Does The Female Betta Make A Bubble Nest? (All You Need To Know)

When we have betta fish in our tank, we will notice a bubble nest at the surface, and this brings many questions like why they do that, does female betta make bubble nests, and how often they make it. Well, don’t worry. This article will give you all the answers you are trying to get about bubble nests. 

So, Does the female betta make a bubble nest? Let us find out. 

It is very uncommon for a female betta to make a bubble nest. However, it is not impossible, as female bettas make bubble nests in rare cases. They will make the bubble nest in these cases:

1. Female bettas will make a bubble nest when they feel good and want to help the male betta build the bubble nest.
2. Female betta will make a bubble nest when there is no male betta in the tank, and now female betta has to save the fry.

This article will also discuss why bettas make bubble nests, how often they make them, and what happens if we destroy the bubble nest. Also, we will discuss the role of a female betta in the reproduction process. So, let us get into it. 

Do female betta fish make bubble nests?

It is very uncommon for a female betta fish to make a bubble nest.

The reason behind that is making a bubble nest is not a female betta’s part of the job and is built by the male betta fish.

However, it is not that a female betta can’t make a bubble nest. 

There are some cases where female betta fish also make bubble nests. 

All these reasons make it uncommon for a female betta fish to build a bubble nest:

1. Building bubble nests is completely a male betta job as they do this to attract female betta fish for reproducing and for keeping the fry safe.
2. Female bettas don’t have to attract male betta fish as it is not required. Also, we cannot keep two male bettas in the same tank, so female bettas don’t have to do such things for male bettas’ attention.
3. Female bettas don’t take responsibility for the eggs once they release them. So, they will not likely build bubble nests to protect the eggs and fry.

Now if anyhow your female betta fish is making a bubble nest, all these can be supportive reasons:

1. It is not a bubble nest, just too many bubbles gathered together.
2. The female betta is helping out the male betta.
3. You have mistaken by thinking of the male betta as of female.
4. The male betta fish is absent after the reproduction process.

It is not actually a bubble nest.

You may have mistakenly thought of a bubble in the corner of the tank as a bubble nest.

Every fish releases bubbles from their mouth when they breathe; it simply means blowing bubbles. 

Fishes with a labyrinth organ make bubble nests. However, fishes without this organ will also blow bubbles from their mouth, which will appear on the surface, but they will burst quickly.

So, first, take some time and properly see if it is a bubble nest or just a regular bunch of bubbles gathering at the surface for a minimal time.

The female betta is helping out the male betta.

If you are sure your female betta is making a bubble nest, they may be helping the male bettas build.

They will do this when they are in a good mood and happy living with a male betta. 

However, in this case, also, male betta will do most of the nest building, and females will only contribute a little.

It is not a female betta fish.

It is also possible that your betta fish is a male and not a female.

It isn’t easy to distinguish between male betta and female betta.

We usually distinguish between the male and female betta by comparing their size.

However, some betta species, like plakat betta, look similar to female betta fish.

So, it is possible that the one building a bubble nest in your tank is not a female betta but a male one.

Any fish shop can make this mistake, as it is difficult to differentiate between a male and a female betta.

The male betta fish is not present in the tank.

When your male betta is not in the tank, once the female betta produces the eggs, the female betta will take responsibility and build the nest for the fry.

However, this is very rare as female bettas don’t take any interest in taking care of eggs and fry as it is a responsibility of a male betta.

Also read: Why Is My Betta Making Bubbles?

Why does betta make a bubble nest?

Male betta fish make bubble nests only for reproduction and to keep the fry safe.

Male betta fish make bubble nests to attract the female betta fish and indicating them that now he is ready to take full responsibility for the fry and will keep them safe.

Once the females release the eggs, male betta fish pick them and place them in the bubble nest.

Betta fry lives comfortably in the bubble nest as the bubble nest contains enough oxygen. It also protects the betta fry from other predators.

What role does female betta play in the reproduction process?

If we talk about the role of female betta in the reproduction process, female betta does nothing than lay eggs.

All the responsibilities are in the male’s hand; a male betta is the one who keeps the eggs safe until they get hatched.

A male betta makes the bubble nest to attract the female to reproduce.

Once the female betta is ready to mate, the male betta wraps itself on the female betta until the female lays eggs.

Once the eggs are released, the male betta carries them, places them in the bubble nest, and protects them until they get hatched, and the fry can swim on its own.

Female betta will instead try to eat the eggs rather than protect them.

What happens if I destroy the bubble nest made by the betta?

We always think that it will affect the reproduction process if we mistakenly or by intent destroy the bubble nest made by the bettas.

However, it’s not true. If you destroy the betta nest, they will make another.

Destroying bubble nests made by female or male betta will not affect them in any case, as they will make another bubble nest.

Yes, not destroying the bubble nest will help keep the fry safe.

Also, you don’t have to worry about the water conditions, as the bubble nest will not affect the water condition and other fishes present in the tank in any way. So it is entirely safe and unharmful.

How can I encourage betta fish to make a bubble nest?

Male betta fish will make a bubble nest to keep the fry safe from other fish and ensure maximum survivability.

Male bettas make bubble nests to attract female betta fish by indicating they are ready to reproduce and take full responsibility for the eggs.

So, the first thing you can do to encourage a male betta to build a bubble nest is to add a female betta fish to its tank. However, male betta also makes bubble nests without females, but adding a female will encourage them.

Providing the right environment for your betta fish is also very much necessary to make your betta fish make a bubble nest.

Also, betta fish making bubbles nest is a sign that they are happy and much more comfortable living in the tank. However, it is not necessary that the one not making the bubble nest is not happy as it is completely the choice of the betta fish; some betta fish are not interested in making bubble nests.

Provide your betta fish with their ideal water conditions and parameters to encourage them to make a bubble nest.

Ensuring all these things will do the work:

1. Maintain the water temperature between 78-82 °F.
2. Ensure clean water conditions by performing a regular water changes.
3. Maintain the water pH level between 7 and 8.
4. Add plenty of live aquatic plants to your betta tank.
5. Add floating plants to your betta tank.
6. Create plenty of hiding spots in your betta tank.
7. Avoid adding two male bettas in the same tank.
8. Avoid adding non-compatible mates to your betta tank.
9. Feed your betta fish regularly with two to three pellets or other food twice daily.
10. Maintain ammonia and nitrite at 0 ppm, whereas nitrate should be below 20 ppm.

Ensuring all these things will keep your betta fish super happy and comfortable and encourage them to make a bubble nest.

Also, your betta will require a still water surface and little movement to build the bubble nest, so make sure your betta tank doesn’t have a high current flow.

Also read: How often to change Betta Fish Water?

How often do betta fish build a bubble nest?

There is no fixed time for a betta fish to make a bubble nest.

Some betta will make it every day, some will build it in a week, and some will build it once a month.

Also, it is possible that your betta fish will not completely make a bubble nest, which is okay as some bettas are not interested in building bubble nests.

Conclusion:

It is very uncommon for a female betta fish to build a bubble nest.

However, if they are doing so, there can be a reason like they are helping the male betta to build it, or there is no male betta present in the tank after the female betta lays eggs, so now the female betta is taking up the responsibility of building a nest.

Sometimes, we just get mistaken by taking simple oxygen bubbles as a bubble nest. Also, it is possible that your betta making a bubble nest is a male betta, and you are mistaken by thinking of it as a female betta.

It is hard to differentiate between a male and a female betta. So these mistakes can happen.

---

Reference: ResearchGate, Wikipedia