Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images If you have male betta fish, otherwise known as Japanese or Siamese fighting fish, you’re probably accustomed to occasionally seeing clusters of bubbles floating at the top of the fish bowl. This means a betta is preparing to find a mate. The first step in betta courtship is to build a nest of bubbles in which the offspring, if there are any, will live until they mature enough to swim on their own. Most male bettas build bubble nests regardless of whether a female is in the vicinity. This behavior is a strong indication of a happy, healthy betta. Building the Bubble Nest Male bettas usually start building bubble nests as soon as they’re old enough to reproduce, usually between 8 and 12 weeks of age. In the wild, they first establish their territory through combat with other male bettas. Once he’s staked out his territory, a betta begins building the nest by taking gulps of air at the water’s surface and spitting out bubbles made of saliva. He will do this in rapid succession, sometimes for hours, until the nest is complete.

Filling the Bubble Nest Once the nest is finished, whether in the wild or in a breeding tank shared with a female, the next step is courtship. Male bettas are not gentlemen to their prospective mates; they are aggressive pursuers who will not shy away from brutality to herd a female underneath the nest. In the wild, he spends this time fighting and chasing off male rivals as well as dealing with females who are unreceptive to his advances. Once a female is in place and signals that she’s ready to submit to his advances, spawning takes place; the eggs are captured and held by the bubbles in the nest. Raising the Small Fry Although he’s not a gentlemanly mate, the male betta is a good father, taking sole responsibility for raising the young spawn as a single dad. He vigilantly guards the nest until the eggs hatch one to two days after spawning. The young bettas, also known as “fry, have special cells along their bodies that keep them attached to the nest. In the wild, bubble nests attract infusorians, microscopic organisms that serve to feed the newborn bettas.

The fry will stay in the nest, watched over by their father, until they are old enough to swim away in search of a more substantial meal. Bubbles and the Single Betta The instinctual drive to prepare for mating by creating a bubble nest is strong enough that male bettas will generally do this on a frequent basis regardless of whether they ever have contact with a female. order aquarium fish online europeBubble nests in your solitary betta’s fish bowl are a good sign that your betta regards his tank as his territory and is feeling healthy enough to spawn. big fish tank amazonIn general, the healthier a betta is the more often he’ll build bubble nests. order aquarium fish online usa

However, a lack of bubbles isn’t necessarily cause for concern. If the fish tank has a filter that creates even a slight current, this might prevent your betta from nest-building. Not all bettas are inclined to build bubble nests on a regular basis. : A Look Inside the Bubblenest Photo Credits Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images See More Animals How to Fix Bloat in My Betta How to Tell Female & Male Zebra Danios Apart How Do Betta Fish Mate? fish tank for farmingWhen Should You Worry About Your Betta?buy large cube aquarium 6 used & new frombuy large cube aquarium & FREE Delivery in the UK. See more product detailsDispatch in Amazon box Interpet Insight Glass Aquarium Fish Tank Premium Kit - 64 Litre Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.

FREE Delivery in the UK. DetailsInterpet Interpet Insight Auto Timer FREE Delivery on orders over . DetailsInterpet Three Month Service Pack for Internal Cartridge Filter - CF 2 FREE Delivery on orders over . Special offers and product promotions Save 20% when you spend £30 on selected aquariums and accessories. Here's how (terms and conditions apply) Visit the for a huge selection of pet supplies from great brands at top prices. Deals in Pet Supplies Page for great discounts on a range of top-brand pet supplies products. Pet TypeFish and Aquatic Product Dimensions36 x 47 x 65 cm 17,077 in Pet Supplies (See top 100) Date First Available2 May 2014 Exclusive Aquacare Reminder SystemView larger The easy to use, and easily accessible Interpet cartridge filterView larger An Advanced Aquarium Kit with High Performance LED lighting and allowing for optional upgrades (sold separately) such as Auto Feeder, Lighting Auto Timer, Triple Strip LED Lighting Upgrade.

Also includes the following advanced features:- High Performance Dual LED Lighting, efficient and economical bright lighting from low wattage LEDs, Bright White for lush plant or coral growth (without encouraging algae), and Blue Moon for softer, more relaxed night time viewing, and to bring out the beautiful colours of your fish and producing an attractive ripple effect. Available in either 40 or 64 litres. The CF-2 Filtration system: One of the most versatile, comprehensive and easy-to-use filters available. It uses a simple cartridge system which allows for the easiest of maintenance and excellent water clarity. Contains, Ceramic Biomedia, patented Floss & Carbon Pad and an algae prevention pad helping to reduce unsightly algae and phosphate levels in the aquarium. The Interpet Deltatherm Heater for aquariums is precise, reliable and more than capable of doing a superb job of keeping your water at the perfect temperature, no matter if you keep cold water or tropical fish. Featuring double insulation and being fully submersible, it is ideal for any fish type that suit this aquarium.

We also provide you with Interpet's best selling tap safe and filter start which adds essential bacteria to kick start the biological filter and Aloe Vera to protect your fish, meaning you have a complete set up for your aquarium with just one competitively priced aquarium. View larger High Performance LED blue and white lighting for day and night viewing.Exclusive Aquacare reminder system, never forget to change or clean your filter again.Easy care and effective cartridge filter systemCurved glass for panoramic viewIdeal for coldwater and tropical aquariums The Aquacare Reminder System is a simple push button feature which is built into, and fitted neatly under the feeding flap on the hood of the aquarium. It is specifically designed to remind you every 30 days that you need to change your filter media and carry out any additional maintenance, ensuring you, your fish and your beautiful fish tank are at their 'happiest' at all times. Making fish keeping a simple and enjoyable routine. For added support and to hold all of your fish keeping accessories, such as food, nets and cleaning equipment, we highly recommend the Interpet Cabinet which supplements, and enhances the aquarium to its maximum potential.

Insight Premium Aquarium RangeView largerFish Pod Power Filter RangeView largerAquaverse Starter Aquarium RangeView largerRiver Reef Tropical/Marine Aquarium RangeView larger 1 x Each of Filter Start and Tap Safe1 x CF2 Cartridge Filter 480 LPH with one of each pads1 x set each of Blue and White LED lighting1 x Deltatherm heater What do customers buy after viewing this item? Fish Pod Glass Aquarium Fish Tank - 120 L Fish Pod Glass Aquarium Fish Tank 48 Litre including CF1 Cartridge Filter See all 79 customer reviews See all 79 customer reviews (newest first) Most Recent Customer ReviewsWater fill level is too close to lid. Large gaps left and right of the lid at rear. Has caused us to lose 5 fish so far. They can easily get to the gaps at the rear. Had this for 5 months almost now and I want to point out a light issue.The main thing I don't like is that I bought this tank thinking that it had LED lights and they... Do not buy i brought one and it set on fire when I contacted amazon they didn't believe me

Good value for money. Ive had this tank for around three years. Ill keep this short but true. After you buy the tank immediately buy a New filter the existing one is RUBBISH and your fish will find... This is the 2nd Interpet Insight Aquarium I've bought from Amazon and I love them! I have the 64 litre and now 40 litre and can't recommend them enough! I love this tank, would recommend buying the stand to go with it! This tank is of very poor design the lid is too close to the water surface resulting in serious condensation, even as a cold water tank. don't worry about the condensation just lift the lid once a day and it will run into the tank, and will not do the fish any harm, that's what I do Great tank, easy to set up... only down side with the tank is the build up with condensation which can be prevented with a condensation tray. Apart from that an great tank! See and discover other items: tropical fish tanks Look for similar items by category