My betta doesn't like light?

[beacon]

My fish has been acting depressed the past few days. Seems sort of "saggy" in the water, less active than normal, tends to go sleep in his tree more than I think he should.

I thought he might be sick but his appetite is ok. He is in a split tank and the other fish is perfectly well.

Yesterday I placed a piece of dark paper over the back of the tank. The back of the tank is nearby a kitchen counter light. The paper blocked the light. I came down this morning and saw that he has right away made a bubble nest (he never made them before) and seems more alert, active and happy. He's been good all day.

Is this a reaction to the light? Can a fish dislike light?

[shellieca]

Is that the only light he gets? It could've been too bright. It could be he was seeing his reflection & it stressed him.

[majesticstorm]

The light might be a little too bright. When I first changed to a brighter bulb, my bulb stayed at the bottom of the tank and was motionless, but when I turned it off, he was active. He got used to it the next day.

Do you have a lot of covering for him to block out some of the light? Like a floating plant or a plant with large leaves?

[cdouglas93]

After reading this post I think that maybe that's what my female betta's problem was. I had her in a half gallon bowl for a little while (just until her tank was ready) and now that I've moved my male into the ten gallon I was able to switch her into the 1.5 gallon he was in until her 5g is settled. Well I noticed that she was kinda acting sluggish and shy so I turned the light off of her (since she was extremely active in the bowl and that didn't have a light) and almost instantly she was thrilled