Anyone have advice on breeding Bettas

I wouldn't breed them, especially if not experienced. Though the companies/distributors claim they live in little puddles, they do jump around, from puddle to puddle. I think the stores already have so many, where they are caged in tiny cell tanks. The one time I had a betta, because a family friend kindly (but I had not expected at all), dropped one off in a vase as a gift. I immediately at least bought a bigger tank for the poor guy. Good luck for a long and happy life for your betta though.

Male bettas will kill other males, and most likely will kill the females as well. You have to really watch them when they're spawning as well. As soon as they're done, need to remove the female. Also, need to keep an eye on the fry, once they get to a certain age/size, the dad may go ahead and kill off the male fry thinking they're competition for him. I've never bred them, but had a friend who did. He told me a lot of that info, especially the part about the male fry. He said he'd have them in the same tank with a divider, when the male made his bubble nest, and it was time, he'd raise the divider and let the female in. They'd do their thing, then he'd remove the female immediately. Try doing a search online, there's lots of info on that stuff. One thing I would recommend doing though, getting the bettas from a quality and experienced breeder, not a pet store or worse...Walmart. Those aren't "quality" bettas, the betta breeders will keep their better stock for themselves to sell at a higher price or breed for themselves.

the males will kill each other. so only 1 male per tank no matter what. part of the spawning process with bettas has a bit of sparring involved..and as long as the sparring doesnt las too long its ok. however..after she has released the eggs and he is busy retrieving them to put in the bubble nest..she will probably hide. in their natural habitat this would be the time that she probably takes off. since if you leave the female in the tank with the male he will continue to badger her over and over to breed and that will eventually kill her. i found this site, which gives some very good step by step information about the whole process and what you need to do. hope it helps. http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/breeding/kick_beta-breeding.html

My method involves having a 10 gallon tank that is bare bottomed and only a few inches of water with a heater that keep the temp at about 80 to 82 . put some floating plants in the tank at one end and a small scones (those glass cylinders that go around a candle) and have the female in there. You might try to have two or more females (to make sure that you get one ready) and when the male has built his bubble nest and the female has filled with eggs (you will see a small white tube in front or the anal fins) you will then release the female (bu just pulling up the glass container). After the female has finished spawning you remove her from the tank (or put her back n the glass container). Make sure to keep the tank covered so as to keep the air humid . After the eggs have hatched and become free swimming , remove the male so that he does not think that they are food. Feed the young infusoria until they are large enough to eat new hatched brine shrimp. In about three weeks after they hatch they will start to go to the surface to breath and this is crucial to keep the air warm and humid so that yo do not loose all of the babies. Yes you will lose some (even the best breeders loose some) so if yo succeed in raising even one from your first batch you are doing good.