just an update.. the pair took the eggs into brooding at less than 48 hours, so i guess the eggs have not hatched then..

an observation.. i remember when i first discovered the eggs are no longer on the wood, the female was brooding the eggs.. but when i wanted to take some pics last night, the male was holding!! is this expected? :confused:

here's the brooding male:

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...Picture516.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...Picture521.jpg

Hi Ian

According to my limited knowledge thru reading. :D
These are true hero’s and they delayed are mouth brooders

This is really interesting, I guess they need to eat in between.

hi nic, yes, indeed they are.. i'm not surprised they're mouth brooders, just puzzled with 2 things:

1) they picked up the eggs very early, much earlier then what i've experienced before with other delayed brooders, like the RHT for example, which i remember they'll pick them just before hatching.. maybe it's just this pair.. :o

2) i'm 99% sure the female 1st picked the eggs.. but i'm 100% sure the male is holding them now.. i've only known betta macrostomas to pass eggs from mouth to mouth (also to my limited knowledge thru reading).. you may be right, they could be taking turns to brood so they could eat, i hope they surprise me tonight... :D

free swimming fries...
 

today is the day the wrigglers are free swimming, so it's time to strip them out from the parents' mouth...

apparently, only the male was holding, female is plain lazy.. :D

can see the first few fries coming out:

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...cture598-1.jpg

more fries:

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...cture599-1.jpg

after few minutes of 'squeezing':

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...cture604-1.jpg

here're the fries!!!!!!

can count how many?? :p i could count 130+... :eek: all in the male's mouth...

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...Picture609.jpg

:cool: This picture is really nice.

The fry are so cute! Let me know when the fry are ready for sale.;)

congrats!
nice pics.
some questions:

1)How big are the parents?
2)How long after they start brooding that you started "squeezing"?

Very nice pair.....hope they will bred very readily soon...