When should he build?

[WeeMan]

Hi I was just wondering when I could expect my little fellla to start building his nest, he is in a community tank so I guess that could be affecting things.

Any info would be great,

thanks, Dan

 

[MegTheFish]

Usually, in a tank with a filter, if there is no part of the tank that is "still" then if he does make a nest it will get wrecked by the current. Out of curiosity, what fish do you have in with him?

 

[pjfish]

I have no idea, but I'm wondering if the community tank is an issue. I've had my betta in a community tank for 7-8 weeks and haven't seen any bubbles yet.

 

[WeeMan]

A few tetra's and a small cat (synodontis) perhaps I should look at the flow of water as I am sure it could be rearranged.

Thanks, Dan

 

[Elise]

One of my fish took a month to build me a nest and then it was sooooo HUGE!!! But I don't know about in a comm tank.

Aren't your tetras nippy? I had to rescue a fish from a tank full of nippy tetras. I would watch and make sure they aren't nipping fins in there!

 

[mm_simb]

Yea, I've also heard and seen tetras being nippy.
Some bettas dont even build bubblenests btw. And if they do some take a long time to build one or build it right away. Mine took like 2-3 months to build one and the only reason he did it was because I had Blackwater Extract in his water. I know he would've never build one if it wasn't for that. Now he makes them all the time.

 

[WeeMan]

Not at all I thought the same but they tend to ignore him or stay to the other side, I think they dont know what to make of him as he is much bigger, well mainly his fins!

I will keep an eye though

Cheers

Dan

 

[OohFeeshy]

It can take a while. Be aware that the betta can get very terratorial once it has a bubblenest. Thats why I had to move one of mine, he had started attacking the cories.

 

[Elise]

Be aware that the betta can get very terratorial once it has a bubblenest. Thats why I had to move one of mine, he had started attacking the cories.

I never knew they would get territorial over the bubble nest....wow, that explains a lot actually....

 

[OohFeeshy]

Well, mine did. He was fine until he started nesting, then he got narky and attacked the cories if they got too near the corner it was in.

 

[Kiarra]

It's instinctive to protect the bubblenest, whether there are babies in it or not. It becomes entirely his territory, to house HIS babies, and he doesn't a) want to take care of another fish's young; B) have another fish eat his young. So once he builds the nest, he protects it against any fish he thinks may be invading.

 

[eudielynn]

I've had five different bettas in community tanks over the years, and not one of them has ever built a bubblenest. I think the current from the filter keeps them from it. All of my bettas in individual tanks except for Vince (only had him two days) have built bubblenests.

 

[BettaMomma]

If you want to give him a kickstart to bubblenesting, try some Indian Almond Leaf. You really only need one tiny piece no matter what size your tank is. It's pretty certain that you'll find a nice perfect little nest underneath it the very next day. Even my really sickly little boy built me one with the IAL. He doesn't have the leaf in his tank anymore right now, but he's still nesting like crazy.

 

[WeeMan]

Ok but where do I get some? And, well what is it?

 

[BettaMomma]

Hmm.
Well, you can order it online from various places - maybe someone else can come along and suggest a place to get it from.

I don't know exactly what it is or how to explain it, but it's actual leaves that are cut up and dried, then used to condition fighting fish, or it's just used as a soothing healing agent in pet fish. Someone else will come along and give you the scientific explanation. I just know it works wonders with my fish