how long does it take for...and will he eat the..

Question
QUESTION: my question is Yesterday i got a female beta fish and a male beta fish.Today the female laid eggs only one day after we got them both.I dont know how long the beta fish eggs take to hatch.and i also dont know if he will eat them because he is very protective.Im not very sure if the eggs are his, but he takes them in his mouth and puts them behind a leaf,and he checks on them every second!
thanks,
Bailey

p.s get back to me as soon as possible

ANSWER: Hi Bailey,
 I am confused by your statement: "he puts them behind a leaf".  A male betta makes a bubble nest at the surface of the water by blowing bubbles and he puts the eggs up in the bubble nest -- he doesn't put them behind leaves.  

So, are you sure you have a betta?

Are you sure that you are looking at eggs?

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: well they hatched yesterday and yes,they are betta fish.But i do have one question still will he eat the babies?

thanks
bailey

Answer
Hi Bailey,
 Bettas provide male parental care of the eggs and the hatchlings.  After the kids start swimming, they are pretty much on their own.  

 I am still very puzzled about this "behind the leaf" statement.  Do you mean on top of a leaf, or do you really
mean that he put them behind a vertical leaf, growing on a
plant in the tank?   Is there any chance you could send me a photo of the fish (to the address below).  Even a quick photo would help.

  The reason I ask is because something doesn't quite add up.  Actual Bettas are not physically capable of spawning the way you describe. The eggs don't stick, are very tiny and must be in a bubble nest to get sufficient oxygen to spawn.  There are many other kinds of fish that spawn the way you describe, but not bettas.

 If you can't send a photo, could you briefly describe the fish please? This is important because the type of fish greatly determines the amount and kind of parental care you can expect to see (or not to see).

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>