Bettas...glass aquariums???

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Murphy

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Hi everyone,
I am trying to find an answer to a perplexing question. I got myself a male Betta a while ago, and felt badly for the little guy to just be swimming around in a little bowl. I decided to put him in an aquarium. Because he was so little and all alone, I decided to go with a 2.5 gallon tank. (Yeah, I know...I know. I have since found all kinds of difficulties that go along with a tank that size.)
However, my question is this. He is not yet set up in the tank due to MANY unforseen difficulties. But as I was setting it up to get it ready for its new occupant, I noticed that the inside walls are HIGHLY reflective. The tank is all-glass. My little guy is more than slightly aggressive and I was wondering how the wall reflection will affect his stress levels. Will I actually be able to put him into the tank, or is he forever destined to remain in my glass mixing bowl.
I've gone to a lot of effort to try to put together a nice home for him. I even BUILT him a rock tunnel. (Yes...I sterilized them all first and used aquaium silicone for mortar.) I was going to try to figure out how to make him his own rice paddy, but gave up on that idea. Obviously, he is a very spoiled little guy.
As a matter of fact, I liked him and his personality so much, yup...I got another! So needless to say, I now really need an answer to my question because it looks like I'll be doing it again. Any comments and suggestions to anyone has come across this situation before will be greatly appreciated.
 
Put him in. If he flares a lot, cover the sides with plants like java moss, or put a bit of paper behind the glass.
 
the glass shouldn't be reflective on the inside, since it's just a piece of glass. Unless your tank was made with a one way mirror, of course.

When you look in the front of the glass, it's not terribly reflective, (unless you have the lights off in the tank and on in the room). I think you're looking at the tank from an angle, causing it to appear reflective; stick your head inside the tank and look out and see! (hehehe)
 
Lol, pseud... That's one way to find out if it's reflective. It's also a great way to get your head stuck in a fishbowl. :lol:
Well, I think he'll live with it. As suggested before, you can always put a peice of paper behind it to stop the reflection some. :nod:
BTW, welcom to the forums!!! :D :hi:
 
I have a tank similar to what you are talking about. When I first put my betta in it he swam around and flared at himself all over the tank. Once he settled in he stopped flaring at the walls, but I know of others who have had to move their bettas to different types of tanks because the fish stay aggressive and stress themselves out. You might want to check with some of the members on the betta forum. They have a lot of great ideas! :nod:
 
He will flare alot at first if the tank is very reflective. After a while though he will get used to his own reflection and be much more relaxed.

Just remember, flaring is actually GOOD for bettas. It means they spread their fins wide apart and make use of their gill covers, so it keeps them clean and there would be less chance of fin rot!

Ben
 
I have a 10-gallon glass aquarium that is home to my betta, Percy, and I have no problems.

Clean, well-machined glass will reflect if you look at it from certain angles in certain light, but it won't reflect from the inside much (if at all) once you fill it with water. Water "bends" and mutes the light so much that it's just not an issue. Personally, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

pendragon!
 
My betta is in a 10 gallon tank, and the only time he flares at himself is when the tank lights are on and the room is very dark. The rest of the time he doesn't seem to see his reflection.
 
you could fill it with water, then stick you noggin in (without your betta obviously!), i got a buddy who works in a glass and glazing company and he reckons that glass CANT reflect when submerged in water, the flaring that some of the other guys have mentioned, without meaning to cause offense, could be caused with the stess of moving or as stated cos its good for them. this is NOT actually facts but only what i've been told, so apologies if its wrong
 
It seems to me with my Bettas, that no matter what tank they are in, or whether they can see other Bettas or not, they will flare. They seem to just do it for fun sometimes, and don't appear stressed in any other way.

In saying that I got a new Betta yesterday, loaded with personality i.e. riding the current of the filter in his new tank, and just basically having a good time, hasn't eaten yet. Maybe he doesn't know what flake food is because he just chased the flakes around the tank as they were moving in the current! :lol:

I'm not concerned about him. I think he'll be fine, just waiting to see if he'll eat something different tonight. Don't want to put the balance of the tank out or anything....

:fun: Luv my new Betta
 
dammit Pseud!

I just stuck my head in my 125 Gal and overflowed the tank and got my ear nipped by an Oscar! Thats the last time I'm taking advice from a fish forum :p

jk,
Toby
 
xanthianacid said:
In saying that I got a new Betta yesterday, loaded with personality i.e. riding the current of the filter in his new tank, and just basically having a good time, hasn't eaten yet. Maybe he doesn't know what flake food is because he just chased the flakes around the tank as they were moving in the current! :lol:
i think bettas need a soft current, i could be wrong on this but you'd do well to check in the betta forum, when i had one id was in a 90litre tank so it hid behind the filter to escape the current or over the other side of the tank.

and mine only ever took bloodworm or brineshrimp no flakes!
 

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