Betta Keeps Chasing His Reflection

[Odysseus]

Unless my betta is eating or the lights are off he is constantly following his reflection on the side of the 10 gallon tank. Is he bored or does he think it is another betta? What can I do about it? He literally does this for hours.

 

[SouthernCross]

My bettas do this when the room lights are off and the tank lights are on - it increases the reflection in the glass, and yes they think its another fish and so flare and try to attack it.

Are there lights on in the room where your tank is?
If there aren't, when his tank light is on make sure the rest of the room is bright too and it will cut down on the reflection.

 

[knt5005]

One of my bettas would do that for hours on end as well. He had no problem with it, but just be sure he's not stressing himself too much.

 

[Lynda B]

It's not healthy for him to flare that much. Do what you can to eliminate the reflection. Maybe some plants up the side of the tank? Is he actually flaring or is he just swimming in full finnage? My male loves to open up completely when swimming. But he's not flaring.

 

[Straydum]

while its fun to watch, yeah too much aint good. i normally cover the sides with black paper when there's light which causes the reflections

 

[Odysseus]

He isn't flaring or anything. He just keeps chasing his reflection all the way to the left, and then to the right. He then repeats that for hours on end. He isn't doing it now because all the lights are off.

 

[Lynda B]

How do you know he sees his reflection?

And, all of my bettas immediately become inactive when the lights go off.... and they sleep/rest.

 

[llamalord305]

Well, mine goes full on flare and finnage and tries to attack his reflection when his tank light is on. Feisty Boy. When the blind are open behind his tank he's normal.

 

[merry78]

as well as being a territorial display, this sounds a bit like stereotypical behaviour from boredom. fish can make themselves sick from stress doing this, can you increase the live plants/rearrange his environment/improve his water quality at all? even just spending more time sitting at the tank to distract him could help.