If you have braved the waters to have a male and female in the same tank, you likely have found betta eggs in the tank.
Betta eggs are normally kept in a bubble nest near the surface of the water, but sometimes you might find eggs at the bottom of the tank. Betta eggs found on the bottom of the tank could indicate poor water quality or unfertilized eggs.
In this article, I will discuss all the possible reasons your betta eggs are at the bottom of the tank and what you can do to help keep betta eggs healthy.
What Do Betta Eggs Look Like?
Betta eggs look like tiny pearls. Instead of being a perfect circle, the eggs will be more oval-shaped. The exact size will be about 1 mm, similar in size to the tip of a sharpened pencil. The color of betta eggs can range from transparent to yellow. Most eggs will be transparent.
There are differences in the appearance of fertilized betta eggs and unfertilized betta eggs. Fertilized eggs will grow in size ever so slightly. Not everyone will be able to notice the change in size as it grows because it is so minimal.
The embryo inside becomes visible as the fertilized eggs grow. You might notice tiny gray spots on the egg if you look closely. Sometimes it will be jet black. Unfertilized eggs will remain transparent or white. Whether it is light gray or jet black in appearance, you now have identified fertilized betta eggs.
Why Are My Betta Eggs At The Bottom Of The Tank?
Poor Water Quality
Dirty water can cause your betta eggs to sink to the bottom of the tank. Besides being filled with fish poop, a dirty tank can result in high ammonia levels, dust, or other unhealthy substances mixed in the air. Betta eggs bred in dirty tanks can be hollow, causing them to sink to the bottom of the tank.
Extreme Temperatures
One reason why your betta eggs might be at the bottom of the tank is that the bubble nest was never formed. The male betta is in charge of making the bubble nest. If the water is too hot or cold, the male betta may not make the nest, leaving the betta embryos to rest on the tank’s floor.
Violence
Bettas are known as fighting fish. When you have more than one male betta in a tank, they will likely fight each other. While fighting, they may break the bubble nest that keeps the eggs from the bottom of the tank.
Strong Currents
If your tank has a strong current, it can disrupt or even break a bubble nest. The breaking of the bubble nest by a strong current will result in some eggs dropping to the bottom of the tank. Sometimes in tanks with strong currents, the male betta will not make the nest.
Unfertilized Betta Eggs
There is a chance that the betta eggs are dead. Male bettas generally do not take any care of unfertilized or dead eggs. Most likely, the male betta will eat the unfertilized eggs, but sometimes they leave them alone to rest on the bottom of the tank for a bit of time.
Wondering why your female betta is full of eggs?
What To Do Your Betta If Eggs Are At The Bottom Of The Tank
Maintain a Suitable Temperature in the Tank
Bettas need the perfect temperature to lay eggs and for the betta fry to hatch. According to professionals at Aqueon, betta fish need a temperature between 76 F and 85 F. It can take longer for betta eggs to hatch if the water is not as warm.
Try Adding an Airstone
Airstones are excellent additions to tanks. Water movement from an airstone will help remove harmful toxins that would otherwise settle on the bottom of the tank. You cannot set the airstone near the bubble nest, as it will likely break the nest apart and result in more eggs falling to the bottom.
Keep Your Tank Clean
Checking your tank’s pH levels and ensuring there is no ammonia in your tank is vital for the survival of eggs at the bottom of the tank. According to the experts at Aqueon, your tank needs a pH balance of around 6.8 to 7.5. Purchasing a water testing kit will help you check and maintain the cleanliness of your tank.
Separate the Eggs From Other Tankmates
When male bettas are stressed, they eat- and often, they eat their eggs. Removing other tankmates, such as other male bettas or non-betta fish, can help to keep your male betta from getting stressed or fighting.
Wait to See What the Male Betta Does
Likely, the eggs are at the bottom of the tank because they are unfertilized. After a while, a male betta will eat the unfertilized eggs to keep the tank safe from unwanted toxins that dead eggs emit, such as ammonia.
What Do You Do When Your Betta Lays Eggs?
Decide if You Want Baby Bettas or Not
While they sound adorable, sometimes bettas can spawn around 600 eggs. On average, you can expect around 40 betta eggs. If you do not have the space for this many new bettas, leave the mother in the tank so that she will eat the eggs.
Remove the Female Betta
If you decide you want to try hatching the betta eggs, you will need to remove the female. Removing her will keep the eggs safe from her and her safe from the male. The male betta will likely see her as a threat and attack her if she remains in the tank.
Let the Male Betta Do His Job
Removing the female is necessary, but the male betta needs to stay. He is in charge of fertilizing the eggs, making the bubble nest, and keeping them safe for the next 24 to 36 hours before they hatch. Usually, if any eggs fall out of the bubble nest, the male betta catches and returns them.
Create the Best Environment for Betta Eggs
Keeping clean water, good pH levels, and good currents are good for maintaining the health of eggs that fell to the bottom of the tank and the eggs in the bubble nest. Taking precautionary steps to avoid the bubble nest breaking is essential for betta egg safety.
Remove the Male Betta After the Eggs Hatch
Once the betta eggs start to hatch, the male betta has finished his job. As soon as the recently hatched bettas can swim, the male betta will likely see them as a threat and attack them. If you want the betta fry to survive, you must remove the male as soon as possible after they hatch.
Conclusion
Betta eggs on the bottom of the tank can be concerning. Ensuring that the bubble nest remains unbothered is vital to protecting the eggs. If you have eggs on the bottom of your tank, keep the tank clean and check for proper pH levels.
Remove the female to keep the eggs in the nest and the ones on the ground safe from being eaten. Another way to prevent betta eggs from being eaten is to remove any stressors from the male. Following these suggestions can help your betta eggs to hatch as healthy betta fry.