Bubbling Basics

(Since I have delayed my project until this summer, I figured I would put some random facts up about bettas and their habits in consistency with spawning.)

As many people who own bettas know, the males constantly make a bubble nest in the corner of their tank (if their water is still standing). It almost looks like foam on top of the water. Many beginners with bettas often mistake it for putting too many chemicals in the water. This is not the case. Males have an instinctual need to make a nest, in case of impressing any passing females.

(This nest was made by my betta Caspian AFTER I tried to breed him.
He never made one while in the spawning tank. T'was quite the disappointment.)

The nests keeps the eggs and (hopefully) young fry in place until they are able to swim on their own. Occasionally, the eggs and fry will fall out of this nest. This is why the father is on vigilant guard duty until they're ready to brave the waters themselves. Seeing a helpless baby fall out of the bubbles alerts him. He will quickly grab them up in his mouth, and spit them back into the nest. The fry are so small that they latch into the bubbles with ease.



Tiny fry are almost impossible to see for a while. One of the only ways you really can spot them is by focusing on their black, beady eyes. They show up against the background of bubbles. While they're in the nest and protected by their father, they will begin develop by feeding on their egg sacs. With any luck, you'll soon be feeding them microworms and have them grow into full fledged adults.