If you are new to the betta fish-keeping journey, you might wonder whether bettas can jump out of their environment. The answer is yes, bettas can jump out of their tank or bowl. If your betta has jumped out and you put it back and it is still alive, this information is also for you. Stay connected, and let’s get started.
Key takeaway:
- The first actions to take once you notice that your betta has jumped out of its tank or bowl.
- Dos and don’ts if your betta is still alive.
- Preventive steps.
- Quick fixes.
- My experiences.
- Summary.
The first action to take:
These are the first few things you should do if your betta has jumped out of its tank:
- Stay calm when you notice that your betta has jumped out of its bowl or tank. Do not panic or shout.
- Keep your eyes on the betta on the floor, table, or any surface.
- Use a fish net to collect the betta gently. (If you don’t have a fish net, you can use any soft cloth, but do not delay.)
- Immediately place the betta back into its original tank.
- Remove any tank mates from the betta’s tank.
- Set the heater to 26-29 degrees Celsius and keep the filter running continuously.
- Close the tank top and carefully monitor the injured betta for further treatments or medications
In some unfortunate cases, you might notice your betta is missing from the tank too late, or you might come home to find this has happened. If this occurs, first search for the betta fish in the area around the tank or bowl. Since bettas can jump quite far and bounce, look carefully.
Once you find the betta fish, even if it is dried out and appears dead, place it back into the tank for a while. Bettas can sometimes survive without water for a surprising amount of time. In one of my personal experiences, I saw a friend’s betta survive even though it looked dried out and was surrounded by ants.
Key point: Even if the betta’s body looks very dried out and dead, always check it. Place it in water for a while and look for signs of life.
Care for Injured betta after jumping:
The injuries can vary case by case depending on the time of rescue, height of the fall, surface texture, and age of the betta. However, in most cases, the body of the betta is the most affected, followed by its fins and eyes.
Once you return the betta to its original tank:
- Add a lower dosage of stress reliever medicines or almond leaf water.
- Remove any sharp decorations or substrates since the betta can scratch its body against them, causing extra damage.
- If your betta starts eating after some time, that’s a good sign. It will definitely recover; it is just a matter of days. They will heal in a few days
Reasons for Betta Fish Jumps out from the tank/bowl:
Betta fish are river fish generally known as Betta splendens. There are a variety of strains of betta fish types also available in the aquarium market. The primary reasons for betta fish jumping behavior are
- unsuitable water conditions (temp, pH, water quality, and tank set up)
- dominant tank mates,
- sometimes their genes.
Quick Fixes for Betta fish jump behavior:
When the water parameters, such as temperature, pH, nitrate, or ammonia levels, are not suitable for the betta fish, it may try to escape from the poor water conditions and look for the right time to jump from the tank. Always pay proper attention to water quality and parameters, and use conditioned water for your betta fish.
For tanks without heaters, during the winter season, the betta tank/bowl can become very cold, increasing the chances of the betta fish jumping. Keep an eye on this and introduce a heater as soon as possible.
When you keep the betta fish in a very crowded tank, bowl, or vase, the betta might start trying to escape. Always try to provide your betta fish with a large aquarium tank.
Sometimes, a betta’s genes can also play a role. Some bettas like to jump as a form of exploration. In such cases, always use a covered tank or a tank top to prevent them from jumping out.
When you have dominant tank mates, such as gouramis or other betta fish (in the case of female community tanks), the weaker betta might try to jump out due to the continuous dominance of its tank mates. To resolve this, simply remove the dominant fish or separate the betta fish. It’s that simple.
Sometimes, this jumping can be seen during betta breeding. Female bettas may do this when they cannot bear the dominance of the male betta fish.
My Experiences:
When I started out on this journey, I kept my second or third betta in a Horlicks bottle glass bowl (I don’t remember exactly), and I used to place a thin cardboard cover on top of the bowl. One particular day, the cover was missing (I don’t know how; maybe it fell off due to the wind). My betta jumped out, and I noticed it only after 5 or 10 minutes. I skipped a few heartbeats when I saw him on the newspaper-covered floor.
I carefully picked him up and dropped him back in the same bowl. For one week, he was so stressed and not very active. But he eventually recovered and went back to normal. This time, I placed a heavy board on top to avoid the same scenario again.
Endnote:
In summary, Betta fish can jump out due to poor water conditions, dominant tank mates, or genetic tendencies.
If your betta jumps out, stay calm, use a net or soft cloth to place it back, and monitor its recovery. Maintain water quality and temperature, and use a covered tank. Injuries often affect the body, fins, and eyes, so add stress relievers and remove sharp decorations. Use tank tops or lid or cover the top with cardboard or other items to avoid this kind of situation.
Thanks for reading till the end. I hope this post has been helpful for you. Please share your experiences with betta jumping or your thoughts about this post in the comments. See you all later in another post. Until then, take care of yourself and your betta. Goodbye!
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Is it normal for betta fish to jump out of their tank?
Yes, it is common for betta fish to jump out of their tank. They may do this due to various reasons such as feeling threatened, trying to escape poor water conditions, or due to their natural behavior. It’s important to keep their tank covered to prevent this.
2. Why are my betta fish jumping out of the tank but still alive?
Betta fish can jump out of their tanks due to reasons like unsuitable water conditions, dominant tank mates, or their natural behavior. If your betta jumps out and is still alive, it might have been stressed or trying to escape. Ensure the tank is covered, maintain good water quality, and remove any aggressive tank mates. Monitor the betta closely for signs of injury or stress, and provide a calm environment to help it recover.