Labyrinth Fishes: Anabantoidei - Behavior And Reproduction

BEHAVIOR AND REPRODUCTION

Labyrinth fishes rise to the water surface to exchange the air in their air-breathing organ. Some leave the water and travel over land to nearby bodies of water. Some labyrinth fishes release free-floating eggs and do not take care of them. Others build bubble nests and guard floating eggs and larvae (LAR-vee), or the early stage of the animal that must change form before becoming adults. Some bubble nests consist of only a few bubbles, but others are large. In some species of labyrinth fishes, the young develop in a parent's mouth. Some species release sticky eggs on the bottom of their habitat.