Very Mad Betta

[dustonthecabnit]

Hey everyone! My girlfriend wanted a betta. SOOO I got a 2 1/2 g acrylic tank with a little whisper pump in it ( I dont like bowls with no filtrations) ANYWAY
Is the acrylic reflecting his image it him? He constantly flares up to the front of the glass , then turns see's the side and swims over there real quick all while looking like he's about to kick some butt. My main question is IS this bad for him?

[rich311k]

I dont think so. Some people think it is stressing to them but it looks to me like they are having fun.

[Juice]

What shape is your tank? Is it hex?
I have my betta in a hex and because of all the corners he can see himself pretty clearly. He doesnt puff up and he seem's to enjoy his company so I dont worry about it much.

Besides some guys just like to show off :P

[Jspigs]

It is my understanding that constant flaring tires and stresses Bettas.

[DieselJunki]

Mine used to do the same thing but after awhile he did it less frequently and now I hardly ever see him do it at all.

[froglover007]

IT might be, but he will learn and as long as he is still fairly active there isn't a problem. If you ever see puppy-mill bettas in the shops living in dixie cups in clear view of others, you see that some are lying around. This is what happens when a betta is stressed from other males. I doubt yours will do that.

[halfmoonplakat]

flaring is a good thing, but only in moderation
it is good exercise, but as jspigs pointed out earlier it can get stressful and tiring to the betta
also if you have halfmoons, rosetails, superdeltas, and the like, your fish may blow his caudal fin which means tearing it a bit which may lead to fin troubles
but then again, a flaring betta usually indicates that the betta in question is healthy, happy and active
and some bettas are just more agressive than others they each have individual personalities :)
have fun with your fish

[ghengis]

Flaring your betta for a short period each day is good for him. Helps to keep the muscles toned and the territorial insticnt sharp. This can be achieved by placing a mirror beside the tank... However. If he is constantly flaring 24/7, then he will likely become overstressed and be susceptible to illness as a result. Also, as was mentioned by DieselJunki, he may eventually not flare at all and will eventually appear disinterested with any external stimulii...this will eventually lead to muscle degredation and, again, ill-health.

Could you try moving his tank someplace where there is an external light source coming into the tank? I ask this, because I have a Paradise Fish that will flare at the glass (like your Betta) as the room outside the tank darkens and the reflections within increase. I suspect something similar is happpening in your situation...the room outside your Betta's tank is darker than within, creating the reflection. If moving the tank is not possible, maybe try leaving the tank light off (if there is one) and turn it on in the evenings so that he can flare for a short while.

[Jspigs]

A small amount of flaring a day is fine, I myself have been known hold a mirror up to my Betta's tank to give him some exercise (but no more than five minutes a day). It is when it is happening constantly for long periods of time that it can stress a Betta out.

[echoofformless]

Most will get bored / used to it within a few days. If he doesn't, look for other options because stress can't be good in the long run.

[dustonthecabnit]

wow ! THanks everyone. The tank is not hex it is a acrylic , rounded corners, with a bow front. As far as the light being darker outside the tank , yes most of the time. He's in our office which we dont usually use the over head light. I think we'll try keeping his light off till the evening time. Again thanks im not so worried anymore!