Why do bettas commit suicide?

[Freshie In Disguise]

I've heard of this happening to many people, and it has happened to me as well.

Last night, my little female betta, Junie, who was the PRETTIEST betta I have ever owned... Dove out of her tank while I was sleeping and slowly dried to death on the floor.

WHY do they do this? What would posess a fish to leap to its death?

 

[blert]

Bettas are jumpers and, IMO, need a covered tank to keep this from happening. Check your water parameters. If the water is funky your fish may have been searching for a better living place.

 

[Koikid88]

Because you know they know if they jump they won't land in water again, right?

 

[Freshie In Disguise]

All of the tank is covered aside from the part where the filter is, but it is a big enough space to get through. I've been doing 25% PWC twice daily which has kept my ammonia level below .25ppm

I did not understand the second post at all... Sorry.

 

[Sisserydoo]

Some fish just leap around for fun, and it's purely accidental. I'm sorry about your fish

 

[LyndaB]

If there's any ammonia, it's a toxic environment. What blert meant was that the fish was looking for water that was not toxic. If your fish literally jumps to its death, even though this species is known to jump, you must check your water parameters to see what it might have been trying to escape.

Sorry for your loss.