Is it bad if bettas DON'T flare?

[chkltcow]

Hey guys, first post here for me, but I'm not THAT much of a newbie I just wanted to see what you guys think of one of my bettas. The first one I ever got, affectionately named "Catchow" because the cats love to sit and watch him, resides in my 55gal community tank. He's as happy as a lark in there, swimming around all day, trying to mimic my clown loaches and eat off the gravel and school with them... and just generally being an odd little fishy. Anytime I do anything in the aquarium, from vacuuming the gravel to planting new plants... he's right there an inch away watching my hand to see what's going on. He seems almost TOO social.

So I've heard some people say that flaring is a good thing for them, so I tried the mirror trick. He won't flare. Anytime there's a mirror nearby, he just turns tail and heads to the other side of the tank. My wife's betta in a 5gal loves doing it. Anytime he sees a mirror, those fins stand straight up and he gets bright red on his fins.... but Catchow just won't do it.

Is this normal behaviour? Should I just accept it and be glad he's not the least bit agressive, since he is in a community tank?

And here's a picture just because. Pardon the quality, I'll try to get a better one tonight when I feed them some live brine shrimp. They just LOVE that stuff

 

[cutecotton]

:welcome: to the forums, catchow seems like a beatiful betta and you should be very happy and he lives in a 55G commuity tank! not very many bettas can do that

as for the flaring thing, it's probably because he's not that aggressive, and is use to seeing all these other fishies so it doesn't bother him too much. Other betats flare to declare their territory, to display for females (if it's a female), or just to show how tough they are

i wouldnt' too worriedt hat catchow isnt' flaring he seems like a very healthy betta to me!

 

[Idolz]

My betta flares when there isn't anything around!

 

[karrihug]

he looks very much like my skylar. skylar builds bubble nests constantly and i have never seen him flare. he is just a happy little camper.

 

[wrs]

sometimes it will take the betta a while to flare. Mine didnt flare for the first month after I got him, and now thats all he does. So Im sure yours will eventually.

 

[fourplayfishy]

it is possible because you said he schools with one of the types of fish you have in your tank that he forgets hes supposed to fight it is a possibility because my cat well we think anyways forgets how to be a real cat... he hasnt been around another one for 18 years and he acts more like a human or a dog then a cat

 

[Wisperian]

My betta flares when there isn't anything around!

501 post wheeeeeee

 

[Jayderana]

I have a fish that is about 6 months old that will not flare until flared at first by another fish. He is really into humans and does not bubble nest at all. He loves other betta fish as long as they are not flaring at him. I know because he was beside a youngster for the longest time but would not flare at all. Even when he does now it is very short lived he is just not an aggressive fish at all. I assume it is just his personality he is also a runt i think as he is small for his age. He seems to prefer to not have to take on an aggressive role and i love that about him. I wouldn't let your fish worry you as long as he is active and seems happy you should assume that he is happy.