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is it abnormal for a betta to just lay down on the floor for a while? he does this every no and then for varying lengths.

one other question is; do bettas change color with age? when i first got him he was all blue, but now im noticing he has whit in the throat area. and tips of his fins. plus there is a spot of red on his front fins (the ones that hang down not sure what they are called) was this alwasy there and i just never noticed it, or is his color changing?

*click *flash *click "whered he go???"

Ahhh...as for resting yes,it's quite normal.

Changing colors is a tough one.I've had bettas that would and others that wouldn't,so don't freak out.

Yup. I'm that crazy Twilight/animal/music girl

It really depends on the color of the betta. In the case of blue bettas, then yes, I've seen them change color with age, just like a human going gray. I have an older yellow betta right now, and he hasn't really changed colors, but you can start to see how his scales aren't quite as shiny and he starts moving more slowly. Maybe like blonds not really showing the gray?

My sister had her blue betta, Sapphire, for 3 or 4 years (or more, possibly, not really sure) and he was actually starting to go silvery, or that was the effect given by his scales starting to dull. He was getting opaque or white spots on his fins, and other spots of his tail were thinning to the point of being nearly see-through. When I bought him for her, he was quite a bit larger than the other bettas for sale... possibly already quite mature.

This is a picture right before he passed... He was slow, but still active, and seemed to die of "natural causes" as the saying goes. What you're seeing is not fin rot or anything of that nature, more like the thinning skin of an elderly person. His water was kept very clean and we tried melafix to help his fins, but it didn't seem like wounds at all, and didn't improve, nor did they get worse. He also had a hugely long tail, one of the longest I've ever seen on a veil tail.

I think at the end he was also having issues with his swim bladder... nothing we could do helped him and he passed peacefully one night. *shrugs a bit* Sad to see him go... he was the first fish in the house since my mother had given up fish keeping a dozen years prior.



As for colors, white or clear at the tips of fins is usually a sign of growth. I've had plenty of bettas who show white or clear growth that then become colored as the fins grow in. It's also not unusual for a betta to show different colors from when you buy it to when he is settled in and getting good care.

Here's Patriot when I bought him:



And a few weeks later, when he had his own tank, good food and clean water:



I kid you not, that is the same fish.

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

I am far from an expert on Bettas but I have noticed each time I have added the small young M Betta to my my Betta tank the colours have completly changed. This is posibly due to the were all in those little display jars then all of a sudden they have a 32Lt well planted tank with a good variety of foods. Also I believe they can change as they get older their colours can get a stronger look.

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Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

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ok so nothing out of the ordinary. he does look bigger than i remeber him being at the time i bought him. as for aging he isnt that old. i have had him for only about a month maybe 2

*click *flash *click "whered he go???"

Speaking of bettas acting weird, I bought a male weeks ago to keep in my 10 gal. QT tank. He took right to it & always swam all over it. He tamed immediately, coming to me whenever I feed him. He takes all variety of food.

I removed him from it yesterday to put a new fish in there that I bought. I put the betta in a fry tank with older platy fry. The fry tank is 30" long. At first the betta explored it thoroughly then set up a swimming pattern. He stayed in front swimming the length of the tank. As soon as he would reach the end he would turn around & head back. He kept this up the rest of the day & only halted for a minute after I turned the light out. Hubby got up during the night & saw him pacing again.

Today he was doing the same thing, just pacing the front of the aquarium. I just turned the light off & he halted for minute then is continuing his pacing. It is the same water that is in the 10 gal. All fish are fine & acting normal. The betta doesn't act stressed & is still eating good.

My thinking is that he got limbered up in the 10 gal. tank after his confinement from being raised & shipped & then being at the store. When I put him in this longer tank it is like he learned that he can run (swim) a long distance & he loves to run. lol I told hubby he acts like he is just loving all that extra swimming space.

He does make me nervous though watching him, as he reminds me of a tiger that paces it's cage. I never see him resting in place or laying on anything as others have described their bettas doing. Is this also normal behavior for a betta when they are given plenty of swimming room? He appears to be young & healthy & well adjusted.

Either that or he is like a child that had his own room for a long time and now has to share it with however many bratty siblings. Man, I'd be peeved too! "Mom! Why don't I have my own room, anymore?! What's with this and who are all these kids?!" Okay... yeah, probably not so much. The thought amuses me, though.

As long as he looks healthy and is eating, I wouldn't really worry about it. His colors are good? No fading from stress or anything?

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

No color change......not even when I first got him. This am. his pacing has calmed somewhat. He doesn't usually go the full length now....just paces it in sections.

He pays little attention to the babies except for enjoying two of the smaller ones when I first put him in there. It was quick & they were bite size. I was surprised, but not upset, cause I need to find homes for the other 25 to 50 babies anyway when they get bigger.

I am just amazed that he is taking advantage of all that swimming room & was curious if that was typical behavior of a betta in a larger tank. I have read once or twice where a betta was placed in a community tank & just hid in the corner.But apparently some of them love the extra room if no one is picking on them.

I would love to hear from others that have had the same experience as myself.......putting a betta in a larger tank & having them enjoy all the extra room.

I don't mean to steal your thread sodaaddict. But when I saw the title, "Weird Betta", it seemed like a good opportunity to ask about my betta's behavior.

It does sound like yours is quite normal though. Can you believe the color change in kitten's betta? That was amazing!

red is a colour that tends to show up later on in the life of a betta. A lot of blue bettas will end up with a deep red wash on the fins, close to the body, once they are about 15 months old or more.

To me, the white and the red showing up in the way they have sound a bit like you have found yourself something with the marble gene. Look it up and see what you think If he does have that, chances are it'll keep on changing.

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

I didnt' think you could keep beta with other fish. I thought the beta would constantly nip at other file. I have 65 gal tank with one gold fish about 6 inches long, can I put the beta from the vase to this tank?

With goldfish, it'd be best not to as they are pretty boisterous. If you had smaller fish like neon tetras or white clouds, then it would be a bit different. You also need to consider the filter strength, decor and temperature before adding a betta to any tank.

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

Apparently it also depends on the size tank & the fish involved Larry. I found reason to put an adult platy in the same tank as the betta this morning. At first the betta followed the platy around for a few minutes flaring at it. The platy ran from it every time. Shortly, the betta just ignored it. So far this evening he is still ignoring it.

The betta is red & the platy is yellow with a little orange & a couple black stripes. The tank is an 18 gal.long, being 30" long. There is also plenty of decor in it, many larger platy fry & 3 cories. The betta also ignores the cories.

I heard that some situations can work as long as the other fish is not mistaken for a betta, as in coloring & long finnage, & the tank is big enough, so that they don't feel cramped. It also depends on the temperament of the betta. I heard of one betta that even attacked & killed a cory.