My Betta is a Shut-In! Advice.....

Feet4Fish · Jul 28, 2016

About four weeks ago I purchased a Marine Betta. To this day I can't get the fish to come out. He hides non-stop. I have tried enticing him with food, low light, no light, lower flow and still nothing. Unless he is spooked out by another fish he just stays put. I know they are reclusive and generally nocturnal. Is this the behavior I should expect for the long haul? Any thoughts or suggestions to possibly get him out more. He is a great looking fish and I would like to see him more.

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Waters · Jul 29, 2016

Unfortunately that is kind of their nature. All you can do is provide plenty of hiding spots and make sure there aren't a lot of quick moving aggressive fish and hopefully he starts to come out more.

sdbdrz · Jul 29, 2016

that is is natural behavior. I had one in a 180 a number years ago and I would go months without seeing him.

eatbreakfast · Jul 29, 2016

soffutt said:
About four weeks ago I purchased a Marine Betta. To this day I can't get the fish to come out. He hides non-stop. I have tried enticing him with food, low light, no light, lower flow and still nothing. Unless he is spooked out by another fish he just stays put. I know they are reclusive and generally nocturnal. Is this the behavior I should expect for the long haul? Any thoughts or suggestions to possibly get him out more. He is a great looking fish and I would like to see him more.

Feeding their favorite foods, such as PE mysis, a few times a day, can help them to be more visible. After about a year or so, they become visible more often.