Why is my betta blowing bubbles?

Its just a betta thing to do. Of course, the main reason they do it is to build a bubble nest. Betta splendens (the kind of betta we buy from pet stores) are nest brooders, as opposed to most other kinds of bettas, which are mouth brooders. Mouth brooders keep their fry (their babies) in their mouths to protect them – no, of course they don’t eat them. Nest builders, specifically bubble nest builders, keep their fry in the bubble nest to keep them safe when they’re just born, and for about a week to ten days after they’re born.

Most betta sources will tell you that building a bubble nest is a sign of the happy, healthy betta, but that’s not always true. It can be a sign of sickness. To know the difference between a happy nest builder and a sick bubble blower, take a close look at the betta and the nest. If the betta is swimming around, eating and generally active when its not blowing bubbles, you’ve got a happy betta who’s nest building. If your betta doesn’t do much of anything between blowing bubbles, or keeps his fins clamped close to his body, or spends a lot of time lying on the bottom of his tank, you have a sick betta.

The bubble nest itself will tell you, too. If there are only a few bubbles, and they are large and easily popped bubbles, you may have a sick fish. If there are a lot of bubbles, and they’re small, you probably have a happy fish. Please note that just because there are only a few bubbles doesn’t necessarily mean your fish is sick – take into account how its behaving, too. If it looks fine and is active, don’t worry about the state of the bubbles.

Its not unheard of for female bettas to blow bubbles, too. They don’t do it as often, but it does happen. I know a few ladies who change the oil in their cars… just because its generally a guy thing to do doesn’t mean us ladies don’t partake every so often.