The zoology students will be studying aquatic animals the first part of this semester. To go along with our study, the Nature Room has added a male Betta fish named Bubbles. Betta fish originate from the rice patties of Thailand but have found their way to numerous pet stores across the United States. The people of Thailand refer to these fish as "Fighting Fish" because they aggressively attack and kill other small fish. Because of this, Betta fish are typically kept in small fish tanks by themselves except when spawning. During and after spawning, the male Betta fish gathers the eggs and carefully places them in bubbles on the water's surface. He watches over his young during their 18-24 hour incubation period. Once hatched, the little fry leave their nursery behind in search of food. They eat such delectable treats as crickets, grasshoppers, mosquito larvae, zooplankton and crustaceans.
