Females have an ovipositor, a small, white 'pearl' at the anus, most visible from below the fish. After mating, females lay egg clutches of approximately 100-500 eggs, rarely over 600 eggs.[citation needed] The female is generally removed from the breeding tank immediately after spawning, as they are known to eat their own fry.
Betta males build bubble nests of various sizes and thicknesses at the surface of the water. During and after spawning, the male uses his mouth to retrieve sinking eggs and deposit them in the bubble nest. After approximately two days the eggs hatch, and after three more they become free-swimming fry; at this point the male is generally removed from the breeding tank to prevent cannibalism and stress to the young. Betta fry are fed infusoria for the first several days, followed by newly hatched brine shrimp or similarly sized food.[3]
 Blue and red veiltail male with a bubble nest. |  A red combtail male Betta with a bubble nest. |
B. splendens can be hybridized with B. imbellis, and B. smaragdina.
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