Betta Still Pacing Against Glass

Hello everyone,

My betta keeps swimming against the glass, pacing at the front of the tank or at the sides. I'm not sure if he's doing this because he's stressed or if its just normal betta behavior?

Just some information:
-10 gallon tank with lots of live plants and some driftwood and rocks
-parameters: 0 ppm ammonia / 0 ppm nitrite / 5ppm nitrates
-tank mates are 3 ghost shrimps and a mystery snail that he never cares about (was only "curious" about them at the beginning, didn't harm them and doesn't care about them now) I mostly have the snails to help clean up algae and the ghosts so my betta can snack on the eggs.

Sometimes he does go through his tank but mostly he swims at the glass (not touching the glass though). I'm just concerned because I thought it was a matter of him getting used to his tank but he's been in his tank for 3 weeks now

Any response is appreciated, Thank you!

 

Did he come from a smaller tank? I’ve heard some say it takes a while to get use to all that room. Also, if he’s like mine and many others I’ve read about, maybe he’s bored? How to entertain a fish right? Lol get him a cozy cave and hammock, change things up a bit. Try to get him to flare at a mirror, just a few minutes at a time though.

 

Did he come from a smaller tank? I’ve heard some say it takes a while to get use to all that room.

Oh that's interesting! Ive never heard that! He came from the small cups at Petsmart so yes lol.

Also, if he’s like mine and many others I’ve read about, maybe he’s bored? How to entertain a fish right? Lol get him a cozy cave and hammock, change things up a bit. Try to get him to flare at a mirror, just a few minutes at a time though.

Really though! I have thought that if he's not stressed then he might be bored so I got him everything you mentioned and he investigates for awhile and then its back to pacing. But pacing so much isn't normal is it though? :/

 

Whoops, I deleted my thought of "maybe he's just very active/likes pacing a lot?" before the last sentence

 

Both my paradise fish and my Scarlet Badis did the same thing the first time they were introduced to their new tank. They're just really curious of everything within and surrounding the tank.

 

Aw, okay. That makes me feel less worried if its just normal fish behavior. How long were they like that?

 

He might be able to see his reflection in the glass and go after that

 

Yes I think he does, because he does flare at his reflection a lot :/ but I'm not sure what to do about that

 

He might be able to see his reflection in the glass and go after that

Do you have a background? If you have a solid color (especially black or white) it’s really easy to see a reflection. You can add some tall plants or decorations near the glass to break up the light.

 

I'll re-plant and do that

 

My female VT did that, but now she's like "Ok, I've been here for a month, I've seen all there is to see" haha