Have you ever noticed a group of bubbles floating on the water’s surface in a betta tank? Bubbles in betta tank is known as a bubble nest! A betta fish’s spawning procedure includes blowing these piles of bubbles.
Fishtankenthusiast.com will delve further into the specifics of bubble nests and the reasons behind their creation in this blog post. In this article, we’ll cover the following topics: bubbles in betta tank.
What is a bubble nest?
A bubble nest is a series of bubbles that betta fish create on the surface of the water. These bubbles come in different sizes, shapes and forms, some nests look like patches of foam and others have a more pronounced bubble-like appearance with lots of air inside.
Most species that build bubble nests do so to demonstrate to prospective mates that they are capable of raising their young. However, you may see a female betta rush in to help if she likes the male.
In the typical case of a male betta that has not yet caught a female after building a nest, he will swim below the nest, waiting to meet a female betta that is attracted to him and her nest. After mating, the male usually moves the eggs back to the nest and guards them for days and sometimes weeks until the baby bettas swim away to live on their own.
How are bubble nests created?
We need to talk about how betta fish are “Labyrinth” fish, which is one of the few fish species that can make bubble nests, before we can describe how they make bubble nests. All labyrinth fish species are found in the Anabantoidae family, native to areas in Southeast Asia and Africa. The common Anabantoidae species that we see in the fish keeping hobby are Betta fish, Gourami fish, and Paradise fish.
Betta fish have an organ called the “labyrinth”, which allows them to take in air from the surface of the water. Oxygen travels through the labyrinth membrane as these fish breathe air. As blood circulates through this organ, it absorbs oxygen and then delivers oxygen to the rest of the body.
The reason Bettas need this organ is due to the environmental conditions in which they live, including very hot temperatures, still water, shallow water, or a combination of any of these conditions. These factors cause depletion of available oxygen in the water, so bettas must seek oxygen through the air. For them to survive, they will constantly require access to the water’s surface.
Since Bettas can breathe air, they can use this ability to blow bubbles with their saliva. When building a nesting bubble for a betta fish, the betta fish first find a place they consider safe from both predators and water movement.
In our aquariums, this location is usually in the corner or against the wall of the tank. In the wild, they often build nests under floating debris such as leaves. When the fish find a suitable place to nest, they use their saliva to blow bubbles one by one until they form a beautiful set of bubbles.
Note: Tannin is an acid produced by decomposing leaves or driftwood, which is beneficial to the health and stress levels of betta fish. Bettas are known to come from humid areas where the water is rich in tannin. The extra stickiness from the tannin and moisture actually helps keep the nest from breaking.
Why do betta fish make bubble nests?
Creating a bubble nest is a natural behavior for adult betta fish. Finally, the bubble nest plays an important role in the breeding process of betta fish.
Most of the time, the males of this species are the ones who will create the betta fish bubble nest when they are ready to mate. After the female betta fish lays eggs, the male fish will be the one to protect the eggs and fry during the spawning process. However, aquarium hobbyists have reported many cases of female fish creating bubble nests on their own.
When a male betta fish flirts with a female fish and is able to squeeze the eggs out of the fish, he will take the eggs in his mouth and place them in the nest. Each egg has its own bubble. It will then protect the eggs and fan them to prevent any fungal growth that could kill the eggs. When they hatch, she will watch over the fry until they are old enough to feed on their own.
Surprisingly, labyrinth fry are not born with labyrinth organs; it develops slowly as the fry age. This means these small fish are at risk of dying from lack of oxygen. Since dissolved oxygen is highest at the water’s surface, keeping fry in a bubble nest increases their chances of survival. It is also usually cleaner inside the bubble nest, as the bottom of its environment is more likely to be filled with debris.
Does a bubbles in betta tank is happy?
While a bubbles in betta tank is a good sign that your betta is happy and healthy, more often than not your betta is simply ready to breed. In fact, if your betta is building a bubble nest, it doesn’t necessarily mean he is having fun. For example, betta fish may not be happy living in the small cups commonly sold in large pet stores. However, some species are known to nest in these conditions.
There are also the opposite cases, where bettas are in an ideally sized tank with clear water conditions, lots of aquatic plants and hiding among hardscapes, but will never create a bubble nest. So don’t be discouraged if your aquarium fish hasn’t made a nest yet! There are many cases where some fish species almost never create nests. In situations like this, the breeder will actually transfer another fish’s bladder nest to the one they want to breed.
How to change water without damaging the bubble nest?
One of the most important parts of keeping aquarium fish, especially betta fish, is changing the water! However, you should never neglect regular aquarium maintenance for the sake of protecting the betta fish’s nest.
Unless you’re trying to breed bettas, it’s okay if you accidentally damage the bladder. Although some bettas are known to get upset, and even flare up when they realize that their dominance is broken, your betta is likely to blow away more bubbles and rebuild the nest if they want .
However, if you don’t want to interrupt your betta’s nesting process, or if you see eggs in the nest and want to raise some baby bettas, there are still some ways to avoid accidentally breaking the nest.
Here are 2 solutions to help you avoid damaging your betta fish’s bubble nest when maintaining your aquarium:
Use an air hose: If you are careful, slow water changes can be easily done using an air hose as long as you are on the opposite side of the tank from the bubble nest. A smaller tube will reduce the chance of your straw disturbing the nest on the water’s surface. Then, when the eggs hatch, you can freely maintain the entire tank as usual.
Removing the nest: An easy method to preserve the nest is to remove the nest before changing the water and then replace the nest when you are done. You can do this by using a plastic cup to scoop out the nest. Then, when you’re ready, carefully press the cup back in to put the nest back in.
Are eggs kept in a Betta fish’s bubble nest?
Yes, betta fish keep their eggs in their bubble nest. That is the main purpose of these nests—to create a safe environment for eggs and fry to grow.
Contrary to popular belief, many female Bettas do not lay eggs directly into the nest. Instead, the male will scoop the eggs into his mouth when the female releases them. Then, they bring the eggs into the nest, where they hatch into fry.
However, this process varies depending on the species of betta fish. Therefore, in some cases, female betta fish will land in front of the bubble nest to lay eggs.
The male stays close to the bubble nest during this time to protect the nest. Meanwhile, the females move to die or continue to live, washing their fins away from having to protect their young.
Conclusion
Bubbles in Betta fish tanks can be a normal phenomenon and are not always something to worry about. They are often created by the Betta fish’s natural activities, such as building a bubble nest by the male to attract the female or protecting the eggs. However, bubbles can also indicate a water quality or filtration system problem.
To ensure the health of Betta fish, farmers need to regularly check water indicators and maintain a clean living environment. If unusual bubbles appear, consider factors such as dissolved oxygen level, water temperature, and filtration system to promptly adjust. Proper care and regular inspection will help keep the Betta fish tank in the best condition, providing an ideal living environment for your Betta fish.
