Whats this weird stuff in my tank

Question
I have a beta in a one gallon tank. I use store bought spring water with no chemicals and change about 50% of it every other week. Ive been seeing a foam buildup on top of the water but today it was less like foam and more like thick skinned bubbles. The beta still has a healthy appetite and shows no signs of sickness.

Answer
Hi Mike;

He's just a happy fella making a nest to prepare for breeding! It doesn't harm him to never breed. He's just doing what comes naturally and is a good sign he is happy and healthy.

It's a big undertaking if you decide to breed your bettas. There is a great deal of preparation to be made. The female has to be fed high protein foods, preferably live, for a few weeks prior to introduction to the male's tank. He must have a good bubble nest built too. Once she is fat with eggs you can try it. They might not be successful the first time and one may beat the other up. Separate them and try again after they both recover, or get another female. The female has to be removed right after they finish spawning. She could eat the eggs and babies so he will chase her away and possibly kill her if she is left with him. You must have enough tanks to house females and all of the new babies when they mature. You need betta containers for each young male as he matures too. They fight at a young age so they have to be watched. Once they are 6 months old or so they can be sold.

If you were breeding him and a female comes along, he breeds with her, takes the eggs in his mouth and spits them up into the nest. If any eggs fall down he takes them in his mouth and spits them back up again. He does that even after they are hatched. Eventually they will be old enough to swim around and they will have to be removed from the tank because his fathering job is done. Here are links to more info about bettas and their breeding habits;

http://www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Betta,%20Breeding%20basics.htm
http://watershed3.tripod.com/bettas.html


At Your Service;
Chris Robbins