Understanding My Betta's Behaviour

[Mr Melt]

Allright lads =)

Basically I think that my crowntail betta (Caesar) is exhibiting strange behaviour.

When I bought him he hid behind the plants in my tank; naturally as he has become used to the place he has started to swim around the front of the tank a lot more.

My problem is; I think hes started acting oddly. Although I know that Bettas will rest periodically on plants/gravel after a long swim I've noticed that Caesar is a bit more lethargic. He's been moping around and sticking to the bottom of the tank constantly for the past few days (although he does swim about, so I dont think hes overly stressed). I'm still not too sure though, as it seems that hes been resting far more frequently than before...

Is it normal? He lives alongside 2 Platies and 2 Endlers Livebearers, which are far more lively. I might be jumping at shadows but I think its better to be safe than sorry eh? =P

PS - my other fish like to nibble at EVERYTHING and often nibble at the ornaments and gravel. I know this is normal, yet Caesar does none of this. Is that normal for a Betta?

 

[Randomitity]

None of my bettas nibble on anything that doesn't look like food (like the ends of floating plants that have darkened) and it sounds like he is sulking since all my bettas stay about mid to top range

 

[Mr Melt]

Since this morning hes been a bit more active now. Not at the bottom anymore. Problem is - he still seems to be resting excessively.

I've just increased the temperature to 27oC - not too high for the other fish and it might make him more active =)

 

[Duz]

Roughly how long is he resting for? A few minutes or about 20seconds?

Think about it like this, what would you prefer to do get up and walk around or lie in bed all day. Each person or fish in this case is slightly different, some will rest more and others will be more active. So long as your water temp. and conditions aren't hostile in anyway I wouldn't be surprised with the behaviour. Just check thats he's still eating, fins are in ok condition and water conditions are reasonable. If all of them are ok then he should be fine.

When I had a betta, he just kept swimming for about 10seconds, then rested for 20seconds before starting it all over again. However, if he is resting for like 5minutes and then only swimming for about 10seconds then there maybe something wrong. Hope that helps.

 

[Mr Melt]

Roughly how long is he resting for? A few minutes or about 20seconds?

Think about it like this, what would you prefer to do get up and walk around or lie in bed all day. Each person or fish in this case is slightly different, some will rest more and others will be more active. So long as your water temp. and conditions aren't hostile in anyway I wouldn't be surprised with the behaviour. Just check thats he's still eating, fins are in ok condition and water conditions are reasonable. If all of them are ok then he should be fine.

When I had a betta, he just kept swimming for about 10seconds, then rested for 20seconds before starting it all over again. However, if he is resting for like 5minutes and then only swimming for about 10seconds then there maybe something wrong. Hope that helps.

About 20 seconds or so - not for very long but it still seems quite frequent.

He seems to have perked up - this morning I near had a heart attack when I woke up to see his ugly mug looking through the glass at me =P

 

[Duz]

By the sounds of it, thats just normal betta behaviour. I mean my betta was fine and like I said he swam for about 10seconds rested for 20seconds before repeating this until he died. Ok he did some how jump out of the tank and hop behind a photo frame over a foot away but other than that he was in a good condition Saying that I did get another betta and the behaviour was roughly the same. Both my bettas never had any problems and seemed perfectly happy in the taken. Just to be on the safe side check water conditions/temp., that the fins are ok and that he's eating. Other than that I reckon he should be ok.

 

[fuzzynicki]

I have one male betta who is constantly on the go and never seems to stop! I have another who swims in and out of his tardis ornament fairly frequently, but spends a lot of time resting on plant at the bottom of the tank. He's always been like this. I'm sure it's just down to personality rather than anything wrong

 

[Mr Melt]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I'm just being cautious - after all its my 1st Betta =)

They're just so different from other freshwater fish; should just take some getting used to.