Q&A for How to Grow a Bond With Your Betta Fish

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Question

How do I bond with my betta fish?

Craig Morton
Aquarium Specialist, Aquarium Doctor Inc.
Craig Morton is the CEO of Aquarium Doctor Inc. based in Huntington Beach California and servicing Orange County, Los Angeles County, and the Inland Empire. With over 30 years of aquarium experience, Craig specializes in creating custom aquarium designs along with aquarium installation, service, and maintenance.

Craig Morton

Aquarium Specialist, Aquarium Doctor Inc.

Expert Answer

Try to feed your betta in the same spot every day. This will help your fish bond with you and become more friendly.

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Question

How can I tell if my betta is stressed?

Craig Morton
Aquarium Specialist, Aquarium Doctor Inc.
Craig Morton is the CEO of Aquarium Doctor Inc. based in Huntington Beach California and servicing Orange County, Los Angeles County, and the Inland Empire. With over 30 years of aquarium experience, Craig specializes in creating custom aquarium designs along with aquarium installation, service, and maintenance.

Craig Morton

Aquarium Specialist, Aquarium Doctor Inc.

Expert Answer

A happy and healthy betta will have clear eyes, untethered fins, and an active appetite. If he doesn't, he may be sick or stressed.

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Question

How big does a Betta fish get?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Typically, the average Betta fish grows to be around 6 to 8 centimetres in length.

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Question

Can Betta fish live with goldfish?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Betta fish are extremely territorial and likely to attack other species. More than that, the care needs of Betta fish differ from goldfish. While the former are tropical and thrive in water above 78F, goldfish do better in cooler water, below 74F. They also have different needs in terms of how often the water is changed and how large the tank should be, so keeping them together is not a good idea.

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Question

How can I play with my betta fish?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

You can play with a betta fish by adding enrichment toys and objects to the fish tank. It's also a good idea, if you have the time, to train your betta fish and teach it a few tricks. For lots of helpful ideas to help you play with your betta fish, check out the wikiHow How to Play with Your Betta Fish .

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Question

Do betta fish recognize their owners?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Betta fish can certainly learn to recognize their owners. They are an intelligent fish that can be trained to recognize humans, especially the person who feeds them most of the time. Once they see you regularly, they’ll grow to know you and become excited at your approach.

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Question

How do you get your betta fish to trust you?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

A key way to get your betta fish to trust you is to spend time around it and let it get to know you well. Situate the tank near to where you do activities regularly, like homework, reading or a hobby, so that your betta fish can watch you as you do your tasks. Talk to your fish, spend time around it, and always be the one who feeds it. In time, it will come to trust you. Just don’t make the mistake of trying to touch the fish because this will frighten it.

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Question

Can fish hear you talking to them?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Fish can hear but what they hear would be more like vibrations and it’s not likely they can distinguish a human voice from other sounds coming from outside the tank. However, it is still useful for you to talk to your fish as it makes you feel bonded and it keeps you near the fish so it can grow to recognize your presence and the fact that you do make noise!

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Question

Can I touch my betta?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

It is highly recommended that you do not touch your betta. Touching can frighten a betta fish and make it bite you or swim off and hide from you. Touching the fish can also remove some of its protective slime coating, leaving it more vulnerable to disease. And you might also unwittingly transfer bacteria to the fish from touching it. So no, don't touch your betta; there are plenty of other safe ways to interact.

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Question

How can I get my fish to come out more?

Community Answer

Your betta fish may be scared of you, so try spending some time with it - but don't tap on its tank.

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Question

Can a betta fish hear me speak to them?

Community Answer

Yes, Bettas have excellent hearing.

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Question

Can I watch videos/movies/TV with my betta?

Caeiia

Top Answerer

Sure, but if the TV is too loud or bright, it'll get scared.

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Question

How can I avoid scaring him?

Community Answer

Try not to sudden and fast movements. If you are move like that, your betta will move fast in a jerky manner, and may stay at a certain distance away from you. Take it slowly and gently.

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Question

I have two of them kept separately, but if I put their tanks side to side, will this affect their behavior?

Community Answer

They will flare at each other. Avoid putting two male tanks side by side, as this may lead to stress for the two bettas. If absolutely necessary, though, you can make it work by putting a black piece of paper between the tanks.

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Question

Will I still be able to bond with my betta fish if I don't know how to play/he won't play?

Community Answer

Yes, of course! You just have to be a good "parent" to him and feed him. If you like writing, reading, or drawing, do it in the same room as your betta. Gradually your pet will start bonding. Also, after a while he will realize you equal food. This will for sure boost his reaction towards you.

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Question

Can betta fish be happy?

Community Answer

If you give them food and places to hide, go through and rest on, and if you interact with your betta at least daily, then they will be happy.

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Question

My betta becomes hyper and follows me whenever I come to his tank. Is this good or bad?

Community Answer

It just means that it wants food. Don't feed your fish more than you normally do, though, or it could die.

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Question

Do betta fish like noises?

Community Answer

No, betta fish don't generally like a lot of noise.

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Question

Will my betta be happier in a rounded tank or a square one?

Community Answer

The fish will be happier in a square tank. That is because he will be able to see outside the tank more clearly.

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Question

Will a betta fish adjust to its new home?

Community Answer

Absolutely -- just give your betta a few days and before you know it, he'll be as happy as ever. You will notice a difference.

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Question

My betta has been with me for nearly a year now and he's doing well, but I've noticed that if someone other than me or my roommate walks by his 'turf', he flares up. Even if it's me, he'll start to flare and then change his mind. Is this normal?

Community Answer

Yes. You just have an aggressive fish.

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Question

Why does my betta fish hate me?

Community Answer

Your betta most likely doesn't hate you, but probably does not like something in his tank. Also, make sure you are feeding him around the same time each day.

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Question

Do bettas need rocks in their tank?

Community Answer

No, they don't, it's not a need. Although, people sometimes avoid putting rocks in there because they're afraid the fish might eat them.

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Question

Can I take my betta outside in a smaller bowl?

Community Answer

You shouldn't take your fish outside of its aquarium unless you absolutely have to. If you're transporting the betta, then that's fine, but keep the bowl covered to make sure it doesn't jump out. Do not just take the fish outside for fun. It prefers to stay in a stable environment and can get stressed out this way.

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Question

Can I put my betta in my room?

Community Answer

Yes, as long as the room temperature doesn't vary too much.

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Question

How can I tell if my betta fish is a female or male?

Community Answer

There is another wikiHow article on that here .

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Question

How can betta fish get babies?

Community Answer

wikiHow's article on breeding betta fish has all the information you need about the process of breeding bettas.

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Question

I don't have enough time to play with my fish. Is there anything that the fish can play with on their own?

Community Answer

You can put things that will float in the water for it to explore and also you can put some different imagery outside the tank, to change the scenery once in awhile.

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Question

Do they like bright colors?

Blogging Legend

Community Answer

No. The Betta will flare up, giving it stress. Try dull colors instead.

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Question

Will a betta bond with me if it's in a 45 gallon tank? Mine is taking more interest in the tank than me. Does that mean it's sick? I've only had it for three days now.

Community Answer

I would give it a while. Your betta is just warming up. Every fish is different, some are friendly and like to play/bond with people, while others are less interested in people and more happy entertaining themselves in the tank. You won't know until you give it a little time to adjust.

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