female bubble nesting/water changing (?)

Question
QUESTION: Hi Lynda,

You've helped me before and I am so happy to tell you that my little rescued female betta fish, whom I named Ruby Rose, is doing beautifully!!  She has grown, her color is deep and lovely, and she appears happy, judging from our daily interaction, her swimming and overall appearance.

I was quite worried, though, about 3 wks. ago.  She was rather listless and a bit bloated.  She had made a bubble nest - (I had read only males did this - not so!!) and lo and behold - I witnessed her dropping many eggs, then eating alot of them!  She remained out of sorts the next two days, then back to her old self.  I was so worried she might have developed dropsy, since her scales were slightly protuded - (from the eggs I'm thinking now.)  

So, here's my question.  This morning, I find a very large bubble nest she's made!  She's fine - just ate her breakfast.  But, I do 100% water changes every 2-3 days.  I need to do it today, and it will obviously wipe out her bubble nest.  So, I am hypothesizing the water change may disrupt her egg-laying cycle because she'll hold off laying them until she builds another nest...and then, that could cause internal problems like becoming egg-bound, stress to her system etc.

Do you know if this is so?  If it is, then I could do a partial water change - although I may miss her egg drop, and not know when to change it other than going by her former listless behavior after egg dropping.  I want the least stress as possible for her.  Also, do females lay eggs monthly?

Thank you for any help you can give.  You'd love my little Ruby Rose - alot of personality, for a fish - lol!!!

Mary Beth

ANSWER: Hi Mary Beth,
It is very unusual that a female will blow a nest.  Do you actually see the eggs?  A female betta has a white dot, or ovipositor near her anal fin.  In the wild lots of bettas look like the females.  It is sometimes impossible to see the difference between a male, and a female...so I am wondering if your betta would be a male.  Females can lay eggs once about once a month.  Go ahead, and do her/his water change.  It is better to change the water than to risk having poor water conditions.  Poor water conditions is very stressful to fish.
I know I would love Ruby Rose!  We get so attached to bettas, each have their own personality, and we get so attached to them.
Lynda

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Lynda,

Thank you so much for getting back to me so quickly!  

Yes, I am 100% sure she is a female.  She has that tiny, white ovipositor from which I have actually seen eggs drop - many of them, and then I watched as she ate quite a few of the eggs.  They were very tiny, and a white, translucent color.  This is also the third bubble nest I have seen - and the largest!  She appeared lethargic yesterday afternoon, so I am thinking she dropped her eggs.  She also didn't have much of an appetite, so I'm assuming she ate some of her eggs.  I did add some fresh water to her tank yesterday afternoon, w/out a water change so as not to disturb her - but I will change it all today.

I wonder why it is that some females make bubble nests, and some don't?  How rare is this - do you know?  And, do you know how long a betta fish can live in optimum conditions?  Oh, and while on that - her silk flowers are turning brown, even though I rinse them thoroughly with water...should I toss and get new ones?

Thanks so much for your help, Lynda! Have a great day!
Mary Beth

ANSWER: Hi Mary Beth,
Bettas must always live in good water conditions.  When left without water changes, they do get sick.  A betta that is well cared for, can live up to seven years.  A well cared for betta would need a heated 5 gallon tank with complete water changes once a week.  A varied diet is also important.  Overfeeding, and poor water conditions are the main reasons why bettas get sick. They should be in 80-82 degree water heated with a thermostat (Heater) and never be heated with lamps, or light.  Their water should always be stable.  
I have never owned a female who blows her nest, and I have had many over the years.  I find this so cute!  I would think it is very rare, but then, maybe I just didn't have one who did.  Why some do, and some don't, I really don't have an answer to that question.  Maybe they are more maternal than others...just a guess.  Males blow their nest, and a male will look after the spawn for about 3 days, then he must be removed because he will eat his fry.  Females if left in the tank do eat the eggs, which is why she must be removed, but there are exceptions to the rule.  If a male, and female have spawned many times together, the male will be less aggressive with her during the spawn, but she still has to be removed.  Sometimes a little female can be better than others, you never know with bettas!   I had a betta who stayed with his spawn, never tried to eat them.  This happen once, and this is very very rare.  I have bred so many bettas, and have seen this only once over the last 25 years!  
Your flowers turn brown because of lack of light.  It will happen with another bought plant.  This is brown algae.  Just keep washing it like you are doing.  No worries.
Have a nice Easter Weekend.
Lynda

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Lynda,

That's neat to think I have a little betta who, I guess, is rare -
especially since she was definitely on her way out when I found her.  I'm so glad she's mine - she's a sweetie, and I'm happy to know she can live a long time if I keep taking good care of her.  I guess she must be very maternal (lol), because her last bubble nest was really big.

Today, I fed her a tiny piece of cooked asparagus - I didn't have a pea, and she gobbled it up.  I could tell she wanted something different from her usual...do you think it's o.k. to give her some mushy veggies now and then - I'm thinking peas, asparagus.  Also - she has some fin rot around the tip of her tail - and it won't go away.  I use salt and stress coat every water change - no difference.  It is a thin line of it - otherwise, she is a beautiful, deep red color.  I change her water usually every 2 days, 100%.
Thanks, Lynda.  Hope you had a lovely Easter.
Mary Beth

Answer
Hi Mary Beth,
It's perfectly fine to feed her veggies now, and then.  You could also feed her broccoli, Green beans, and carrots cut into very small pieces.  Healthy bettas must have variation in their food, so the more you vary, the healthier she will be.  Be careful though, you do not want to feed her veggies all the time, only now, and then.
You must get rid of the fungus.  For now you could add one teaspoon of diluted aquarium salt per gallon of water.  If this does not get rid of the fungus in three days, you will have to medicate.  Fin, and Tail Rot can eat away at a fish very quickly, so you must get rid of it.  If the salt does not work, buy Jungle Fungus Eliminator, and follow the directions on the package.
She is special, and must be beautiful with her deep red colouring.
Keep me posted on how she is doing.
Lynda