Babysitting a Betta...

Feathers · 12-19-2007, 12:40 AM

It's been a while since I had a betta, and I don't actually remember as much about them as I thought I would. I figure I'm not going to do anything horribly wrong with it, but there are some behaviors I never saw from the betta I had in the betta I'm babysitting now.

I'm an RA at a university, and one of my residents has a brilliantly red little betta that she got a few months ago. He's in what appears to be a 2.5 gallon tank with a built-in little bubbler. (His name is Diablo, possibly for good reason)

The guy will flare himself up really big whenever I get near his tank. Such that he won't eat when I drop flakes in because he's so preoccupied by puffing himself up to look as big as possible.

One friend of mine said it could just be that the betta has a nasty attitude, since different bettas have different temperaments and such...

So I'm going to check here, just to make sure it's not something that they do when they're stressed or something? I'd hate for something to happen to this fella when my resident trusted me to take care of him, so I'm probably just covering my bases.

Thanks for your help!

JustOneMore20 · 12-19-2007, 08:53 AM

Some Bettas will flare at you and some won't. Some will constantly flare at their reflections too. This guy just has an attitude.

As long as he eats, he's good. Watch him and see if he eats the food after you walk away.

BV77 · 12-19-2007, 09:15 AM

hmm how does one watch him when he walks away? lol

JustOneMore20 · 12-19-2007, 10:00 AM

What I mean is watch him when you're not right by the tank. Its easy to watch fish from afar to where it doesn't seem like they see you, but you can still see them. I have to watch alot of my fish this way because they scare easily.

Bettaman · 12-19-2007, 10:30 AM

Many Bettas will flare when they eat. He likely associates you or any other human approaching his tank as meaning 'It's feeding time'. I'd bet he eats the food after you walk away.

BV77 · 12-19-2007, 11:43 AM

Lol, I know, Kris....just pulling your leg

Feathers · 12-19-2007, 02:29 PM

Ah, he eats after I walk away. I see a little red mass swim up to the top and nibble at things.

Good to know I'm not doing anything wrong. XD I guess Diablo is a fitting name for the little dude. He has such an attitude it's downright silly.

Thanks for the info

ikermalli · 12-19-2007, 06:17 PM

What type of betta is his (tail variation) All the CT's I get are usually calm and all the VT's I get are fiesty

Feathers · 12-19-2007, 10:17 PM

I think he's a half-moon with possibly some Crown in him. He's definitely not a veil, and he's not as spiky as the crowns I see usually are. He has only a little bit of the crowning to only two of his fins.

12-19-2007, 12:40 AM	#1
Feathers Molly Appreciator Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 37	Babysitting a Betta... It's been a while since I had a betta, and I don't actually remember as much about them as I thought I would. I figure I'm not going to do anything horribly wrong with it, but there are some behaviors I never saw from the betta I had in the betta I'm babysitting now. I'm an RA at a university, and one of my residents has a brilliantly red little betta that she got a few months ago. He's in what appears to be a 2.5 gallon tank with a built-in little bubbler. (His name is Diablo, possibly for good reason) The guy will flare himself up really big whenever I get near his tank. Such that he won't eat when I drop flakes in because he's so preoccupied by puffing himself up to look as big as possible. One friend of mine said it could just be that the betta has a nasty attitude, since different bettas have different temperaments and such... So I'm going to check here, just to make sure it's not something that they do when they're stressed or something? I'd hate for something to happen to this fella when my resident trusted me to take care of him, so I'm probably just covering my bases. Thanks for your help! __________________ 10 Gal #1 = My Z Gang! 1 Zebra Danio 1 Golden Zebra Danio ((Struggling with fish loss in this tank)) 10 Gal #2 = The Molly Bunch! (Males) Kadou: Black Sailfin Molly Ninjin: Creamsicle Lyretail Molly Yuki: Silver Lyretail Molly "Speckles": Dalmation Sailfin Molly

12-19-2007, 10:30 AM	#5
Bettaman Fishy Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: texas Age: 57 Posts: 26	Many Bettas will flare when they eat. He likely associates you or any other human approaching his tank as meaning 'It's feeding time'. I'd bet he eats the food after you walk away. __________________ The only way to make it is to try! http://www.sportsfantasyleagues.com

12-19-2007, 02:29 PM	#7
Feathers Molly Appreciator Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 37	Ah, he eats after I walk away. I see a little red mass swim up to the top and nibble at things. Good to know I'm not doing anything wrong. XD I guess Diablo is a fitting name for the little dude. He has such an attitude it's downright silly. Thanks for the info __________________ 10 Gal #1 = My Z Gang! 1 Zebra Danio 1 Golden Zebra Danio ((Struggling with fish loss in this tank)) 10 Gal #2 = The Molly Bunch! (Males) Kadou: Black Sailfin Molly Ninjin: Creamsicle Lyretail Molly Yuki: Silver Lyretail Molly "Speckles": Dalmation Sailfin Molly

12-19-2007, 06:17 PM	#8
ikermalli Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 707	What type of betta is his (tail variation) All the CT's I get are usually calm and all the VT's I get are fiesty __________________ Take a look at my site http://aquariumexpertise.freeforums.org/

12-19-2007, 10:17 PM	#9
Feathers Molly Appreciator Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 37	I think he's a half-moon with possibly some Crown in him. He's definitely not a veil, and he's not as spiky as the crowns I see usually are. He has only a little bit of the crowning to only two of his fins. __________________ 10 Gal #1 = My Z Gang! 1 Zebra Danio 1 Golden Zebra Danio ((Struggling with fish loss in this tank)) 10 Gal #2 = The Molly Bunch! (Males) Kadou: Black Sailfin Molly Ninjin: Creamsicle Lyretail Molly Yuki: Silver Lyretail Molly "Speckles": Dalmation Sailfin Molly

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12-19-2007, 08:53 AM	#2
JustOneMore20 Banned Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Age: 22 Posts: 3,654	Some Bettas will flare at you and some won't. Some will constantly flare at their reflections too. This guy just has an attitude. As long as he eats, he's good. Watch him and see if he eats the food after you walk away.

12-19-2007, 09:15 AM	#3
BV77 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alaska Posts: 509	hmm how does one watch him when he walks away? lol

12-19-2007, 10:00 AM	#4
JustOneMore20 Banned Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Age: 22 Posts: 3,654	What I mean is watch him when you're not right by the tank. Its easy to watch fish from afar to where it doesn't seem like they see you, but you can still see them. I have to watch alot of my fish this way because they scare easily.

12-19-2007, 11:43 AM	#6
BV77 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alaska Posts: 509	Lol, I know, Kris....just pulling your leg

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