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well, i have been fishsitting for my neighbors male crowntail blue beta. recently he has started building bubble nests...he is near no other fish, kept by himself, and he is building very nice looking bubble nests. is this just a fluke or is this behavior a indicator of some sort?

here is some info about the conditions:

he is in a unheated 2 gallon tank with no filtration. i have been doing a 20% water change about every 2-3 days to keep the water clean and ph stable(water is from a RO machine with some minerals added). no ammonia levels detected. he is being kept in a heated room, and water temp is the same as it was in her house, 65 degrees, a bit cold, but i dont want him to get used to a warm enviroment and send him back to the neighbors where he might suffer shock from the temp drop. i have been feeding him a diet of Beta-min beta flakes she sent me with and have been also adding some freeze dried bloodworms into the mix daily, only as much as it will eat in a few minutes.

the fish seems healthy, water seems good. there arent any plants in the tank, i feel bad for him, nothing to play in or around. maybe thats why the bubble nest??? any ideas???

Anytime bettas build bubblenests, it's a good thing. It means he is happy. They breed by placing eggs in the bubblenest to protect them.

He definately needs the heater. Try to talk her into getting one. Also, you say he has nothing to play in or around. Tell her she could go to a craft store and get a miniature terra cotta pot for him. That will be a good little hidey spot for him if he ever feels anti social. A great site for bettas is the bellaonline.com fish forums.
If he is happy in these sparse conditions, imagine him in warmer water with a toy.....

hope you can talk her into it.
BTW Sounds like he likes you or your caring for him....

My first M Betta was always building a bubble nest I had him in a small breeding net until his tank was ready.
I agree it is a good sign of a happy and healthy fish.

Have a look in [link=My Profile]http://
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Keith

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as soon as my oldest baby betta became matue, he has had a bubble nest every day sence..that was 3 weeks ago

indeed it is a very good sign of a happy and sometimes healthy betta

he is fine. no need to worry. most bettas will build nest all the time.

The only time they won;t build a nest is when they are old or unhappy. Its definitly a good thing, and nothing to worry about.

Inky