Could My Betta Be Blind?

[Serbrider]

I honestly hadn't thought of this. I thought he was just lazy... but now I'm thinking he might be blind, or at least partially blind. I've looked for cloudy eye, pop eye, etc. Nothing. But this is what I'm noticing:

He is obviously happy, there are lots of bubble nests (gonna have to clear them out when I do another water change tomorrow), his color is great. But he barely moves. I mean, he'll swim to one place or another... but mostly he just sits on a plant I have in his tank. 90% of the time when I take a look at him, he's there.

I thought he wasn't eating, but he is... I just have to put the food right up to his face, or put a whole bunch in. Otherwise there's no reaction. At all. I can put my hand literally half an inch from him, but unless I move the water or move something on him, he won't move, and then he gets all indignant and upset, and flares a bit, and then almost runs into the other side of the tank, where he then lies and sulks for a bit, before going back up to his happy leaf.

I've put mirrors in next to him... no reaction at all, unless I move the water a bit to where he can feel something.

All levels are safe. 0 Nitrate, 0 Nitrite, 0 Ammonia, all of that. He gets two pellets twice a day (they are tiny pellets). But yeah, he has no trouble swimming, but it's almost as though he has trouble doing so, and tends to swim a little too far, and has to make a tight turn, or whatever.

So... yeah. Thoughts?

 

[creeker]

If he was blind, how could he keep finding that same leaf? Bettas do seem to be calm and slow most of the time. Put a mirror up to him and see what happens.

 

[Serbrider]

I don't know how he keeps finding the leaf (though he's on different leafs each time, just in the same corner). It's a big plant... maybe he remembers where it is? I did put a mirror in front of him. Zero reaction. Put my finger literally an inch from his face, moved it around, even "tapped" quickly, no reaction at all.

 

[creeker]

Well then, it does sound like he has a vision problem.

 

[Serbrider]

If he does, is there anything special I should be doing? Right now I feed him and watch until I see him eat two to three pellets and then I scoop any leftovers out... but otherwise... just sort of leave him... but I read something about blind/partially blind bettas needing to be in a smaller tank? But if my guy's happy and healthy in his current tank... why move him? He already knows his way around, and so on...

 

[creeker]

If he does, is there anything special I should be doing? Right now I feed him and watch until I see him eat two to three pellets and then I scoop any leftovers out... but otherwise... just sort of leave him... but I read something about blind/partially blind bettas needing to be in a smaller tank? But if my guy's happy and healthy in his current tank... why move him? He already knows his way around, and so on...

I think you answered your own question. If he's doing well just leave him be.

 

[lilfishie]

Bettas are very quick learners so it is possible he is atleast partially blind and still finding his favourite plant

have you tried tapping the glass when you feed? i do this with my bettas they now know the tap means food is coming which is important in my female tank to make sure they all get some

 

[HayzH]

I honestly hadn't thought of this. I thought he was just lazy... but now I'm thinking he might be blind, or at least partially blind. I've looked for cloudy eye, pop eye, etc. Nothing. But this is what I'm noticing:

He is obviously happy, there are lots of bubble nests (gonna have to clear them out when I do another water change tomorrow), his color is great. But he barely moves. I mean, he'll swim to one place or another... but mostly he just sits on a plant I have in his tank. 90% of the time when I take a look at him, he's there.

I thought he wasn't eating, but he is... I just have to put the food right up to his face, or put a whole bunch in. Otherwise there's no reaction. At all. I can put my hand literally half an inch from him, but unless I move the water or move something on him, he won't move, and then he gets all indignant and upset, and flares a bit, and then almost runs into the other side of the tank, where he then lies and sulks for a bit, before going back up to his happy leaf.

I've put mirrors in next to him... no reaction at all, unless I move the water a bit to where he can feel something.

All levels are safe. 0 Nitrate, 0 Nitrite, 0 Ammonia, all of that. He gets two pellets twice a day (they are tiny pellets). But yeah, he has no trouble swimming, but it's almost as though he has trouble doing so, and tends to swim a little too far, and has to make a tight turn, or whatever.

So... yeah. Thoughts?

Nitrates are 0??? have you cycled your filter?

 

[Serbrider]

Perhaps it's not 0... but it was the lowest amount I could measure... I thought it was 0 though. No, I didn't cycle the tank 8 months ago, that was before I semi-knew what I was doing.

And thanks guys. I'll try tapping the glass everytime I feed...