How the method works

Labyrinth fish in which a male usually builds a surface nest from bubbles and plant material, then tends the eggs.

Practical breeding setup

Use calm warm water, gentle or no surface turbulence, a lid to hold humid air, floating cover and a safe retreat for the female.

Egg and fry management

After free swimming, fry are tiny and need very small foods. The male is often removed once active nest care ends.

Main failure point

Strong flow, cold dry air above the water, poor pair compatibility and leaving the female exposed to attack can ruin the spawn.

Fish in this category

The database currently contains 7 commonly kept fish assigned to this main method. Some fish also show secondary behaviours, and individual parental care can vary.

BettaBetta splendens5–7 cmOpen entry →Dwarf gouramiTrichogaster lalius7–9 cmOpen entry →Honey gouramiTrichogaster chuna5–6 cmOpen entry →Paradise fishMacropodus opercularis8–11 cmOpen entry →Pearl gouramiTrichopodus leerii10–12 cmOpen entry →Sparkling gouramiTrichopsis pumila3–4 cmOpen entry →Three-spot gouramiTrichopodus trichopterus12–15 cmOpen entry →

Originality and limits

This guide explains the shared breeding pattern in original AquaNexus wording. It is not a substitute for the individual species entry, because temperature, social structure, egg size and parental behaviour differ.