Just added our first Betta, we may be paranoid but is it normal to hide alot?

10gal Aqueon tank with heater, fully cycled. Last readings (done before and after adding our brand new Betta) showed perfect levels for everything. Tank is 78~ maybe 80deg, hard to tell on the thermometer but for sure within spec as far as I can tell.

We added the Betta today after acclimating him to the temps in his cup. He swam around a bit, attacked the glass, checked out a few plants, and a few times just floated near the surface. I added a couple pellets of food (not sure when he was last fed) but he didn't go for it, that's ok I assume for now.

I turned the light off in case he was "scared" of his new home and figured it may de-stress the move. The last few hours he's just hiding. Sometimes literally wrapped around the base of one of the plants, and now lately pressed up against the back of the "cave" decoration like he is a ninja trying to hide along a wall. I'm leaving him be and because we lost a few goldfish way early on in this hobby start maybe I'm just paranoid.

Is it normal for Betta's to basically "hide" along the bottom or behind decorations when added to a new tank? I'm sure I know the answer, just need to re-affirmation.

Attached some pics from the first hour he was added. I didn't snap any of him hiding because the light is off and I didn't want to flash him.

 

Yeah, it can be pretty normal. Over the years, i have found that some of them hide a lot at first, some hardly at all and about everything in between.

 

Mine does the same thing and she's been here for a while now. Tomorrow or later this ¿evening? might be a better indicator of something wrong. Give it 7 or 8 hours unless you see obvious signs of distress.
He might be stressed over the change in water paramaters, but if they weren't too drastic he should recover fine.

 

Not uncommon behaviour for a new fish, but it can be due to heavy water flow for bettas. What's the flow like in the tank? I see an airstone and a filter, just make sure they're not causing way too much flow for a betta.

 

Thanks for the replies. He is now hiding inside the cave so he's moving around at least. I assume compared to the cup he was in the tank is much better water...but also a lot of new real estate which could be intimidating. I'll see if he comes out for breakfast tomorrow.
Good point on waterflow. The airstone is in the far corner just to help add some O2 but could be removed. The HOB filter is the aqueon one that came with the tank. I had wondered about its flow it earlier when he swam around I didn't see him get swept away. I did however pre-fabricate a water bottle baffle I will install if he does seem to be overpowered by it.

 

Seems like flow is ok then, the airstone isn't really necessary with just a betta since they breathe atmospheric air. Up to you though, it might do you more good if you have another tank to use it in

 

Seems like flow is ok then, the airstone isn't really necessary with just a betta since they breathe atmospheric air. Up to you though, it might do you more good if you have another tank to use it in

Good to know! If nothing else the tank is quieter without it lol

 

Such a pretty boy! Yes, it's normal that new bettas (Or any fish) Hide a lot. I would be surprised if they didn't hide at all! lol. Good luck!

 

10gal Aqueon tank with heater, fully cycled. Last readings (done before and after adding our brand new Betta) showed perfect levels for everything. Tank is 78~ maybe 80deg, hard to tell on the thermometer but for sure within spec as far as I can tell.

We added the Betta today after acclimating him to the temps in his cup. He swam around a bit, attacked the glass, checked out a few plants, and a few times just floated near the surface. I added a couple pellets of food (not sure when he was last fed) but he didn't go for it, that's ok I assume for now.

I turned the light off in case he was "scared" of his new home and figured it may de-stress the move. The last few hours he's just hiding. Sometimes literally wrapped around the base of one of the plants, and now lately pressed up against the back of the "cave" decoration like he is a ninja trying to hide along a wall. I'm leaving him be and because we lost a few goldfish way early on in this hobby start maybe I'm just paranoid.

Is it normal for Betta's to basically "hide" along the bottom or behind decorations when added to a new tank? I'm sure I know the answer, just need to re-affirmation.

Attached some pics from the first hour he was added. I didn't snap any of him hiding because the light is off and I didn't want to flash him.

Beautiful boy!

I do agree with the previous comments, the betta is just a little shy and a bit stressed due to the new change of surroundings! If you don't already, you could use API Stress Coat for your next water change to help destress him a bit.

 

Beautiful boy!

I do agree with the previous comments, the betta is just a little shy and a bit stressed due to the new change of surroundings! If you don't already, you could use API Stress Coat for your next water change to help destress him a bit.

Thanks! Sounds good and yes we have some here I can mix in during a water change. I did add a bit of api aquarium salt as well. Less than directed but I always worry about over-dosing.

 

No need to add any salt, it'll probably increase stress. Osmotic change should be limited as much as possible. No trouble though, just try not to use it unless there's a specific problem that requires salt to treat.

Beautiful boy!

I do agree with the previous comments, the betta is just a little shy and a bit stressed due to the new change of surroundings! If you don't already, you could use API Stress Coat for your next water change to help destress him a bit.

Just wanted to say I hate your signature so much.

 

No need to add any salt, it'll probably increase stress. Osmotic change should be limited as much as possible. No trouble though, just try not to use it unless there's a specific problem that requires salt to treat.

Just wanted to say I hate your signature so much.

