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

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

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.

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

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.

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 .

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

Yes, Bettas have excellent hearing.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

Yes. You just have an aggressive fish.

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.

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.

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.

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

There is another wikiHow article on that here .

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

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.

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

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.