TFA101

Mr. Mango Tropical Sunburst will not flare at his reflection or anything of brighter colors, except for a real betta that isn't a reflection. I can't get him to flare for friends or anything. Only for me will he spread his fins to a great extent they almost tear, and he seems to be interested in me only. Like a puppy. He'll eat only when I feed him (I'm serious!) and he only comes to the front of the tank when I'm in the room. I tried to show him to my mother last night, and he hid behind the filter. as soon as she left, he came right out and spread his fins for me. Then again, he'll only flare his fins. He wants to flare his gills, but he does it for a half second and then retracts them. He's perfectly healthy, very active, no signs of injury or disease, much more active than Dusty ever was and he just wont spread his gills. Everything I want in a betta, subtracting the gill flareing. Is he just mellow? Cause his gill covers are intact, ammonia is 0, as is everything else except for the nitrates, which are 5-10, and he's just a normal happy betta. I'm confuzzled...

jdhef

Mine doesn't seem to interested in his onw reflection in a mirror either. I've only seen him flare his gills once or twice. It was right after I got back from being away a few days on vacation. I think he was trying to tell me something.

Maybe Mr Mango and Sid Fishious are long lost brothers.

Lonely Angel

I think some bettas just don't flare much. Riley won't flare at anything, and Toby just flared for the first time last week (at a Nemo fish pin ) On the other hand, Mic will flare at everything from the siphon to a bubble that he'd just spit out! It really just depends on the personality of the betta.

TFA101

I guess he's just very mellow. And a one person fish.

COBettaCouple

Our Teddy Bear is like that. Very mellow, a real sweetheart. He only flared when he was flirting with Kairi in the next tank, before we lost her.

chickadee

You have a baby who is so attached to his parent that he loves you and only you. Once in a while we find one who will only respond to one person. This is one hurdle to overcome to make this little guy get used to the world in general. Try fasting him for a day and then having someone else giving him his food for the meal he gets to eat the first time after not eating for a whole day. It will not hurt him but may make him a little more accepting of another person. The real danger of having one who will not take anything from anyone but you is that if something happens and you cannot be there for him he may not allow them to care for him at all and get sick or even die from lack of care. You may want to have this person be the only one feeding him until he will at least eat one time from them. You can still pay attention to him and talk to him and play with him but let the food come from another person.

Rose

TFA101

I guess you have a point, I'll try that.

Martinismommy

My old boy Will has NEVER in his life flared at me or anything else for that matter..I think each fish has their own personality and some are more aggressive than others..

TFA101

ah well, either way, I love my Mango anyway

COBettaCouple

He's a special one.. the really mild ones like that seem to want & need more attention than the others. They're total lovers-not-fighters.

TFA101

I've noticed, Mango is always wanting me to feed him, play with him, and he just gives me those puppydog eyes. But yeah, is really quite hyper. Lot's more active than he was in his torture cup... lots more active than any betta I've seen. I'll post a video when I can.

Barbrella

I also had a gentle little guy who flared once in all the time I had him. I think some are just lovers and not fighters!

Here's my little sweetie.

Attached Images

283001057.jpg (99.4 KB, 3 views)

COBettaCouple

Yea, he lives for your attention .. and food. He's got a great home and is obviously very happy.

chickadee

Diablo won't flare either and Qwin is getting more mellow with being a bigger brother now. But Ariel is my puppydog. He doesn't flare and gives me those little eyes when I walk in the room. I could just melt. I think when you are gentle with them they kind of lose their naughty nature.

Rose

Devon

It really does sound like this is just your boy's personality. They are all so different and unique. My David Bowie doesn't care to get macho even when I show him a mirror -- the only time he will flare is when he can see Esteban in the next tank, and even then Bowie quickly gets bored and just wants to me to feed and pet (yes, pet) him. -_-"
Esteban, on the other hand, flares at just about anything -- his own reflection, a sudden movement, my fingers, nothing in particular as long as he knows he's being watched...
Just be glad that Mr Mango seems content, healthy, and happy to have you as his owner.

TFA101

he seems much happier than Dusty was. I think Dusty just had a bug from wal mart. I got my Mango from my LFS, and they get theirs from not-so-local breeders, so it's literally a guarantee that this betta was healthy (but in his cup, not necessarily happy). I'm so glad I picked him up. Such a good little boy. But now I'm itching to get another one. *chants* MTS! MTS!

Devon

Do it! Do it!!

COBettaCouple

LOL, one of our new boys (Jericho) will find it tough to give up his naughty ways, he even flares when he's given kisses.