Betta females

[Allison Reed]

Is it normal for betta females to flare up, display their fins, and show their very dark vertical stripes when showed a mirror?
I did this today, and it's actually in the middle of priming the two for breeding, so might it just be her protecting her right to mate with my male?
Just wondering, I'm planning on either adding another female to the 2.5 I'm setting up, or placing an offspring female in with her later on.
Not ot mention the male, when showed the mirror ( trying to stimulate a little more bubble nest making ), runs away.
Pansy.
thanks for any input

[goldfries]

i find it normal for the female to flare, never seen them flare on mirrors but i've seen them flare on males.

vertical stripes = ready to mate.

hope your female doesn't kill off your male like mine did.

[Allison Reed]

Yep, gotta breed them probably next weekend. Supplies coming in the mail, sponge filter, cycle, etc.
I plan on watching them like a HAWK all day they..erm..court.
And she's been displaying stripes...for a month. I've been really lazy in keeping her in the same tank as he, but in a net breeder, separated, but the male seems totaly oblivious that she's there, unless i move my finger and point her out.
Thankfully moving her to her own tank soon.
Then off to beg for another 10 to breed them in.
then a 20 to grow them out.
sheeesh
Are hoods for the breeding tanks really nessecary? Or should I get one just incase? they are so darned expensive once you buy everything x.x