How does the male betta put the babies back into the nest?

Question

i really need to know this answer because im breeding them and i dont know if he is eating them... i seperated them because when they were falling out of the nest, the male would scoup them into his mouth (and it looked as tho he was gulping them down) then he would go to the top and blow a bubble.

so, does he just put them into a nest, or does he scoup them into his mouth and make a bubble at the same time and put them back into a bubble?

i know it sounds confusing. but it would be much apprecated if someone could help... thanks =D

Answer 1

i answered your other question on the same fish.

put him back in!

listen to the first answer above me

Answer 2

Put him back!  The male betta scoops any fallen eggs or fry up with his mouth and then puts them back into the nest by spitting them out or blowing them up there with a bubble.  How did you think he did it, with his fins?  Fish only have their mouths to work with when it comes to picking stuff up and carrying it around, you know.  Don't worry, your betta is being a good dad!  

The only danger of him eating the fry comes when they all start to swim around like crazy and he loses track of them all and the darting movements of all those tiny things in the water starts to trigger his hunting instincts.  Then sometimes the male betta will start to eat the babies.  Not always, but sometimes.  So it's just safest to take him out at that point.

Answer 3

YOU NEED TO KEEP THE MALE BETTA IN UNTIL THE EGGS HATCH! The male protects them and he is not gulping them down. He is simply placing the eggs into the nest. You should remove the female though. The male can severely injure her after the spawning. Anyway, put the male back in until the eggs hatch which I think is another 12-24 hours. Hope you breed successfully.

Answer 4

Put him back in! He is NOT eating them, if he is blowing the bubble he is putting them back in. It may look like he is swallowing them when he is really cleaning them. When the fry fall they need their dad to put them back in, or else they could die! btw, feel free to e-mail me at [e-mail] if you have any more questions.