Betta Behavior, No Love?

[PrairieSunflower]

I've now had my betta, Jimmy (as named by the kids) for 1 weeks and 1 day.  Yesterday I did the first partial water change (about 25% in the usual manner, temperature, dechlorinator, etc).
 
I don't know if it is related or some normal development but... why does my betta not love me today?  He isn't looking sick or anything... but he isn't coming to see me when I look in like he always has so far.  He will come over if I pop open the flap and dangle my fingers over the water... but otherwise, he is uninterested in me completely today.
 
WHY?

 

[Meeresstille]

It may be a sign that something is wrong, or maybe he's just having a "Mr. Grumpy Gills" day.
I'd check the temp and other water perimeters of the tank to be sure that I didn't miss anything. Maybe do a water change, just in case! 

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Right.... Ammonia is 0 nitrite might be 0-0.25 a bit hard to tell, nitrate 10, temperature is 78

 

[Meeresstille]

Are you using the API test kit? As I understand it can be sometimes difficult to read. But if you're not sure about the nitrite level I'd do a water change. 
 
I'm also a little worried he may have brought something with him when you bought him, with the signs only showing now. I'd be watching him closely for ich, maybe raise the temp a little, if he has ich this would speed up the cycle, do good gravel vacs and look into ich treatment options in case you need to treat him.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

I've got the necessary meds should I need them.  Hopefully it is nothing... thought we'd passed the time where it might be.  I will do a water change in a bit and hope that is what is needed.

 

[techen]

I think it may be due to it being a fish, As far as a fish brain goes. It can do what it pleases where is a dog learns due to having a bigger brain.
 
Of course they do get used to seeing you I wouldn't worry about it, He may have just lost interest in you and will be going around doing his own thing. I wouldn't push it and just leave it be :3

 

[JenJ]

I think it may be due to it being a fish

I love this advice

 

[TallTree01]

I think jimmy is just having the blues...


In all seriousness, keep an eye in him and the levels. Keep monitoring his behavior and appearance .

 

[Meeresstille]

What caught my eye initially was that you've had him for a week, and i guess that means you've just set up the tank for him. I saw from your posts that you're not new to fish keeping and gathered from that that you may have either used a filter that was running as a second filter on another tank, or you may have used filter material from a cycled tank to get an instant cycle on the new one.
 
I believe that sometimes a new set up like this could cause your ammonia and/or nitrite levels to go up slightly anyways! 
 
Hope it all turns out well for Jimmy, and he'll become his usual social self again!

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Oh, yes, the tank itself has been running for nearly 2 years with one fish or another in there before him.
 
Jimmy seems to now be taking a nap... something I've also not seen him do before.  He is full of rich color and unresponsive... I flicked the light off and on again to make sure.  (Bad me I'm sure!)


This is my first ever betta, have had goldfish (not for ages though), guppies, platies and neons (and shrimp and snails).
 
Bettas just seem "different" to me and I'm not all there with what is normal behavior.
 
I am feeling like after he has been ignoring me that he is now sleeping... just seems outside his usual behavior.

 

[Shelster]

They do tire themselves out frequently as they have all that finnage to swim around with all the time.

As he still has good colouration then I wouldn't be too worried, it's just bettas.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

I hope I get the hang of his personality soon.  He has been very mild mannered compared to all I've heard, but he has been active and always came to see us (even would come to the glass when I'd wave from across the room).

 

[Meeresstille]

He sounds like a fun little character, lol!

 

[PrairieSunflower]

I was telling my friend that if he could, Jimmy would roll his eyes at me with all the things I've held up to the tank to show him to see if he'd flare... he just won't flare.  He does like watching the fish in the other tank with a lot of interest.

 

[372xp]

I think it may be due to it being a fish, As far as a fish brain goes. It can do what it pleases where is a dog learns due to having a bigger brain.
 
Of course they do get used to seeing you I wouldn't worry about it, He may have just lost interest in you and will be going around doing his own thing. I wouldn't push it and just leave it be :3

My thoughts precisely Techen. My females cant get enough of me at feeding time, and thats not because I am an immaculate example of a male, its because they are hungry and I have food.
That being said they let me catch them by hand.
Keep an eye on him, look for signs that his fins start clamping, see if his nesting behavior is as usual, basically anything unusual other than the fact he is ignoring you. As Techen says he is a fish who knows what goes on in there heads.