If the male is putting the fry back into the nest then you need to feed the female and see that she has some darker conditions to rest. (daylight is fine just no artificial light) and do not bother the male. I am sorry to say that they should both have been getting special and extra foods for the last 2 weeks prior to trying this so they were strengthened and many males die from exhaustion as during the time they tend the nest they will generally not take the time to eat or sleep or anything else and should not be disturbed to try to make them do anything else. No do not try to feed or tend your male unless the nest is dead. He will be busy and it would make him vicious to be interupted. If he stops tending the nest then it is time to remove him from the tank and if there are fry there then you will need to have live BABY BRINE SHRIMP for them to start eating as it is all they will eat.

You can get the hatcheries online and at most pet stores and the instructions are with them. There is a product put out by Atison's (Ocean Nutrition) that is supposed to be a Betta starter food but I have not ever used it and do not know how well they accept it. Perhaps someone else who has bred bettas has and can chime in here.

You have a lot to accomplish in a relatively short period of time and my hopes are with you.

Rose