Bubble nest
Encyclopedia : B : BU : BUB : Bubble nest
Bubblenests, also spelled bubble nests and bubble-nests, created by some fish species, are floating masses of bubbles blown with an oral secretion, spit bubbles, and occasionally aquatic plants, or an area for egg deposit attached at the bottom.
Gouramis (including Betta species) and some sunfish, catfish and ciclids create bubblenests. Anabantidae are the most commonly recognized family of bubblenest makers. The nests are constructed as a place for fertilized eggs to be deposited while incubating and guarded by the male until the fry hatch. They can often be seen above a happy male betta at your local petstore.
These nest are always built by the male and their size, position and shape depends on the species. The nest is most often made at the water surface among floating plants. Some fish incorporate plants into the nest while others made entirely of bubbles. After spawning, the eggs float up into the bubble nest, or are carried there held in the mouth by the male. The male protects the brood by chasing away the female and any other intruders, concentrating on the eggs in the nest, retrieving any eggs or fry that fall from the nest and keeping the nest in repair.
Bubble nests are created by male Betta/Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens) from air bubbles coated with saliva to increase durability. This makes a louder noise than regular breathing and is often frantic behavior. When a male has spawned, he will pick up eggs (many at a time, sometimes it appears as though he's eating them) and lodge them in the nest for safe keeping. The fry will hatch in 24-48 hours and be suspended from the nest. For the next few week, they will stay nearby being tended by the father.
Bubble nests are built even when not in presence of female or fry. Males will build bubble nests of various sizes and thicknesses, depending on the male's space and personality. Some males build constantly, some occasionally, some when introduced to a female and some do not even begin until after spawning. Some nests will be large, some small, some thick.
Bettas will build their nests anywhere on the surface but prefer to build under floating objects such as plastic and plants. Most every object floating will end up with bubbles.
Various things have been shown to stimulate bubble nest construction, such as quick temperature change, barometric changes, materials in the tank and presences of other males or females.
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.