Why does my Betta swim laps?

[tate8]

our new Betta swims back and forth all the time. He explorers the rest of the tank too but a lot of times he just does this. Is this normal?

(Sped up)

[Goes to 11!]

Ok, Your fish swims back and forth and sometimes explores a bit . . .

What were you expecting?

[tate8]

At least a hand stand every now and then.

[Goes to 11!]

Very telling, Thank you.

[Funfin]

Is your beta interacting with its mirrored image? Maybe it's protecting its turf from the "other" that's swimming up and down.

[Lady Hobbs]

Sounds pretty much like a fish to me. The tank is new so of course he is checking it out.

[tate8]

I was just wondering if I should add more plants. I thought he might be freaked out because only the back of the tank has plants. Do Bettas need more hiding spots?

[Lady Hobbs]

I don't know so. More swimming room also is less places for his fins to get caught in plants.

Shut his light off if he's stressed out.

[Goes to 11!]

I was just wondering if I should add more plants. Do Bettas need more hiding spots?

It sounds like the research is being done after the purchase, This the opposite order of the most effective way to go about it but that ship has already sailed so...

Scroll up and look along the left hand edge of the screen, You will see the articles section has 'Betta fish' listed in it. The links you will find there relevant and a good start.

[Aquadork]

+1 to Funfin. My betta does something similar (I discovered) when I flip on a desk lamp at night that is eight feet away from his tank. The angle of that particular light source and position of his aquarium creates a mirror on one panel of his hex tank.

I turn it on occasionally so that he can challenge the "intruder." When I turn it off he assumes that he has chased it away and begins roaming the tank again, if a little bit cockier.