[kristengodsey]

Hi everyone! Wow I'm just realizing how many questions I have been posting on here lol... A few days ago I started a thread because I was concerned about my new betta who was acting lethargic. Well, that was short-lived because he soon became extremely active. (Is it possible for them to be hyperactive?) For the past few days he has relentlessly been pacing back and forth in his tank but right up against the front of it, and his swimming looks pretty erratic to me.

At first I thought he was doing this when he saw me and wanted to get my attention, but he literally does not stop. He has his nose against the tank and my second thought was maybe he has a parasite, except he isn't rubbing against anything in the tank. Just now I was looking into the tank from the side and realized I can see his reflection. I just uploaded videos to YouTube of what he looks like from the front of the tank while he's swimming, and then also what I see from the side. If anyone can look at them and let me know what they think, I would really appreciate it!

This is the view from the front:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DI8X-89ihJU

This is from the inside:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0SXXR7MC30

Is it possible that he sees his reflection and that's what he acting weird about?

 

[ThatFishThough]

Pictures of the tank would help; do you have lots of cover?

 

[kristengodsey]

Here's a picture! There's about 7 plants in there now, I'm planning on adding more soon but I'm having trouble finding taller ones that aren't too tall for the tank.

(Ugh.. They're always sideways)

 

[Nova betta]

Your tank is gorgeous! The best one I have seen with silk plants.

It looks like he is glass surfing. Some of my boys do it to. I would maybe add one or two more plants in the front. I have never broken one of my boys of it.
Let's see what other members say!

 

[kristengodsey]

Thank you so much for the compliment!! It means a lot He took a break for about 20 minutes and now he's back to doing it again lol -_- Is it something I should be worried about at any point? Also I will definitely look into getting some more plants for the front

 

[Olivia27]

I don't know if glass surfing would eventually lead to anything detrimental, but I certainly wouldn't let it continue. How many hours per day is that light on? When the tank is brighter than the room, the walls will be reflective. When my female glass-surfed I moved her tank to another location that doesn't get direct lighting - both sunlight and tank light. You can also try an all-black background. Not sure what material to use though.

 

[kristengodsey]

It's on for like 2 hours in the morning and 2 or 3 more hours when I get home at the end of the day. Usually an hour or two before I go to bed I turn on the blue led light that it has but that's it (it's off right now also). By an all- black background, do you mean the sides of the tank too? The back of the tank that separates the filter portion is black already. I'm wondering if a little bit of rearranging in the tank would distract him from glass surfing?

 

[Nova betta]

well what worked for some of my boys was I added live plants. Especially fast growing ones. The plants took over the tank and my boys calmed down. If you don't want to add plants that's fine!

Another thing is see if he sees his reflection. I wonder if he's just exploring his territory. I'm not really sure. My boy junior glass surfs and he is healthy and the most active of all my bettas.
Does anyone actually know why they glass surf? I still have a plakat boy who does it (Junior) and I have tried everything.

 

[NightStars]

Nice tank and beautiful betta!

 

[ThatFishThough]

Glass surfing.. It's like, them 'patrolling' their territory; usually it's caused by them seeing their reflection --> Too much light. Sometimes its other things, like excitement or sick, but its usually stress over their reflection.