Training Bettas

[AquaKai]

Even though this isn't direct care with bettas it does supply entertainment and stimulation. I'm really wanting to teach my bettas some tricks, has anyone done this before? I've seen the R2 Fish Training thing, but has anyone done this with a betta? Any tips or ideas or anything?

I think that I have the basics and might try to start tomorrow!

[Sakura8]

What kind of tricks? Like swimming or jumping through hoops? Food. That's all I can say. Food is the greatest motivator for bettas. :)

[Sena Hansler]

Yes. yes it is. Another thing, is you need their trust. If they trust your hand being there... it is so much easier. I have some of my bettas follow my finger, which with that I can have them go through stuff, like hoops, and with food on my finger tip they can jump for food. It took a good year to have Spartan trust me completely enough that I could close my hand around him, and not have him freak out. THAT was pretty cool (best if you have bigger hads/longer fingers that'll fit around the betta without actually rubbing against them).
eventually Spartan learned to beg, as well. (nose to top, look at me, nose to top, look at me)

[AquaKai]

Ok, I will try the food and trust thing! I hope that this all works out well! Thanks:)

[revolutionrocknroll]

Yeah, like training a dog, use positive reinforcement training with food as the reward for when your fish does the trick correctly. I'm teaching mine to swim through a hoop right now :D
As Sena said, it's A LOT easier if they learn to follow your finger first.

[Sena Hansler]

some do it naturally, because if it moves - chase it! and try eating it! Conan has THAT down ><

I wish you luck! =D

[bluesushi]

My new betta is a huge pig, so i've been using that to my advantage. My goal was to have him jump out of the water to eat out my hand. On the first day, he'd only take dried bloodworms out of my fingers when i submerged my hand. On the second day, I hovered them above the water line and he caught on pretty quickly, and started jumping out of the water to eat. I've never tried training a fish before but it's going pretty smoothly.. i'm not sure what's next, but i'm thinking backflips and tiny motorcycles

[Sena Hansler]

if you do that, video. aaaall the way. xD

[Wolfboy51]

my betta almost always does this sort of whale like jump landing on his side when i put food anywhere near the tank. whenever i come in the room he swims up to the top and 'dances'.

[Sena Hansler]

that's cute!