Wow! Ngl, I'm a bit offended (I mean the laughing emoji IDK how to put it on here)

 

No need to add any salt, it'll probably increase stress. Osmotic change should be limited as much as possible. No trouble though, just try not to use it unless there's a specific problem that requires salt to treat.

Just wanted to say I hate your signature so much.

Weird I dont see or have added any signature, on my cell currently. Good to know then on the salt, I won't add anymore and what little is in there will work itself out with waterchanges I'm sure. There has to be less than half the recommended dosage at most in there now.

 

Weird I dont see or have added any signature, on my cell currently. Good to know then on the salt, I won't add anymore and what little is in there will work itself out with waterchanges I'm sure. There has to be less than half the recommended dosage at most in there now.

Oh no I meant CoconutTheBetta. Yes regular water changes will be your friend especially in the early days of your tank. Good luck

 

Good luck and keep us updated.

 

His tank looks a little bare, try adding some more tall silk or live plants and a floating log. The more places he has to hide the more secure he will feel and he will likely begin to explore his environment. It could also be his personality that he's just a shy betta, either way more places to hide should help. Ideally you want to have places for him to hide in/behind on every level of the tank (top, middle, bottom).

 

His tank looks a little bare, try adding some more tall silk or live plants and a floating log. The more places he has to hide the more secure he will feel and he will likely begin to explore his environment. It could also be his personality that he's just a shy betta, either way more places to hide should help. Ideally you want to have places for him to hide in/behind on every level of the tank (top, middle, bottom).

Thanks for the reply. He hid in his cave for most of the night and I found him curled up in some leaves this morning. He came out and snuck 1 piece of food before hiding again. I did buy a floating log, it was washed and I just opted to wait before tossing it in so I didn't disturb him. Maybe I'll add it later today so he has another good spot.

 

I added in the floating log and it took all of 5 minutes for him to zip up inside of it lol. He has been doing alot of hilarious things actually. He slept in his cave alot of today (I say slept, but you know) and would come out and wander around at different depths randomly. He did the sneaky ninja move a few times where he leans up against something and folds up tight against it like he thinks he is invisible, at one point he even snuck under one of the frills of the porcelain coral piece and actually got underneath it. He is clearly not claustrophobic.

I did notice the current from the filter blow him around a bit at one point, he was able to push back against it. I put the water bottle baffle back in but it just defers some of the current left and right making new spots that move him around. I'm debating on taking some twine or fishing line and tying the floating log across the front of the HOB output so the log acts as a baffle. If I do that I'll be sure there won't be any slack or anything he can get snagged on, IF I do that anyways.

In the meantime I may also look into other lower output filters, or maybe putting a coarse sponge on the intake tube to restrict it. The filter works great but has no adjustment on it. At least I would estimate 75% of the tank is current-free for him for now so I don't think it's a huge deal but it's something to work on.

 

10gal Aqueon tank with heater, fully cycled. Last readings (done before and after adding our brand new Betta) showed perfect levels for everything. Tank is 78~ maybe 80deg, hard to tell on the thermometer but for sure within spec as far as I can tell.

We added the Betta today after acclimating him to the temps in his cup. He swam around a bit, attacked the glass, checked out a few plants, and a few times just floated near the surface. I added a couple pellets of food (not sure when he was last fed) but he didn't go for it, that's ok I assume for now.

I turned the light off in case he was "scared" of his new home and figured it may de-stress the move. The last few hours he's just hiding. Sometimes literally wrapped around the base of one of the plants, and now lately pressed up against the back of the "cave" decoration like he is a ninja trying to hide along a wall. I'm leaving him be and because we lost a few goldfish way early on in this hobby start maybe I'm just paranoid.

Is it normal for Betta's to basically "hide" along the bottom or behind decorations when added to a new tank? I'm sure I know the answer, just need to re-affirmation.

Attached some pics from the first hour he was added. I didn't snap any of him hiding because the light is off and I didn't want to flash him.

They will hide\ and or explore there new tank for the first 8-10 hours. They should start to come out if there shell after that. If he is still hiding after that I would be a bit more concerned. Super handsome boy and your tank is gorgeous!! Continue to keep us updated on him.

 

Hi welcome to FishLore!!

All good advice above but I'll add something different. I had one betta that I had to downgrade from a 10 gallon to a 5 gallon.
That poor baby never got used to the larger tank. It would hide or glass surf. Just all around stressful..
Once she was moved she settled right in.

Just someting to keep in mind if your betta doesn't get used to the new tank.

Love your tank and your betta is gorgeous! Good luck!

 

Hi welcome to FishLore!!

All good advice above but I'll add something different. I had one betta that I had to downgrade from a 10 gallon to a 5 gallon.
That poor baby never got used to the larger tank. It would hide or glass surf. Just all around stressful..
Once she was moved she settled right in.

Just someting to keep in mind if your betta doesn't get used to the new tank.

Love your tank and your betta is gorgeous! Good luck!

Tnx and good to know!

So far so good,the little guy is out and about. Currently he is hovering under his log. my next challenge is that thepremium betta pellets I bought seem to sink about 2sec after being put in. I'm only adding 4 or 5 total so there's not a big mess but I wish they would float better.

Ammonia still reading good so far though so my cycle is hanging in there.