Hi, I have bred bettas also. Very time consuming :yes:
Your male betta does not need a female, they will built these bubble nests all the time. I have kept several female bettas in my 25 gal freshwater tank. Sometimes you get a nippy one but for the most part they get along just great.
They also come in a nice array of colors also, but not the flowing fins like the males.
I have also seen a very beautiful tank that was 55 gals and housed 4 betta males, yes 4 males. There was so much plant material and hiding places they never bothered each other at all. But I do not recommend this unless you know what you are doing. But wouldn't it be nice to have a nice display tank of male bettas :jumping:
So to answer your question in regards to your male betta. This would be my recommendation and I have done this and they have lived alot longer than in the bowls.
I bought a 2 gal hexagon tank. They are cheap cheap cheap. They have an undergravel filter, hood with light and are just great to house one male betta. I had a male betta in mine and I got him a buddy, an aquatic frog. They were the best of buds and if you only get one frog he will sing. Yes sing, my husband and I could hear this humming noise coming from our kitchen. We could not figure out what it was until i went to the tank and there was my singing frog. The make a great pair :yes:
I have also put in only "one" black skirt tetra for comanionship. If you get one of these little tanks you will have a much happier betta and a little more to look at as well.
Good luck and do a search on "Freshwater forums" and a list of them will come up.
:happyfish