Do I just count myself lucky?

[SnowyzMom]

Seriously I keep hearing all these horror stories about Bettas jumping clean out of their tanks and mummifying. Mine has never given any indication he'd ever consider it for a moment. Is he lazy? Are his fins too danged long and he'd never get em out of the water? (like a lady in long skirts trying to high jump) Or does he just know a good thing when he sees it?

He is lording it over an entire 5 gallon, all to himself, nice live and silk plants. I am NOT, repeat NOT, asking him to jump out! I am wondering if the original Bettas, given that they still catch the wild ones in ditches, got into the habit of jumping to deeper waters when their ditches or rice paddies began to dry out? I mean where did jumping come from?

Of course I suppose now, having written this, I'll come back into the room and find him on the floor! AAACK! Anyways, does anyone know why Bettas jump?

That reminds me, he doesn't bother blowing bubbles either. Again, I wonder why? I mean he looks gorgeous, huge long veil tail fins, tons of attitude. Maybe with higher humidity he'd blow them. Does he need to? Does everyone's males blow bubbles? Just wondering. Any input is appreciated.

 

[cutechic]

You may be right about wild bettas getting into the habit of jumping to deeper waters when their ditches or rice paddies began to dry out.

None of my males (or my females) have given any inclination to jump, except for when I first bought them and was acclimatizing them to their new homes: two of the boys jumped from their bags into their new tanks. Two of the betta tanks have small holes in the hoods, but the others are all completely covered, just in case.

All the bettas, females included, built bubblenests when I first got them. After a few months, they all stopped. The air is humid, the water is warm, I do frequent water changes, sometimes I add IAL to their tanks... I don't see any reason why they wouldn't build bubblenests. Just one of those things.

 

[D Chia]

Are his fins too danged long and he'd never get em out of the water? (like a lady in long skirts trying to high jump)

Hi SnowyzMom,

My short tail bettas tend to be quite good at "jumping", especially during feeding time. However I used to have a super delta tail who does this routine too. He may have learnt the behaviour from his plakat neighbour (i.e. in the next tank) because I sometimes remove the cards during feeding time.

The problem with long tail bettas "jumping" is a ragged/torn tail. That's why my super delta had to get his tail fixed by MelaFix countless times.

My other long/fancy tails don't jump. Maybe it's because I make it a point to house my long tails away from the short tails (in case the long tails pick up the habit and ruin their tails).

 

[turbotiber]

My bettas haven't ever jumped either (and i don't want them to, well at least not out of the tank!)

As for bubblenests, my first betta bubblenested and the stopped. I bought another 5 and they didn't bubblenest, not until I put the heater on near where they were and the next day it looked like they were all competing to see who could build it better! I figured it was because it was chilly but it could from other factors I suppose.

 

[Elisabeth83]

As for bubblenests...none of my bettas build them either...temp is nice and high...they are in beautiful homes with sand and live plants. They are active and flare...they just don't build nests. I also wonder why.....would love to know the answer.

I thought at first because there wasn't much for them to blow the bubbles into (plants etc) I put live plants across the top of the water. Still no bubble nests but they do enjoy laying in the plants.

I dunno

 

[D Chia]

Males that are in prime condition will blow bubblenests when there is a female around. Even if one does not intend to breed bettas, it's good to have a female to show to the male occasionally.

 

[Elisabeth83]

I have a female but they still dont build nests. I wouldn't think they would be too old already? I've only had them for about 2 months.

 

[D Chia]

Males who do not build bubblenests are merely not ready or not in the condition to spawn. It could also mean that he doesn't like the female that's shown to him. It's really up to the fish.

When the female's ovipositor is prominent and her body displays vertical stripes, try showing her to the male. The water temperature should be about 30 degrees Centigade.

You could also try adding Indian almond leaves or black water to the male's tank to help him relax and put him in the mood to build a bubblenest.