Keeping a betta fish, you will encounter a bubble nest at the tank’s surface.
Ever wonder why bettas make a bubble nest at the corner of the tank’s surface? Let us know.
Male betta makes bubble nests for breeding. A bubble nest indicates to the female betta that a male betta is sexually mature to mate and take responsibility for the eggs. Male betta keeps the eggs inside the bubble nest and protects them until they get to hatch, and the fry swims on its own.
This article will also discuss what stops a betta from building bubble nests and how we can encourage our male betta to make a bubble nest. So, let us get into it.
Contents
Why do betta fish make bubbles?
Male betta fish make bubbles only for the breeding process.
They make bubbles at the surface of the water to indicate to the female betta that they are ready to breed and take responsibility for the eggs.
Betta fish keep the eggs inside the bubble nest and protect them from other tankmates and threats.
The male bettas are responsible for protecting the eggs and fry until the fry is ready to swim on its own and leave the nest.
Male betta makes bubble nests to attract the female betta and show their potential to them that they are ready to breed.
Is it normal if my betta fish not making a bubble nest?
Betta fish making bubbles is a sign that they are healthy and happy.
Also, it is a sign to a female betta that they are ready to breed.
However, if your betta fish is not making bubbles, it doesn’t mean they are not healthy and happy.
They will also not make bubbles when they are not interested in mating.
External factors like strong water currents and poor water conditions sometimes make your betta fish stop making bubbles.
What stops betta fish from making bubbles?
All these factors can stop your betta fish from making bubbles:
- Poor water conditions
- Inadequate water parameters
- Strong current flow at the water’s surface
- Illness
- The age of your betta fish
Poor water conditions
Betta fish are tropical freshwater fish and require clean water conditions to thrive.
Living in poor water conditions will make your betta fish come under stress, and they will become weak.
Weak and stressed betta fish will not be much interested in building a bubble nest.
Inadequate water parameters
Like poor water conditions, inadequate water parameters will also stress your betta fish.
Betta fish building bubble nest is a sign of them being healthy and happy.
Living in water with inadequate and unstable water parameters will make them weak and prone to various diseases and parasites.
In such conditions, your betta fish will not be interested in making a bubble nest.
Also read: What Is A Good Water Temperature For Betta Fish?
Strong water flow
If your betta fish tank filter has a strong current flow, especially at the surface, it will be challenging for your betta fish to build a bubble nest.
In strong current flow at the water’s surface, it becomes harder to build a bubble nest as it will break.
Illness
Betta fish suffering from an illness will not be interested in making bubble nests.
Look for the signs like clamped fins, red spots, and other behavioral changes like lethargy, avoiding food, and hiding.
Many medical conditions like fin rot and swim bladder disorder will require proper antibiotical medication.
Once your betta fish recovers and start eating and swimming comfortably again, it will start building a bubble nest.
Also read: How To Treat Swim bladder disease In Betta?
The age of your betta fish
Old age can also be the factor behind your male betta fish not making a bubble nest.
If the water conditions and parameters are good and adequate, and your betta fish is not suffering from any illness, then also, if it is not making a bubble nest, old age can be the reason.
Some bettas can stop making bubble nests after eight months of age, and some can make a good bubble nest even in their third year of age.
So, if age is the factor behind your betta fish not making bubbles, you cannot do anything about that, and all you should do is provide them with ideal living conditions until they live.
How to encourage my betta fish to make bubbles?
Ensuring all these things will help you encourage your betta fish to make bubbles:
- Add a female betta fish to your betta tank.
- Ensure good water conditions.
- Provide your betta fish with adequate and stable water parameters.
- Ensure your filter is set to a gentle water flow.
- Add floating plants to your betta fish tank.
Add a female betta fish.
Male betta fish build the bubble nest to attract female betta fish as they do this to prove to female betta that they are ready to breed and protect the eggs.
If there is no female betta fish in their tank, it is possible that they will not be much interested in making bubbles.
Adding a female betta fish to your betta tank will increase the urge of the male betta to make a bubble nest.
Good water conditions
Betta fish will not be interested in building bubble nests in poor water conditions.
Also, frequent and major water changes can upset your betta fish, and they will lose interest in making bubbles.
Keep your betta tank clean by adding a good filtration system and performing a decent and regular water change of 30% weekly.
Also read: Why Is My Betta Fish Floating At The Top Of The Tank?
Adequate and stable water parameters
Inadequate and unstable water parameters will stress your betta fish, and they will be less interested in making bubble nests.
Provide your betta fish with a warmer water temperature between 78-82 °F.
The water pH level should be between 6.5 and 8.
Consider adding a heater to your betta fish tank to ensure stable water temperature.
We recommend using the Fluval M200 Submersible heater for your tank.
Also read: Ideal pH Level For Betta Fish?
Set a filter to a gentle water flow.
Betta fish will not be able to build the nest comfortably in a strong water flow at the surface.
So, it is necessary to ensure gentle water flow for decent stability on the water’s surface so that your betta fish build their bubble nest.
Add floating plants
Adding floating plants to your betta fish tank will encourage your male betta to build a bubble nest.
Floating plants are an excellent cover for your betta bubble nest, which encourages the bettas to build a bubble nest at the surface.
These are some of the best-floating plants for your betta fish tank:
- Anubias nana
- Water sprite
- Water wisteria
- Red root floaters
- Dwarf water lettuce
How often do male bettas build bubble nests?
There is no fixed time duration or shape for a betta to make a bubble nest.
Every betta fish has different patterns and timings for building a bubble nest.
Male bettas are urged to make a bubble nest; it doesn’t matter if there is female betta fish present in the tank or not.
Your betta fish will sometimes make a bubble nest on a monthly basis, and sometimes they will make a bubble nest weekly.
Also, sometimes they will form a few bubbles at the surface, and sometimes you will see a good area covered by the inch-thick bubbles.
Also, don’t worry if your betta fish is not making bubbles, as many factors can be responsible for such things. Some of them are water parameters and conditions, and they will not make bubbles if they are not interested in mating.
Conclusion
Male betta fish make bubble nests to indicate to the female betta fish that they are ready to breed and protect the eggs.
The bubble nest-making is just for the breeding process.
Male betta fish keep the eggs inside the bubble nest and protect them from other tankmates until they get hatched, and the fry swims on its own.
Poor water conditions, illness, inadequate water parameters, and old age can stop your betta fish from making bubble nests.
Ensuring adequate and clean water conditions, adding female betta fish, and keeping gentle water current flow will encourage your betta fish to build bubble nests.
Reference: ResearchGate, Wikipedia, Academia