Confused...

[ploaker54]

I bought my male Crowntail (Dr. Robert) about a month ago along with a betta starter kit which I disliked. He seemed bored in his little half gallon cube. I went out yesterday and spent some money on a 16" 5.5 gallon tank with a light fixture and some ornaments. It looks great and he seemed to enjoy it having all that room to himself. Though last night before I went to bed he was all flared up and looked pissed. I monitored him and saw he was staring at the glass, almost as if he saw his reflection. Obviously I can't crawl in there and see what he sees so I guess my question is can he see himself, and if he can, what can I do to prevent that? I don't want my little guy pissed off for nothing.

 

[wilsonnw8]

Backing paper is the way to go to avoid that! yeah you cant back the front or sides but a little flaring isnt harmful. In fact its healthy it shows he's enjoying the environment and male bettas flare when they're confident and enjoying themselves he's probably in his new tank just thinking
'Im the man' he will settle down. My males often did that in new tanks they soon calm down. the 'help my betta is crazy' post described the very same thing!

Good luck

 

[ploaker54]

Haha thanks Wilson, great help.

 

[Honeythorn]

Get some tall soft leaved plants ( real or silk false your choice ) and arrange them around the edges so he can see less of himself. He can also rest on the leaves and it will brighten up the tank and make things seem a lot more natural.

 

[blaxicanlatino]

it may even be that he sees something that may resemble a betta like a dark imgae or somethin. lol

 

[lilfishie]

he should get bored of it after a while, my male has only just started flaring and flares at nothing

 

[newfishy]

I use black construction paper taped to the back as a background. It super cheap and works perfect.

 

[azulfire24]

yep and that hides the unsightly wires hanging off the back too lol!

 

[Neon.Tetra]

In the local pet shop near me the betta's can see their reflections, they pace across from one side to the other, flaring. I guess it didn't help that some with tanks next to each other have fish with really 'flowy' fins.
There was a single standing tank near the till with a betta in, But in this tank he couldn't see his reflection. I tried to test its eyesight so I put my phone up to the tank. The screen lit up and the little guy was hesitant at first but when I lightly jiggled the phone he flared and followed it.
Made me laugh =]

I think I've read that they have bad eyesight somewhere before, but is it true?

 

[wilsonnw8]

Im not sure mine used to flare at the hikari betta packet because there are pictures of other betta on it so I had to keep hiding it in a draw otherwise he would flare at the packet all day long

 

[tibby25731]

haha, don't worry about him flaring! Like Honeythorn said, some plants around the edges mean he will not catch sight of himself as much, and a background is always a good plan, makes the tank look nicer. Congrats on getting him his own big bachelor pad, I bet he is over the moon! See if you can get him solething he can swin through too, mine love swimming through arches etc.