Betta Egg Spot

The Betta Egg Spot: What Is It and What Does It Mean?

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If you are a first-time betta keeper or unfamiliar with their spawning process, you may wonder what the white spot on your female betta is.

Once your fish is sexually mature, a small white spot will develop on the underside of the belly between her ventral and anal fins. This area is located close to the betta’s head and is called the “egg spot.”

In this article, I will discuss the female betta egg spot, its function, and how to identify when your fish is ready to lay eggs.

What Is the Betta Egg Spot?

The female betta egg spot is the ovipositor used to lay eggs and is the one sure way to distinguish females from males.

This spot is a tiny white/cream-colored dot beneath the female betta’s short ventral fins and her longer anal fin (the biggest fin before the tail).

Although the egg spot is rarely apparent in young fish, it becomes more obvious as the fish matures.

Can Male Betta Fish Have an Egg Spot?

Some male betta fish will develop a false egg spot to hide from other males and avoid being attacked or harassed.

The dark spot on females is their ovipositor and will never disappear, while a male betta’s spot will fade away in time.

How Can You Tell If a Female Betta Has Eggs?

When a female betta fish carries eggs, the ovipositor spot or egg tube extends slightly down.

In addition, if the fish has apparent white vertical stripes, this typically means that it is fertile and can produce eggs.

Further, the female betta will appear fat since the eggs take up space in her body.

Why Isn’t My Female Betta Releasing Eggs?

There are several reasons why your female betta might not be releasing eggs. The most common reasons include:

  • Your female betta fish is not fully grown yet. Typically, they will sexually mature when they are 2-3 months old.
  • Poor water quality will cause your female betta not to drop her eggs. Therefore, you should do regular water changes and maintain stable water parameters.
  • When a female betta is fat, it won’t be easy to release the eggs, since too much fat prevents the eggs from passing through her body.
  • Malnutrition can lead to problems with egg production. You should feed your betta a high-quality diet that includes live food such as brine shrimp or bloodworms.
  • Diseases can prevent your fish from releasing eggs. Hence, you should watch for any signs of illness in your fish and seek treatment as soon as possible.

FAQs

Do All Female Betta Fish Have an Egg Spot?

All female bettas have an egg spot; a small white dot on their abdomen near their vent.

However, it is not apparent in juvenile females. The egg spot becomes more visible as the betta fish matures and is ready to breed.

What Are Bubble Nests?

A bubble nest is made of saliva bubbles the male bettas create on the water’s surface to protect the eggs during breeding.

They create hundreds or thousands of bubbles that group together in preparation for tending to fertilized eggs. Males are typically the primary caregivers for the offspring.

How Do I Determine If My Betta Fish Is a Male or Female?

These are the most obvious signs to determine the sex of your betta fish:

  • Males have more vibrant colors than females
  • Females display vertical stripes on their body when breeding, while males do not
  • The female has a short and wide body shape while the male has an elongated body
  • Males have longer fins than females
  • Mature female fish display a visible egg spot, but males rarely show an egg spot
  • Males show more aggressive behavior

Is My Female Betta Fish Pregnant or Just Fat?

Betta fish cannot become “pregnant.” They are not live bearers. If your betta has the ovipositor dot and white stripes, this indicates that your betta is gravid, or is producing eggs.

However, if you don’t see these on your fish, it is either constipated or fat.

How Long Is a Betta Fish Gravid?

Betta females will carry eggs in their ovipositors for one to two weeks. This short period is normal, as the eggs do not develop into baby fish while they are inside her.

Once released, the eggs will take approximately three days to develop and hatch into fry.

Will Betta Care for Their Young?

Male betta fish take care of their offspring by incubating them in a bubble nest and constantly monitoring them. However, the female is uninvolved in this process.

Once the eggs hatch into fry, both parents will stop caring for them, and it’ll be your job to ensure they eat enough food to survive.

Last Words

Having betta fish is a great experience for fish keepers of any level. This fish species is beautiful and fun to watch.

We hope our guide was helpful and informative. Please let us know in the comments if you have any questions or suggestions.

Happy Fishkeeping!

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