My betta fish likes to dig a hole and stick his face in the substrate on the bottom on his tank. Normal?

Question

This strange behavior doesn't happen all day, but it's been happening for the last couple of days. He just floats (belly-down) on the bottom with his face stuck in the ground. He seems healthy otherwise. He eats, swims normally, and responds to a mirror. Should I be worried?

Answer 1

This is strange behavior. Of course, bettas are known for that kind of thing.

Could he be hungry? If you've been adding live food to the tank, some of them might be hiding down there, or he might be trying to get scraps that have sunken down.

Could there be something hurting his eyes? Check to make sure they aren't cloudy, or popping out, and medicate if needed. The lights might be too bright too. Try switching to a dimmer bulb, or adding some shade, such as fake plants, floating plants, or toy boats, etc. If the brightness bothers him, he may tend to swim beneath these, and bettas do like floating plants. I've had good success with butterfly fern, but it's hard toi find outside american pond suppliers.

Could he be cold? it is winter time, and the rocks might be warmer, especially if they are dark colored and the lights are bright, if the heater touches them, or if you have heating coils under the gravel. Try adding insulation to the bottom and back of the tank (if you can) and install a reflector in the light (if you can.) Make sure your hood covers the tank properly, and add a heater. bettas do best in waters from 82-92 F, much warmer than most community fishes reccomended range. Sure, they can live in waters as cold as 68 F, but that's not where they're happiest.

Answer 2

The correct answer is that he's OK... bettas like to hide occasionally and he's trying to make a hiding place. I'm thinking that your lighting is a little too bright for him. You can solve this problem for a couple bucks...go to a pet store and buy an aquarium decoration that offers a suitably sized hiding place or some shade for him. Don't use a flower pot as suggested by another poster...some flower pots are coated with glazes or sealants that can leech into the water and harm the fish. It's best not to put anything into a fish tank that's not specifically made for that purpose, with very few exceptions.

Answer 3

Does the clear out grant any floor agitation? If it doesn't there ought to not be adequate oxygen interior the water for the fish. try shifting the clear out so as that the water it pumps out falls onto the exterior - you'll see more advantageous bubbles interior the water. Did you enable the tank cycle previously including the fish (Google biking fish tanks...)? you should actually have had to attend to the water with a chlorine remedy in case you used tap water. even with all of this bettas can typically be sluggish shifting fish so don't be too alarmed with techniques from his lack of circulate...

Answer 4

Your betta is trying to hide. Get him a small cave, or some kind of tank decoration with a hole big enough to get in and out of easily.

I've seen my bettas doing this before too, and it stopped when I put decorations in their tanks.

If you don't want to spend alot of money on tank decorations (I know it gets expensive *looks at empty wallet*) Get a simple little clay flower pot. One of the orange ones you see everywhere. They generally cost anywhere between $0.50, and $2.00, depending on what size you get. If the bottom hole is anywhere near big enough for the betta to get stuck in, plug it up.

Answer 5

Yes my betas do it too it's a normal behavior quiet cute if you ask me but watch out cuz it can turn Into itch or velvet but as long as they are eating well and no signs of illness there is no reason to worry sorry about late answer 🙃🙂

Answer 6

Sounds like he is digging for food. This is a behavior they do in the wild.

Answer 7

I don't think this is normal. None of my Betas have done this.

Answer 8

not normal at all.. keep clean water and temp above 74°F