I purchased a Betta yesterday; it's my first. I have a one gallon bowl, live plants, made a nice little home for him. He shows no sign of any illness or disease, is active and already follows my finger across the bowl and comes out of his hideyhole when I come near. However, as he is my first I have a question and mild concern. In all pictures I've seen of Bettas, they have a gorgeously spread open tail fin. His stays fairly tight together, even when swimming, he doesn't spread it out much and let it flow. Is that normal or might there be something wrong? All of his fins are kindof like that except one which is broken (one of the two tiny ones that stream down beneath his head). They're not clamped real tight, but he never spreads them out much either.
Oh, and secondary question -- is it better to use filtered (at home with a Brita filter) water for him or start with tap and condition it?
2007-03-21 10:10:15 · 8 answers · asked by goddessdawnie 3 in Pets ➔ Fish
Thanks for your reassurances. Interestingly, I have seen his reaction to a mirror -- he spread out under his chin (looked like a lion's mane, lol) but still didn't spread any of his other fins out.
Nonetheless I'm glad to know it's not a sign of illness. I couldn't find anything about it online except that "clamped" fins is bad.
2007-03-21 10:41:10 · update #1
Keep a number of things in mind.
1)A veil tailed betta generally only really spreads out his fins when he is in his threat display. (Note frighten bettas hide they don't display.) A mirror will trigger this.
2)Not all betta fins are created equal. Genetics, enviroment, and feeding can produce very different bettas. Also don't confuse the veil tail for a crowntail, superdelta, or half moon.
http://www.bettatalk.com/betta_finnage.htm
3)Aggression varies with betta. Some betta's fins are flared out all the time.
4)Bettas are tropical fish, and need a temp of 75-85F. At lower temps they get quite sluggish. Below 65F they tend to die.
Generally if you can drink it. A betta can live in it. I'd personally just use conditioned tap water. Your brita filter does god knows would to your water, and the water chem will change based how old the filter.
Just remember rapid change in water temp, and chem is bad so don't switch to tap water straight. Do a 1/4, or 1/3 the 1st time then 2/3 or 1/2......
2007-03-21 12:27:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fin Spreads
2016-10-14 11:12:55 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've had various Bettas over the years and some of them only flared their fins when excited. Like when you run your finger across the bowl. They will really get excited if you put another one close to them in another bowl. I would suggest doing some research on line. As for your water question I would start with the Britta water as it will have less impurities. I would still use a good conditioner/chlorine remover however.
2007-03-21 10:19:36 · answer #3 · answered by taco62 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would probably be easier to use filtered. As far as the spreading out use a mirror. When he sees his reflection he will spread. That or you could get another betta and place their tank right beside that one.
2007-03-21 10:15:25 · answer #4 · answered by lol 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is probably just not a crown tail betta fish. There are many different types and not all spread there tail out like the cambodians.
I've just always used conditiioned tap water.
2007-03-21 10:19:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
don't be concerned, beta's only spread their fins when they feel threatened. they do it to make themselves look larger than their opponent. i wouldn't put a mirror in front of them either, it will stress them out. beta's are solitary animals and don't take well to confrontation with other beta's. if he sees his own reflection and sees that the other fish is also spreading his fins, it will only escalate the situation and he could attack (head butt) the glass in order to try to fight off his opponent (not realizing its himself he's seeing). alot of people have this problem when they first get a beta, they don't realize that they only spread in order to protect themselves from potential threats.
2007-03-21 10:28:27 · answer #6 · answered by Kellie G 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only reason why and had many Bettas over the years is he is not afjusted to te water to his home or even to you!
2007-03-21 19:20:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok well
id say try to keep the mirror near him for about 10 minutes
and see if he does it
another type of sickness is depression
now when they have it they are not sick
but can make themselfs sick
so just keep feeding and doing what your doing
and if he is in a room with not much movement of people
try moving him to somewhere where a lot of people will see
2007-03-21 12:16:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