Flaring

[Haych]

right, quick question, can over flaring injure/tire/exhaust male bettas?

the reason i ask is, the two new boys have arrived (will add pics to my thread later) and since they spotted each other they havent stopped displaying and flaring lol!

they should be relaxed enough i left them to gently float for 2 hours (very cold last night) with the lights off and when i got back to them they had all their full colours back too

 

[loraxchick]

they will eventually get bored of the "game" and give up. make sure you have a place for them to hide from seeing the other guy in case they need a rest. i wouldnt worry about it being stressful as lots of folks say. in my experience, they will flare like mad for a time (could be hours, could be days) and then give up because they cant get to the other fish only to go back for the occasional game of scare your neighbor. right now they are brand new in their "territories" and will sort it out themselves and it will become less frequent.. not to worry. too many folks on here equate flaring to stress. ive never seen my boys stressed over it. they do it when they want and just swim away when theyve had enough.
good luck with the new set-up..the 2 new guys are very nice!
cheers

 

[Haych]

thank you, thats what i was worried about, if flaring can stress them and tire them.

i know a little flaring can release endorphines just didnt know about constant lol

thanks for clearing it up

 

[loraxchick]

it must be tireing but as long as they have somewhere to get away from seeing their neighor, theyll be just fine.
cant wait to see the whole set-up with all the inhabitants
cheers

 

[Knox213]

Yep they eventully get tired and stressed form falring as they apparntly hold all the air in to make them selfs look bigger?

Something like that..

Apparntly it use's alot of energy

they should stop soon.

 

[loraxchick]

in my experience, they go to the surface often when they flare. not "holding it in to look bigger" as mentioned above. in all honesty, i think folks get too "involved" with the supposed stress flaring causes bettas. in fact, i have one boy who flare literally for HOURS a day. at the snails. at the plants. at the bubbles from the sponge filter. at the heater light. when he's had enough he goes for a nice relax on his plants, or in his slate cave. as long as they have a "safe spot" they will be fine. i permanantly have a mirror hung in another tank for a tialbiter and he now completely ignores the reflection altogether. they will give up the game with no problems to themselves.
cant wait for more fishies in that tank haych! looks GREAT so far
and if you are having trouble with your plants, i may be able to help there as well.
cheers!

 

[Tortea]

My betta never flares, even with mirror, But i love him just the way he is

 

[Haych]

in my experience, they go to the surface often when they flare. not "holding it in to look bigger" as mentioned above. in all honesty, i think folks get too "involved" with the supposed stress flaring causes bettas. in fact, i have one boy who flare literally for HOURS a day. at the snails. at the plants. at the bubbles from the sponge filter. at the heater light. when he's had enough he goes for a nice relax on his plants, or in his slate cave. as long as they have a "safe spot" they will be fine. i permanantly have a mirror hung in another tank for a tialbiter and he now completely ignores the reflection altogether. they will give up the game with no problems to themselves.
cant wait for more fishies in that tank haych! looks GREAT so far
and if you are having trouble with your plants, i may be able to help there as well.
cheers!

thanks for the advice. they do have a break, then start again lol.

what were you stinking with the plants?

 

[Haych]

ok, sorry to nag, but last night Terry had stress lines so i put Nemo the other end of the tank, but this morning BOTH fish were miserable.

So, I put Nemo back in the compartment next to Terry and they both immediately perked up and flared.

Yet, Terry yet again has stress lines. Do i move Nemo and leave them sulking, or will his stress levels go down again?

any advice appreciated

 

[soph_betta]

ok, sorry to nag, but last night Terry had stress lines so i put Nemo the other end of the tank, but this morning BOTH fish were miserable.

So, I put Nemo back in the compartment next to Terry and they both immediately perked up and flared.

Yet, Terry yet again has stress lines. Do i move Nemo and leave them sulking, or will his stress levels go down again?

any advice appreciated

Maybe terry likes to flair and see the other fish but he might be getting stress lines as nemo is flairing back.....
Maybe try him with another betta thats a bit more laid back and not so bothered by terry flairing

 

[loraxchick]

if you leave them where they are, they will eventually get used to each other.
if you move them they may sulk for a few days but should eventually perk back up (these are "new" fish in "new surroundings..bettas are known sulkers as im sure you are aware..the presence of the other fish offers them some stimulation in the new environment).
either way, it may take a few days to let them sort it out themselves.
if it were me, id just leave them. they should be fine i na week or so even housed next to each other.
cheers

 

[Haych]

ok thank you. will leave them where they are then.

i was so confused lol, he looked really stressed, never had to cope with more than one betta before!

 

[loraxchick]

rest assured they will eventually grow tired (meaning bored) of the flaring game. once one of them gives up, they most likely both will. just give it time.
cheers

 

[coolguy]

put some fish drugs in there to calm them down. being high is way more fun than smashing your face against clear plastic/glass

 

[loraxchick]

^^superb advice