Strange night for betta

[deso]

I was out all day and came home very late last night. I turned on the lights to find my betta boy with a zoned-out look in his eyes, sitting on the filter intake, completely motionless. I know that he sleeps there every night, and he tends to lose a lot of colouration at night, but what happened next nearly gave me a heart attack. I waved my finger in front of his face, then he began to zoom around the tank erratically, swimming oddly at the surface, and getting blown around by the filter current. He seemed to be having trouble balancing and was as pale as a ghost, with massive stress stripes. He looked slightly better within an hour, then I fell asleep.

I really didn't expect to see him alive this morning...but lo and behold, he looks completely normal now. The colour is back in his fishy cheeks and he's exploring as I speak. No signs of disease or bloating. No stress stripes. Temp is at a balmy 26.5 degrees Celsius in his aquarium. It's as if nothing happened last night.

So, should I be worried about this little episode? (I did do a water change yesterday morning, 100%). Or did I just wake him up too suddenly and give him the fright of his life?

[Leeniex]

Maybe he was having a good dream and you woke him up, lol. I try to turn on a low light first or the tv to avoid shocking my guys if I come downstairs in the dark.

[deso]

Thanks :) Not quite sure what he'd dream about though, now that's a funny thought. Next time I come home so late, i'll remember to turn the lights on gradually. Thank goodness the lights in my flat are adjustable.

[Laki]

Thank goodness he's okay! I would try to gradually increase lights to avoid freaking him out, don't you appreciate having a warning before someone turns on the lights while you sleep?? :P

You mentioned he didn't have control in the filter output, does it disrupt the water too much?? I would try to baffle it as much as possible, bettas like calm still water at the surface.

[deso]

I wasn't thinking at all, I had been out working on a finals project for 10 hours straight. I feel just awful about it in hindsight...I wouldn't like it either if someone shined a flashlight in my face in the wee hours of the morning :(

The filter is as baffled with a piece of sponge. The reason his lack of control was so worrisome is because he's usually perfectly fine with the current. He even sits happily in front of it a few times each day, looking for all the world like a vain woman blowdrying her hair.