The betta, also referred to as the Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens), is a freshwater fish that is indigenous to Southeast Asia, including Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Due to their colorful and varied appearance and relatively minimal maintenance requirements, Betta splendens are one of the most well-known tank fish in the world.
Yes, the betta fish can jump out of a tank now and then. This can be due to bad water parameters, bad tankmates, and much more. Let us find out more in detail about it.
The betta fish is quite amazing. This is obvious from their sparkling beauty, adaptability, and hardiness. They have a distinctive appearance that makes them easy to identify from a distance because of their extended trailing fins and vibrant colors.
If you are an aquarium hobbyist and concerned about the jumping behavior of your Betta fish, then you have found the right place. Sometimes, you may wonder why your pet is showing this unusual behavior, and you might be worried. You may not know how to deal with that situation.
So, in this article, you will receive enough information on how to minimize the leaping action of Betta and prevent it from hopping out of the tank.
Why Does Betta Jump Out Of A Tank?
You are not the only one who is concerned that your Betta fish will jump out of the aquarium. It’s a troubling trend that almost all aquarium hobbyists share. It is essential to know what triggers these fish to leave their claimed comfort zone.
You will indeed be able to locate a remedy, perhaps a long-lasting one, once you determine the true origin of this issue. Here are a few factors for why Betta leaps off the tank.
Bad Water Quality
One of the main causes of your Betta fish leaping out of the tank may be the poor water quality in the tank. The failure to regularly clean the fish tank is the cause of these issues. When this occurs, there is a potential that some dangerous compounds will develop. Ammonia is one of those, and this chemical poses a risk to your fish’s survival in the tank.
Your betta will try anything it can to seek clean water when ammonia levels are too high, even leaping outside the tank. Extreme pH and temperature changes, together with excessive ammonia levels, can also make your betta attempt to hop out of its tank.
What should the specifications of your water be?
- Temperature : 75°F – 81°F
- Ammonia : 0 ppm
- pH value: 6.5 – 7.5
- Nitrate : < 20 ppm
- Nitrite : 0 ppm
A Disturbed Sleep Cycle
A poor sleep pattern may also cause Betta to leap outside the tank, as insufficient sleep can frustrate and restless your fish.
Betta may become confused as a result of not knowing when it should sleep and when it should stay awake. And it could leap unintentionally.
Insufficient Space
You may have noticed that bettas can survive in tanks as small as a few gallons. This is simply not true. Here’s a fact, the truth about the size of a betta’s tank.
In brief, a tank should hold at least 5 gallons, but greater is usually better. Without this much space, not only will ammonia levels rise rapidly, but little betta will become fed up with his surroundings.
Make sure the tank is also filled with decorations and plants to further reduce the likelihood that boredom may occur. You can also add extra friendly tank buddies if it’s large enough.
Attempting To Capture Something Outside Of The Tank
When your Betta fish notices a fly hovering nearby, it will probably jump and try to grab them. Flies are indeed a delight to many fish, including your Betta. Despite being an unusual activity, it is perhaps one of the causes of your fish’s escape from the tank as a matter of fact, and Betta fish are known to feed on anything they think is food.
Lack Of Oxygen
The absence of dissolved oxygen in the water is one of the main causes of fish leaping out of the tank in an attempt to find a new home. Even though the majority of fish lack lungs to breathe in gaseous oxygen, they nonetheless need dissolving oxygen in the water to function. Betta may leap outside the tank, hoping to find a location with much more dissolved oxygen if it cannot breathe properly owing to a deficiency of oxygen.
The presence of numerous fish in your tank could be one of the major causes of insufficient oxygen. For the chance to breathe, your fish will battle and compete with one another.
Unfavorable Water Temperature
The temperature of the water is another component of the aquatic environment that could cause Betta to jump out. Fish are often quite sensitive to temperature changes, and nearly all of them require a particular water temperature to be content and survive. Your fish may escape out of the water to find a cooler or warmer environment if the water is too cold or too hot.
Check the tank’s water temperature and make sure you know what it needs to be for your fish. You are aware of the issue if the water is overly hot or cold.
Stress
Fish raised in an environment that is unpleasant and has a range of stressors will become overstimulated and try to leave the tank. The fish will become stressed out by noise, bright lighting above the tank, dim illumination for a while, and frequently shifting the tank.
Aggressive Tank Companion
Some fish species are aggressive toward other fish because they are territorial. Keeping an improper fish will result in battles, fin biting, and aggressive chases, leaving your passive fish with no alternative except to escape the tank from the other fish.
Male betta fish are notoriously aggressive and highly territorial, and if they are kept in the same tank without a method of escape, they may attack each other and kill one or both fish. In small areas, female bettas might develop territorial behavior toward one another.
How Does a Betta Leap Out Of Water?
Isn’t that all fish do—swim and float? Interestingly, that is not the case. Fish are capable of making several-inch jumps out of the water, and Betta is one of them.
Betta makes a C-shape by bending backward over its tail to do this. Then it propels itself ahead while paddling as quickly as it can while using its fins.
