Is This Normal Behavior

[barb-e]

Every time I come close to my male bettas tank he flares at me. When I feed him he flares. When I look at him he flares. Once I held my little puppy up infront of the tank and he actually flared at the puppy. He is in a healthy condition and very active. My two females would only flare at each other and he won't even look at his reflection. Is he a meany or is the flaring (for apparently no reason) normal?

 

[Phaedra]

Sounds like he's just very aggressive. As long as he's eating, swimming naturally and isn't exposed to fluctuating water temperatures (don't make the same mistake I did on that!), he's probably just a macho betta.

Also, I've noticed that my Darby will flare at me if the bedroom light is off and his tank light is on. He displays back and forth when I sit down to watch him, but never does it when the rest of the lights are on. (Although he has flared at my fiance before, but he doesn't often see him up close.)
How long have you had him? It's possible he's just not used to you yet and considers you a threat- silly fish!

 

[White Whale]

It's when they stop flaring should you be concerned. Mine flares all over, too, when the lights are out and the tank light is on. The darkness in the background makes the tank a 4-sided mirror.

 

[BettaFanTN]

I just got my little guy on Saturday and I am trying to get him to flare, but I can't seem to do it. I have a little mirror and he just swims away every time I try to hold it up. Maybe the bowl inhibts his ability to see his reflection? I want to see him flare!

 

[barb-e]

i've had him for about 3 weeks and i'm glad to here that he is okay.