Red1313

I upgraded my boy Coolie to a 5.5 gal tank.
I did it: a) b/c he's my fav and felt guilty that he didn't have the biggest tank. b) b/c his tank and I have been having issues (noisey filters, can't cut a glass canopy, too small for most heaters, ect.) c) b/c there was no really good way to light his tank.

So now he's in a 5.5 gal with heater, and his old filter (for a week or two till I'm sure that the new one has the bacteria established).

He's happy I'm happy, the only problem? I turn on the light at the top of the tank and he flares at his reflection constantly. In fact all he does is sit there and stare at it. Any way to fix that?

Martinismommy

Is it a hex tank?

Red1313

No just a plain rectangluar one w two incandecent bulbs.

Martinismommy

He'll probably get over it in time.....Putting a backdrop on the tank might help....Mine all did that at first but they toned down after they realized the fish wasn't fighting back lol

Red1313

ok thanks. I wasn't sure if it was something that I should be concerned about or not. I guess that it's probably a sign that he's settling in.

BlueLouis

One of my Bettas (King Louis) did that for a few days after I got him. He would go up and down one side of the tank, flared up, trying to figure out how to get to the other fish. He's pretty much stopped doing that but still does it once in a while.

jdhef

They seem more inclined to do that when the tank lights are on, but the room is dark. I think that gives a better reflection. So if the room lights are off when that happens, you could try turning them on.

COBettaCouple

Is he still flaring? Something that often helps with the rectangular tanks is a low-watt lamp near the tank.

RandomKayos

Bingo!!

I wouldn't really recommened it but if you were to stick your head into the tank you would see that if the room is brighter than the tank there is no reflection inside. From the outside you might see a reflection on the ends but not from inside.

When the lighting is reversed, you see reflections from all around. I would advise a lamp outside the tank to counter this. Its the same thin in your house. During the day, you see out very well but most often, from the outside they just see a reflection. At night you have the reflection and anyone outside gets a good view. So keep your curtins closed at night.

On the other hand, seeing another fish occasionally is not an issue. And Betta's kept in sight of one another will eventually ignore the one next to them. I rotate mine every so often just to keep thier life interesting.

RK

Sam Livingston

Backdrop is definitely great idea here, he probably will get over it in time but quickest solution would be green or so backdrop to take his reflection away. Funny how fish react to reflection, my puffers would have nothing to do if they didn't go up and down the tank watching themselves all day. Puffers are definitely the primadonna's of the sea world.

Red1313

He's stopped for the most part now. Leaving a light on outside does definetly help. My two other tanks don't have lights so I have to leave a lamp on for them anyways.
Thanks everyone!!!