Is Flaring bad for Bettas?

darkrabbit213 · Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 6:03 pm Post subject: Is Flaring bad for Bettas?

I've been looking for new bowls for my bettas or a new double-hex that's bigger than my old one, and I found a tank that has divider in the middle, but the problem is, the divider is clear! It says it's supposed to promote Betta flaring, but doesn't that mean that they are getting angry? The last thing I want is to stress out my bettas as they're pretty old as it is.

Fish Addict · Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 6:51 pm Post subject:

i am not to sure so i found this link for you http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/anabantids2/p/betta.htm

Nameless · Senior Member Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Posts: 958

I have read that flaring is good excitement for your betta but I think that too, as you said would stress him out. But I also know some people who have said that over time the betta will get used to the reflection and will stop flaring. So hopefully that helps. I personally would not want the betta to have to constantly flare and get stress or exhuasted from it all.

kc5gvn · Moderator Joined: 15 Mar 2004 Posts: 1147

I'm not a fish psychologist by any means since I have never gotten them to answer any question that I asked, but flaring does not do any physical harm to the Betta. It's not any different than if you flexed your pectoral muscles or biceps at another male to prove that you are still the Alpha Male. He's just strutting his stuff, so to speak.

Aqueous · Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 9:30 pm Post subject:

Personally with my bettas, when they've been in a divided tank they would flare at each other for the first couple of days but after they got used to each other being there they would flare once in a while.

Trickster · Member Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 309 Location: My Chair

yea flaring means: They stressed or showing off wut they got, or want to fight.

Now if they can see eachother they will flare. They can either eventually get used to it, or try and fight through the glass... they will bang against the glass trying to get to the other betta, it will keep banging untill it kills itself.

You can try to make them less visible by blocking their vision with plants.

And bettas shouldnt be kept in bowls or hexes. The only reasons they can survive like that is because they breath the same air as us (above the water). They should have their own 5 gallon each. So i would either split a 20 gallon in 4s (or how ever many bettas you have), or just buy multiple 5 gallons.

Well good luck hope it works out.

darkrabbit213 · Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2005 2:32 am Post subject:

Thanks for all the advice everyone! Eh, this whole flaring thing makes me uncomfortable. So I think I'll just keep them in their bowls... they've been plenty happy in their bowls for the year and a half I've had them. But thanks everyone, the info is still good to have for the future.