I recently moved my betta fish into a new 2.5-gallon tank with a nice plant and a little cave for hiding. I made sure the water parameters were stable and the temperature steady at 78°F. However, I noticed it spends a lot of time near one side of the tank, constantly flaring its fins at what I realize is its own reflection on the glass. It looks pretty stressed, sometimes even rubbing its body on the glass.

I’ve tried dimming the lights and placing a background behind that side, but the behavior keeps coming back, especially when the room is dark and there’s a slight reflection. I want my little guy to feel calm and happy, not on edge all the time. Has anyone dealt with a betta that’s obsessed with its reflection? What worked for you to reduce the flaring and help your fish relax? Would changing the tank location or adding more plants help, or could this be a sign of something else going on?

That reflection obsession sounds tough for your betta! I had a similar issue with mine constantly flaring at the glass, and what really helped was adding more dense plants and rearranging the tank so the reflection was minimized from all angles. Sometimes just changing the tank’s position away from windows or bright lights can cut down on those reflections that trigger the flaring.

Also, I found that giving my betta some visual distractions - like floating plants or gentle bubbles - helped redirect its attention away from the glass. The rubbing could be stress-related or a sign of irritation, so keep an eye on water quality and maybe try a gentle water change routine if you haven’t already. Hopefully, with a few tweaks, your little guy will chill out and enjoy his new home more!