About betta hammocks.

So I ended up getting Corvo a Zoo Med Labs hammock and positioned it about 3/4 of an inch below the surface and away from any flowing water. That was about 2 weeks ago, and interestingly, my betta doesn't seem to use it, or at least not that I have observed. His tankmate, on the other hand, loves to use it (he's a ghost shrimp lol). He likes to hang around up there during feeding to snag anything that floats by.

I usually see him down lower in the tank during the night hours, or hiding in a little alcove at the top of an artificial piece of driftwood. So my question is, is a hammock really a necessity? Do some bettas simply not use them, or do they learn after a while? I find it interesting, seeing as he's a labyrinth fish, that he'd sleep towards the bottom of the tank. Then again, my gourami does the same thing.

 

My bettas never used theirs. They aren't necessary. I have floating betta logs for my bettas to hang out it, they use those the majority of the time they rest, but I also catch them sleeping on the bottom of the tank as well.

 

I knew I should have gone with the log!

 

I don't have a hammoc, but my betta does have a log. Interestingly enough, that's where my bn pleco hangs out.
My betta seems to prefer wedging homself between the plants, or sleeping in his skull. I have plenty of leafy plants at the surface, but he seems to prefer sleeping mid/bottom level.
I think I have a weirdo.

 

When I got a betta hammock for my second betta, he jumped right on it and used it frequently during the day and seemed to sleep there over night. Once he moved into his half of the divided 10 g, he hardly ever uses it. The third betta never used his, and the first betta never got one because he has an anubias with leaves right under the surface. He got a betta log, though, which is the favorite hangout of my horned nerites. My betta swims through it once in a while, that's it.

 

Mine never uses his. He did for a while, but then just gave it up. Recently, he has been sleeping on the bottom the majority of the time. Now that he's got some new plants, he does sleep in those a bit, but he still seems to prefer bottom dwelling, near his (apparently) favorite small plant.

Doesn't pay any attention to the hammock though.

 

My betta used his right away after I fed him over it once, he took a real liking to it - but it also depended on what tank he was in (he moved from a 1 gallon to a 10 gallon to a 6 gallon) and the water level of the tank.

He had the hammock and log and preferred the hammock. The only time I saw him using the log was the week he died.

 

If they are like kids, maybe they'll like the box better. lol

 

I have a betta hammock and a floating log. One day the floating log stopped right by the hammock, and my betta loves to hang out half on the leaf and half inside the log. His front part on the leaf and his tail inside the log.

 

Lol, sorry, another bigtime newbie question, but what are betta hammocks and what exactly r they for?

 

My betta never used his lol. She would just past it.

Lol, sorry, another bigtime newbie question, but what are betta hammocks and what exactly r they for?

Hello Anon123,
Betta hammocks are used so the betta can rest

 

Interestingly, my betta has learned that a hollow in some decorative plastic driftwood is the PERFECT place to take a nap lol. Completely ignores the hammock. I am planting some amazon swords and java ferns in there soon, so maybe he'll like those better.

 

My betta never used his lol. She would just past it.



Hello Anon123,
Betta hammocks are used so the betta can rest

Why don't betas rest on the floor like other fish when they sleep?

 

Why don't betas rest on the floor like other fish when they sleep?

Some do, but a lot of bettas like to rest on tall plants. Bettas can take gulps of air from the surface, and often like to sleep higher up in the tank so they don't have to swim as much to get a gulp of air.

 

A betta hammock is basically a broad silk/plastic leaf with a suction cup attached, so it can be placed wherever you want.

 

You can google "Betta Bed Leaf Hammock" to get an idea what it looks like. My betta never uses his. It finally fell off and is now in the bottom of the tank with the other plants. He prefers either wedging himself between the plants and the glass, usually nose up- or with his chin on the filter and rear behind the heater. Sometimes you can't even see him and all of a sudden he effortlessly rises from somewhere and moves to the from of the tank for food (cue Jaws music).