Irregular Betta Bubbles??

[inbackyards]

Hi!

I'm sorry if this is a dumb question or if someone already answered...I tried looking through the FAQ's but couldn't find an answer.  I know that Betta fish blow bubble nests when they are happy and well fed and blah blah blah and both of my Betta's have been very happy the past few days.  (I've only had them a little over a week...but have owned several Betta fish in the past) They've been blowing awesome bubble nests...but now the entire top of the water in their bowls has sporadic very large bubbles spread out along the top.  They're much larger than normal Betta bubbles and their regular bubble nests have disappeared.  I'm wondering if this means anything or if anything is wrong. I'm having trouble finding information about it online because everywhere I look it's just about the normal bubble nests but these are not normal bubble nests. Thanks!

[roseduke]

   Baku is the only one of my boys who bubbles a lot. His nests are never the same twice. Sometimes small; once an awesomely huge high nest. Lately it's been bubbles big & small all around the water line of the tank.
  I think it could be the weather, it's suddenly got to be the normal hot muggy, Baltimore summer here over the 90's. Maybe the surface tension of the bubbles aren't as sticky.
  Don't know what to tell you, but that's my theory & I'm "sticking" to it.   

[wendyjo]

Rose I didn't know you were in B'more!  I'm in NoVa and work in DC.  Man, hasn't the weather just been awful?

[Boven]

   Baku is the only one of my boys who bubbles a lot. His nests are never the same twice. Sometimes small; once an awesomely huge high nest. Lately it's been bubbles big & small all around the water line of the tank.
  I think it could be the weather, it's suddenly got to be the normal hot muggy, Baltimore summer here over the 90's. Maybe the surface tension of the bubbles aren't as sticky.
  Don't know what to tell you, but that's my theory & I'm "sticking" to it.   

That sounds like what my betta seems to do.  I find bubbles of assorted sizes around the waterline, not in any real clusters as well as a few in the middle of the surface of the water.  Shortly after I first got him back in late June, there was a clump of bubbles in one corner that I assumed was a nest.  Since then it's just been the more random bubbles all over.  I'm new to bettas, so I'm really not sure what to expect when it comes to a bubble nest.

I live in NoVA, so I'm seeing the same hot 'n muggy weather.  I wonder if I'll see 'real' nests from the little guy when things cool down.  I kind of hope so.

[roseduke]

Rose I didn't know you were in B'more!  I'm in NoVa and work in DC.  Man, hasn't the weather just been awful?

from Boven: "I live in NoVA, so I'm seeing the same hot 'n muggy weather."
Howdy Neighbors,
 Nice to know I have betta friends nearby, as it is.
   I just do what I have to in the outside world & go back into the air ASAP. I remember when I used to have jobs without air conditioning in the worse summer heat & not mind it as much as I do now (well maybe needing a paycheck had something to do with that-LOL).
  My studio at home has air conditioning & I leave it on in the evening so the fishy boys don't get too hot because the room can be like an oven otherwise.
  Back to bubble nests-my new white marble crowntail, Aurora Zen, blew a small nest today-1st I've seen from him. It was uniform small bubbles all grouped in a corner.
  Baku got his tank cleaned to day so probably no bubbles for a couple of days.
  As far as what to expect-don't. They build nests when they feel like it. Some never do. Like any artist I guess they need to feel that urge.
  Seeing a female or another male might give them reason. I once saw one male spitting bubbles out like a machine (really fast-in rows!-it was cool to see) because there was a pretty little female in the bowl next to his.
 I think Baku 's is a reaction to his neighbor in the next tank over (I move the tanks around so all 3 boys get to "see" each other occasionally & not get bored. They're fish-who knows what they're thinking (.Probably trying to figure out if we're small enough to eat) I dunno
 

[Boven]

They're fish-who knows what they're thinking (.Probably trying to figure out if we're small enough to eat) I dunno
 

Heck, I work Sundays at a riding stable up in Wheaton where I used to take lessons.  I know all about working in non air conditioned buildings.  Nothin like shoveling horse manure in hot, humid weather.  I'm really more a winter person.


I sometimes wonder what's going through my betta's mind.  He gets so excited when he sees movement in the room around his tank.  I don't know if he's hoping for some interaction or going "You'd better not come near my territory!"  When I hold a mirror up by his tank, half the time he spreads out his fins and flares and the other half he does a quick flare and scoots away.  I know they prefer to live alone, but I sometimes wonder if there's anything I can do to make sure he's entertained and not bored in there.

[wendyjo]

I think the excitement is usually them expecting food.

[roseduke]

I think the excitement is usually them expecting food.

Most definitely, little piggies.
   When ever you clean the tank, change things around. Betta like to hunt so have some safe (nothing they could get trapped in or tear fins)objects in the tank. someplace to hide and some plants are nice too. I prefer real plants even if they have to be replaced occasionally (quarantine for at least 24 hours=just like with new fish). I have some assorted size marbles & cool hand blown glass mini eggs (made for aquariums) scattered through the tank-great for hunting.
  I always wonder what they find when I see them munch some no-see-em. I tell the boys they're suppose to be the only thing swimming in the tank.
  The mirror is good fun too if you have a single betta. The excitement of protecting their territory is good exercise for them. Just don't over do it or they get bored.
   My late Shoki used to love to chase a tiny fishing bobber around his tank. He'd flare at it & then slowly move on in & bit it; when it moved, he'd chase it. But I didn't leave it in the tank because he'd wear himself out stalking it. Too funny (I sure miss the little guy).

[Boven]

Well, it looks like my little guy may be back to making proper bubble nests.  When I took the hood off his minibow so I could catch him for a water change yesterday, I saw a great big foamy-looking pile of bubbles and no bubbles scattered around elsewhere.  It was a pretty big mass.  I felt a little bad that it was gonna get destroyed, but heck, now he gets the fun of building a new one.

When my power was out for 12 hours last week (ugh) I went up to Petco and got another ornament for his tank.  I usually try to arrange the plants differently at each water change so he'll have some variety.  A little while back I got a little pagoda ornament.  This time it was a 'princess tower' which isn't the greatest looking thing, but I figured it'd give him something to explore and hang out inside.  Though he spent a good long time checking it out when he got back in his home after the water change, I've yet to see him inside it.

When it comes to putting a mirror against the tank for him, how long should one leave it there?  I usually hold one up and let him make faces at it for just a few moments before taking it away.  I figure he gets the excitement of defending his territory and driving off an intruder.