This causes Betta’s body to undulate up and down like a wave and launches it through the water’s surface into a lengthy arch, where it lands outside the tank.
Betta may leap from a fixed location using this incredible jumping technique.
How High Can Betta Fish Jump?
Betta fish can hop fairly high, which may surprise you. It’s remarkable, considering how little they are. The typical betta may leap 2 to 3 inches above the water. And in some instances, this number may be considerably higher.
Given how high bettas may jump, you must take every precaution to prevent yours from leaving his tank.
How Long Can A Betta Stay Outside Of Water?
Betta fish have a respiratory organ known as a labyrinth that allows them to keep breathing out of water for brief periods of time.
Your Betta can only stay alive for around 10 minutes without the water. Once you’ve returned it to the tank, don’t be shocked if it remains on the bottom of the tank for a while; it’s probably shocked and needs to recover.
Add a little aquarium salt if its respiration is feeble ( the gills will be pumping very slowly), and this should help restore the normal gill function of the Betta. Some of the best brands are:
- API AQUARIUM SALT Freshwater Aquarium Salt 16-Ounce Box
- Instant Ocean Reef Crystals Reef Salt For 160 Gallons, Enriched Formulation For aquariums
- Epsoak Epsom Salt 19 lb. Bulk Bag Magnesium Sulfate USP
- Amazon Brand – Solimo Epsom Salt Soak, Magnesium Sulfate USP, 8 Pound
What Can You Do to Prevent Betta Fish from Leaping From the Tank?
You may use a variety of things to prevent your Betta from leaping out of its aquarium. In order to reduce the possibility of Betta jumping out as much as possible, try to adhere to all of the conditions below.
Proper Maintenance Of The Tank
Your fish’s level of comfort and happiness will depend on the conditions in the tank. Your fish will undoubtedly become stressed and seek to reach a better area to dwell if the surrounding is not suitable, which will result in jumping out of the tank. Because of this, you must make sure the tank is kept clean and maintained at all times.
You can attain this goal by performing regular water changes. In order to remove all rotting materials, you need to vacuum the pebbles or substrate as well. Ensure that all tank conditions, including water temperature, pH, and hardness, are at the ideal ratios for your fish by going above and beyond and checking them all. If everything is ideal, you can be confident that your pet will be content and comfortable throughout.
Ensure Your Tank Is Large Enough
As previously mentioned, a little tank space could cause your Betta fish to jump out in an attempt to locate more room. You need to acquire a bigger tank that can hold your fish to avoid such situations. For your fish to have more room to swim around, a tank that is 5 gallons or larger is advised.
Additionally, a bigger tank will provide you the option of finding tank mates for Betta fish to alleviate its loneliness. In this manner, your fish will be less anxious and bored, and there will be no instances of leaping out from the tank anytime shortly.
Cover The Top Of The Tank
A better way to stop your Betta from leaping off its tank is to cover the top of the tank. While keeping your Betta in the tank ought to be a top concern, there are other options to keep in mind. Actually, covering your fish alone is not the best way to resolve any potential problems.
As a result, before covering the tank in an attempt to keep the fish inside it, make sure that all other aspects which make your pet comfortable are considered as well.
Additionally, floating plants can be used to cover the water’s surface if your tank does not have a lid. Live plants not only keep your betta fish from leaping out, but they also keep the water clean. Nitrates and other substances that could be hazardous to your fish can be removed from the water very effectively by floating plants.
Use Suitable Aquarium Lighting
If you’re not providing your betta a regular, simple schedule, you should start. The lighting system should be checked in addition to other elements affecting your fish’s life when you see this strange jumping behavior in your Betta fish. When it comes to providing your fish comfort, light is essential.
Surprisingly, it is known that the prescribed light schedule has a significant effect on your fish’s circadian cycle. Since you are aware of the significance of light to fish, make sure you provide them with a minimum of 8 hours of light each day.
How Should You Respond If Your Betta Jumps Out of His Tank?
If you find your betta has leaped out of its tank, you must act swiftly to ensure its survival. Your betta will die if it jumps from its tank when it becomes too dry. Bettas can often only stay dry for ten minutes at a time. When it is introduced back to the water at the ten-minute mark, its possibilities of life are incredibly poor.
However, if you find it soon enough, you should bring it back into the tank right away. At this point, it’s not unusual for your fish to merely rest on the bottom of the tank. It might be having trouble breathing since its gills have dried up. If so, you should add little aquarium salt to help his gills function better.
You must also add something more to the tank to enhance its slime coat, such as API Stress Coat, in addition to aquarium salt. Your betta’s slime coat might have dried up after being removed from its aquarium. Keeping it strong and healthy will boost its immune system. It will also decrease the possibility that your betta will contract an infection.
Final Thoughts
You are now aware of the reason for Bettas’ tank jumps. They might act in this manner due to the tank’s shifting conditions or just a desire to catch something that is circling above the surface. Whatever the situation, make sure you resolve these issues before you lose your fish.