betta tail/fins - normal?

[fishwatcher]

Hi! Just got my betta (Sushi) today. He's in an almost-2-gallon bowl, with a couple of live plants. He's swimming around ok, but his tail/fins aren't fully expanded the way the ones in all the pictures are on the other posts. I tried putting a mirror up to him to see if that would make him react, but it didn't. I have his bowl right next to my 10-gal aqua. so he gets some of the light from it. Is it normal for his fins/tail not to be opened all up?
Thanks!

 

[Elise]

Maybe he is just shy. Since you just got him, he isn't used to his surroundings yet. It took my betta Ula a whole week to be comfortable in his surroundings and start to flare. Others adapt quicklier. As long as he has places to hide, he should get used to his surroundings and start flaring and opening his fins soon. Just be patient, after all, he hasn't even had a day to settle in yet. By the way, I love your betta's name!

 

[fishwatcher]

Thanks so much! I just got him at (gasp!) Walmart, so I wasn't sure if he was healthy, know what I mean!?!? I wouldn't have bought him, but there is actually a Walmart in my area (only 1 of 3) that has someone there that knows what they are doing and cares about them. Thanks for the reassurance!

 

[eudielynn]

Just be patient and give him time to adjust to the big move. Some bettas are also just more laid back than others. I have one that will flare at anything, and another that acts like its too much trouble for him to bother to flare. If you really want him to flare try running the end of a ball point ink pen in front of his tank. Some bettas seem to think they resemble other bettas and will flare at them. Just keep an eye on him for the next couple of days and make sure he is eating and he should adjust quickly to his new home.

 

[fishwatcher]

Thanks!! By the way, what fish can be room mates with him? I'd really like to have him in the 10-gal. Is his bowl too small for a pair of guppies?

 

[eudielynn]

Guppies aren't a good idea with bettas, they can be too colorful and the betta will probably mistake it for another betta and become aggressive. They (guppies) really need a lot more room than the two gal bowl you referred to as well. Tankmates depend on each individual betta's temperment. I have one that won't live with anything but a snail. He killed his ghost shrimp and tried to eat the frogs so I wouldn't dare try another fish with him. I had another that lived in a community tank and was fine with almost any other fish. It will just depend on your betta.