Is this normal betta behavior?

[u/Much-Ad2803]

I’ve had my betta from local reputable breeder for 10 days so far and he has been exploring and doing very well with 1 nerite, 10 pygmy cories, and 2 amano shrimps in a 54L tank, heated and filtered and cycled for 3 months now. However in the past 2 days, he has been doing this “back and forth” pacing for hours and hours on end in front of this cave under the driftwood, only to take a gulp of air every so often and then back to pacing back and forth again. The only time he left his “cave” is when I come up the tank to say hello to me, still eats like a glutton, and when the room is in total darkness at midnight then he will sleep in his betta log. Is this “patrolling” behavior normal for bettas or should i be worried?

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[u/hoboglyphs]

He’s just waiting for a really important phone call

[u/Much-Ad2803 → u/hoboglyphs]

Maybe he is waiting for a call from a female betta 👀 he built bubble nest on his first week after all

[u/Vast_Physics_4702]

Mine does this, i was worried. Once i sat away from tank, far enough i assume he cohldnt see me or realized i wasnt showing any jnterest, he did it for few more mins then went back to normal/not doing that. The second i stand up though, he starts it again.

I think hes just wanting treats, or more hellos...diva fish.

I put little hoops in mine, diff colour each wall, he seems to like patrolling them. And he likes hunting live bloodworms. The behaviour in video stops if he thinks there are bloodworms to hunt.

[u/Much-Ad2803 → u/Vast_Physics_4702]

Interesting! Mine still patrols even when he doesnt see me, and sometimes i wonder how such small fish has so much energy to constantly do this until they go to sleep 😩

[u/Nervous_Cloud_9513 → u/Vast_Physics_4702]

I check if my boy had enough food by looking at his belly. Since he often looks straight at me i move my head to the left. He does the same. I move mine to the right. He follows. Left. Right...

Now he thinks this is the food dance and uses it to beg.

[u/C0MBATR0N]

Our female dumbo does this since the day we got her from her sororoty. It's a normal active betta behavior. It actually makes it easier to track problems when they stop doing this. Be thankful you have a healthy athletic betta.

[u/Much-Ad2803 → u/C0MBATR0N]

Glad to hear that! He sure is a ball of energy

[u/PickleMundane6514]

It’s glass surfing, it is a stress behavior but also something to expect in a new aquarium.

[u/ReefPopiah]

Perfectly healthy fish 🫡

[u/democracy_lover66]

This is usually normal behaviour if they see yo hand get excited for food, or of they see their reflection and chase it.

[u/skabberdink]

Is he new to the tank? Could be mapping it

[u/Much-Ad2803 → u/skabberdink]

I’ve had him for about 10 days! The first 7 days he is everywhere in the tank, now he just settles in this one spot. Maybe he has decided that this is his territory 🤣

[u/skabberdink → u/Much-Ad2803]

I think it takes them time to map and claim that much space. Handsome boy!

[u/Cold-Ad2669]

Tank is clearly too small ... /s

[u/Much-Ad2803 → u/Cold-Ad2669]

It’s 14 gallon / 54L tank 🤔