Betta flaring at reflection

[caitylee]

We just got a new crown tail betta yesterday. We put him in a 5.5g tank with a background. He is seeing his reflection in the background. What can we do to minimize this? Do you think he will stress himself out flaring at himself all the time?

 

[msjinkzd]

My betta did this for the first week or so that I had him. After he settled in to his new home, the behavior stopped for the most part. If you are very concerned, you could put some tall plants in the back of hte tank to minimize how much of the background he can see. I would think he will settle down as he gets used to his new tank though.

 

[Lady G]

All my males flair at themselves, he will be fine. He most likely will quite doing it as much, mine just love to flair I believe...they will flair at their reflection and they will swim over to where I am and give me a quick flair here and there when I'm in the room with them. My boy that is by the computer always swims over and gives me flairs here and there, he just wants to show off I think

Just think if you had been in a really small container for a while with out being able to move much....then you were able to move around, wouldn't you do as much as you could at first.

 

[caitylee]

The reason I ask is because Sky our halfmoon as never did it, and was out playing in the current with in a few hours.... but he came from a breeder online.... who took care of him... Midnight we rescued from petco because we couldnt bare to think of him going to a cold bowl....

 

[Spewn]

They're all different. My betta flares at my finger poked into the water, and has even bit bit me when I was planting a wisteria.

 

[Marinemom]

I think this is quite normal especially in the beginning.After he settles down in his new tank he most likely will not do it as often. My new kitten that i have when she first saw herself in the mirror tried to attack herself thinking it was another cat.Now she could care less. I guess this kind of thing happens in other species too not just fish. I would think that his flaring will slow down and this is nothing much to worry about.

Marinemom

 

[khombre]

When I installed a black background to my tank, my betta started flaring at it mainly because he saw his own reflection. He did stop on his own after about 3 hours and I haven't seen him flare at the direction of the black background again. I don't know if that will always be the case but let him be for the meantime and see if he learns how to stop flaring at himself.

Good luck