Can Bettas have Seperation Anxiety?

[Thunderloon]

We had a beautiful male, black crown blue to purple to red veil tail who was SOOO depressive that we named him Emo.

He'd sit on the bed side of his tank all night watching us worried that we weren't coming up for air. So we got tetras to put in his tank, they don't have to breathe either. I don't know if he ever got it but he was soo sad that we left every morning for work.

[Babyfins]

I know this thread is over a week old, but I had to add a comment to this debate.

I believe without a doubt that bettas have emotions. Including anxiety in many forms.

My betta used to get mad at me after destroying his bubble nest every week during tank cleaning. For a day or two after destroying his masterpiece he'd flare at me when I would go to his tank as if to say "Don't you DARE go near my nest!" After a few days he would forgive me, stop flaring, and build a new nest. This went on for several weeks. I've had him for 3 months now and I'm pretty sure he is used to it now although he doesn't like it. I would put money on the thought that he actually knows when I'm going to clean his tank. He will look up at his bubble nest and kinda slump his doral fin. Looking sad. Fortunately, he is generally a happy fish. He gets attention from my son and my dogs. He loves to be watched. He displays his fins very large and swims from side to side in his tank for anyone that wants to see. :) He's felt mad, sad and happy why would he not feel anxiety from separation? I love him, he knows it because of the way I care for him, and in turn he loves me back.

My betta (Finley) definitely knows who I am. He has different behaviors to me in comparison to others.

Bettas are very smart and perceptive.

That is all! LOL

[Babyfins]

I thought this vid was appropriate for this thread. It's one of my favs that I found.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSfVliwnsbA]YouTube - The most friendly betta fish.[/ame]

[Comatose]

I wouldn't t say that they have separation anxiety, but I do think they know who their owners are, and they miss us when we are gone for awhile.

When I left for over a week to visit some family I left my bettas in the care of cousin. When I came back and went down to my fish room, I noticed all of my fish looked pale and unhappy. At the sight of me they perked up. I think that they knew i was there and they were happy that I was back.