Betta breeding fail

[Fishkeeper1010]

Hi all, I’ve got into betta breeding and got a pair to breed. I’m successful up until getting the pair to wrap but the male doesn’t pick up the eggs even if he does, he eats the eggs the next day. I’ve done two attempts now and he has done this twice. I’m wondering if the male is infertile.

When I put them together they never nipped or chased each other, they flare a bit and went straight to the wrapping process. They were conditioned with a freeze dried bug flake that has 50% protein (made with black soldier fly larvae, crab eggs, shrimp, garlic)

The male is 6cm long and is an koi marble plakat.
The female is 4cm long and is a pink butterfly halfmoon.

 

[TheSwissAquarist]

If you put some dither fish in who won’t harm the eggs (pleco, Oto, etc) he may take better care of them…I haven’t had this problem before when I bred mine. 

[Fishkeeper1010]

Wouldn’t that distract him in breeding even more? I do have some platy fry that may work 

[TheSwissAquarist]

His parental instincts may come in to play. He’ll be more focused on keeping the other fish away than on eating the eggs. 
I’d use the adult platies if I were you. More robust than fry. 

[Fishkeeper1010]

Hi, I had another attempt with this pair and this time he hasn’t eaten the eggs! It’s been almost 24 hours. I’ll just see if they hatch. 

[Fishkeeper1010]

Update: the eggs are still pure white and have no signs of development. I only counted like 10 eggs. Maybe this male is infertile and just doesn’t fertile his eggs. What do you guys think?