But what I do is introduce them in regular treated water, and then after like 5 hours I turn the heat up to 82-84 degrees and then i add Betta Spa, I try to "Induce" spawning Has alwasy worked for me :Y

I would try releasing the female, and taking his nest away.
Maybe by the time he rebuilds it, he'll not be so dense.
Another way would be to put another male in the tank with them.. In like a beanie. When you remove the intruder male, after 10 - 20 minutes, it might spur him on to breeding.

ive had the same thing happen on my last 3 spawns the doofs are gaurding there bubbles hehe i swear these fish have issues lol ! i removed all but the nest out of the tank and made it smaller as well with success im not sure what making the space smaller does but it sometimes works on the bubble gaurders GOOD LUCK on your spawn crossing my fingers for ya B) :T

Last night I removed the female and replaced her with the mom to my grizzle spawn. Should be an interesting combination if they breed, lol.
I am hoping that since she is an experienced breeder she'll teach him the ropes. She's also not afraid to give as good as she gets, so if he gets mouthy he's in for a surprise!

*fingers crossed* If this doesn't work, I may try a smaller tank...would just need to figure out how to fashion a divider for my 10 gallon.

I just stuff a piece of craft netting in.

Well, this morning I added every last fake plant I could spare to the tank, essentially leaving space around the nest. I think it worked, came home from work and she is noticeably less fat. I see 1 egg on the bottom, but can't spot any in the nest. The bubblenest had doubled in thickness, so I'm hoping the male has "double wrapped" the eggs and I can't see them.

Here's hoping! I should know in a day or so. *fingers crossed*

I am hopin for many many many eggs for you that hatch into many many many fry!!!

lol, not too many fry! THis was a practice spawn for the male.

Though, I can't help but wonder what will come from a grizzle plakat geno and a metallic blue HM.

Well, when you get your many many many fry, you let me know, I'll pay you a vist, and take home your extras, OK?
And can I expect to see you at the show this weekend?

We have tails! It's definitely a small spawn, and I do believe daddy has been munching. I figure I'll leave him until tomorrow, if he's still munching I'll pull him.

WHOOO HOOO!!!! BABIES!!!!!!!