Do Bubblenests Actually Mean Happiness? Look Here for the Truth!

[registereduser]

Originally Posted by LebronTheBetta

It's just their instinct. It just means they're ready to breed and claiming/protecting territory. Period. No happiness, no "Perfect" water conditions, just instinct. Bettas sometimes make them when they're sick even. But most of the time, they don't have the motivation under all the stress.


. Why do Bettas make these bubblenests?
Bettas are aphrophils'. They are one of the many fish that make these nests for breeding and territory reasons.

Feel free to post your Betta's bubblenest. :) We'd all love to see how your Betta is ready to breed, or protecting territory, or even just plain instinct. Post anything about these nests actually, feel free.

I'm a little confused. So a sick/dying fish will still make a bubblenest? Does this mean a sick/dying fish can breed?

Don't get me wrong, I am not one who thinks fish can be "happy" but I do think they can be stress free and healthy and thus exhibit behaviors proving such.

If bubblenests are not proof of a healthy stress free fish, then are there other behaviors that can tell us whether or not they are "happy"?

[LebronTheBetta]

Originally Posted by registereduser

I'm a little confused. So a sick/dying fish will still make a bubblenest? Does this mean a sick/dying fish can breed?

Don't get me wrong, I am not one who thinks fish can be "happy" but I do think they can be stress free and healthy and thus exhibit behaviors proving such.

If bubblenests are not proof of a healthy stress free fish, then are there other behaviors that can tell us whether or not they are "happy"?

Not always, that was a rare case of nesting. Remember, it can also mean territory. It's rare because of how low the motivation is.
A "happy" fish to me is just a healthy fish. So if a fish seems all active and no signs of sickness, I presume it's healthy.

[registereduser]

When sick/dying fish make a bubblenest they must totally be running on instinct!

[LebronTheBetta]

Originally Posted by registereduser

When sick/dying fish make a bubblenest they must totally be running on instinct!

Yes. Or they might know they're dying and build their last one...? I'm desperate for more reasons but the current ones will do.

[Sanguinefox]

This tank does not exist anymore but this is one of the many gigantic nests my betta makes:

I also have video of the last one he made in the old tank: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPS_maUjOMg skip ahead to see the nest from side and top.

[ChoclateBetta]

My male would build them high quality maybe knowing they are about to die maybe motivates them so they can help there species in a small bowl puddle instincts may kick in so they do not build P.S. i know they do not spend all year in puddles only a small amount and that is when the most die and they are found in huge bodies of water that are low in oxygen.

[Sanguinefox]

Originally Posted by ChoclateBetta

My male would build them high quality maybe knowing they are about to die maybe motivates them so they can help there species in a small bowl puddle instincts may kick in so they do not build P.S. i know they do not spend all year in puddles only a small amount and that is when the most die and they are found in huge bodies of water that are low in oxygen.

Instinct drives many animals to breed (or try to) even if it kills them. Such is the truth with fish as well as many mammals.

[ChoclateBetta]

Yes but if that instinct were not there many more young would die and species would go extinct (faster).

[LebronTheBetta]

Originally Posted by Sanguinefox

This tank does not exist anymore but this is one of the many gigantic nests my betta makes:

I also have video of the last one he made in the old tank: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPS_maUjOMg skip ahead to see the nest from side and top.

Beautiful tank!! He's alive, please tell me... It's HUGE. I'm even more jealous...

Originally Posted by ChoclateBetta

My male would build them high quality maybe knowing they are about to die maybe motivates them so they can help there species in a small bowl puddle instincts may kick in so they do not build P.S. i know they do not spend all year in puddles only a small amount and that is when the most die and they are found in huge bodies of water that are low in oxygen.

I know that, I didn't even mention about those puddles... That's a reason some of them die, they sometimes can't jump far enough. They are only temporary until they jump into a bigger one or rain sets in.

Originally Posted by Sanguinefox

Instinct drives many animals to breed (or try to) even if it kills them. Such is the truth with fish as well as many mammals.

Well, I guess that's why. Humans also want to have kids if willingly before they die. I guess they want to keep the family line stable.

Originally Posted by ChoclateBetta

Yes but if that instinct were not there many more young would die and species would go extinct (faster).

Yep. What exactly are you trying to prove...?

[ChoclateBetta]

That they are very devoted to the species.