Flaring up the hee haw... normal?

HI everyone,

I just got my betta a couple weeks ago and the last few days he has been flaring like crazy, and usually at nothing in particular. At first he did it at his platy tank mates (which lasted about 3 or 4 days because he seemed to be plotting to hack them), then he started doing it when I was taking a bunch of pictures of him the other night and I thought maybe the flash was annoying him. But now that I got him his own new tank he's been swimming around and flaring at my living room from all angles. I'll walk into the room from behind him and catch him flaring at the wall. Is this his way of staking claim to his territory or is he maybe young and "practicing"?

Here's a picture of his flaring, though I'm sorry for the poor quality. He wouldn't stand still for me.

 

He's probably flaring at his reflection in the glass. This usually stops in a few days when they get used to it. You can try darkening his tank until he feels comfortable and safe in his new tank and give him light for short periods until he gets used to the reflection. Do you have lots of plants in the tank? Plants can help block some reflection and give him a sense of security.

 

Ahh, I didn't realize he could see himself! I'll definitely take your advice with the light. He only has one plant in his tank now because I just got it today (urgent situation since I thought he was going to kill my platies) but I plan on getting stocked up on Tuesday when Petsmart gets their new shipment in.

 

Also he's excited in his new surroundings (you just moved him to the 5 gal right?)...he should settle down in a few days. As long as he doesn't flare for like 5 or 10 minutes without rest, and the flaring decreases after a few days, there shouldn't be anything to worry about.

 

Oscar my betta does the same thing only he'll just be swimmin mindin' his own business then he just flares at nothing. Miley

 

Ok, we'd like to also become members of "Parents of Bettas who flare at nothing". Our little Aslan just seems to get in these moods where he'll do the flaring at whatever mood, usually at nothing but sometimes at us while we talk to him. Then he'll get out of the mood for a while, but always seems to get back in it. He's such a little character - gotta love these Bettas!

Funny how he has coloring a lot like Genie too. Does your betta still do this or has he stopped?

 

Aslan does look pretty similar to Genie from what I can see. His flaring has gotten to be a lot less, but my red CT Viggo (pic under my username) does it ALL the time when the tank is lit and the room is dark. I've had him for several months now so I wish he would relax because I'm worried that it stresses him. But I don't want to keep his tank dark all the time so I'm still hoping that he gets used to things.

 

Aslan does look pretty similar to Genie from what I can see. His flaring has gotten to be a lot less, but my red CT Viggo (pic under my username) does it ALL the time when the tank is lit and the room is dark. I've had him for several months now so I wish he would relax because I'm worried that it stresses him. But I don't want to keep his tank dark all the time so I'm still hoping that he gets used to things.

Our little Mario was like that.. he loved flaring when only the tank light's on.. Doesn't seem to be something Sora or Aslan care much to do though. I better cover up that picture of Viggo or my wife will want him He looks like a beauty of a red CT. If you have any bigger pics of him, she'd love to see them.

 

Here's a link to some pics I posted of Viggo before:



I can never seem to get a clear picture of him! I was happy to find him at Petco because I don't see very many super reds there. He's pretty mellow during the daytime and he always come up front to the glass and stares at me for hours on end when I'm working at my computer. When I turn my head and catch him staring he'll turn around and start swimming back and forth like "What? Huh? Me? I wasn't staring." It's cute but I miss the early days when he swam all over the place because I wonder if he's bored now.

 

Here's a link to some pics I posted of Viggo before:

I can never seem to get a clear picture of him! I was happy to find him at Petco because I don't see very many super reds there. He's pretty mellow during the daytime and he always come up front to the glass and stares at me for hours on end when I'm working at my computer. When I turn my head and catch him staring he'll turn around and start swimming back and forth like "What? Huh? Me? I wasn't staring." It's cute but I miss the early days when he swam all over the place because I wonder if he's bored now.

Thanks, he is a beauty of a red - a true find among the Petco Bettas. We're not sure we've ever seen one so brilliantly red at ours and we're in there a LOT. He sounds like a little character. Great idea putting him by the computer - We want to do that myself when we can. How often do you feed him a half-pea? When did you last change his tank decor all around on him? Maybe that'd get him in that curious mode - of course when I did that to our little Mario, he would be curious (especially if I swapped some decor) but he'd flare at me for a day for having the nerve to mess with his stuff.. funny because he wouldn't flare at my wife.. He knew who was the culprit.

Oh yea.. while we were watching tv & our bettas an idea popped in my head about Genie and his flaring at nothing. Is there a TV or monitor where he'd be able to see it or the color/brightness from it? I was watching Aslan, who does what Genie does, and I'm starting to wonder if the TV and what's on it might inspire some, most or even all of his mystery flaring.