Aggressive lil' sucker

1192 Views 26 Replies 12 Participants Last post by VivianKJean, Jun 13, 2014

huckleberry77

Discussion Starter · Jun 11, 2014 (Edited)

My veiltail is super aggressive at feeding time. He is very impatient and will try to jump up and bite my fingers as I am beginning to feed him. I use a small straw to feed him bloodworms and brine shrimp and he lunges at the straw and bites it and won't let go. It's shocking how hard he holds on!:twisted: I am actually worried he might cut his mouth because the edge of the straw is thin, and if he comes at it with enough force, he could potentially be injured.

Is this normal behavior? My other bettas are happy to be fed, but don't act like jaws!!:shock:

Edit: On second thought... I did pick him off the Pet Supplies Plus Shelf because he was beautiful, and acted like he was going to destroy the cup. I figured his energy meant he was strong and healthy, so I took him home.

1 - 20 of 27 Posts

freeflow246

· #2 · Jun 11, 2014

I had a betta who would repeatedly lunge for my fingertips if when it was feeding time, since I fed pellets by sticking them to my fingertip and dropping them into the water. I think for some, feeding time just brings out their inner aggressiveness.

mpooyan83

· #3 · Jun 11, 2014

Does it hurt at all, or can u feel it if a Betta bites ur finger?

mine will come and take food from my fingers. hes never tried to bite or jump at my hand or anything.

huckleberry77

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jun 11, 2014

mpooyan83 said:
Does it hurt at all, or can u feel it if a Betta bites ur finger?

mine will come and take food from my fingers. hes never tried to bite or jump at my hand or anything.

He's only grabbed onto the straw. He's never actually latched on to my finger (though he always tries!). I have, fortunately for both of us, pulled my fingers away in time! I say fortunately for both of us because my instinct would be to pull my hand away and shake it, and if he was biting on to it he would be flung across the room!

freeflow246

· #5 · Jun 11, 2014

Nah it doesn't hurt. It's just a tap since my finger is too big for him to really get a grip.

givemethatfish

· #6 · Jun 11, 2014

One of my bettas, Roland, is like that at feeding time. Otherwise he's the most calm and docile guy. But bring out that pipette and he goes into a frenzy. He has latched onto it several times and I have to shake him loose or just wait for him to let go. He's insane. He will jump out of the water to get at it. Although he doesn't do the same with my fingers when I'm just feeding pellets.

VivianKJean

· #7 · Jun 11, 2014

My boy Perry is very aggressive at meal time. Its very normal behavior. And it doesn't hurt at all if a betta "bites" your finger, like freeflow246 it's more like a bump and you might feel a bit of pressure.

FishWhisperer

· #8 · Jun 11, 2014

Hmmm...... This gives me an idea.
1: mash up a pea
2: put a little in the pipette.
3: when he latches on squirt the pipette and the pea goes down his throught.
PLEASE ONLY USE A REALLY TINY AMOUNT IF YOU DO THIS. I DON'T WANT ANY BETTAS TO CHOKE AND WE HAVE TO DO BETTA CPR. I MEAN IT, THIS IS A WARNING THAT SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED IF YOU WANT TO THIS!

freeflow246

· #9 · Jun 11, 2014

If you're trying to feed a betta a pea? Bettas shouldn't really be fed peas.

FishWhisperer

· #10 · Jun 12, 2014

They help with constipation. Or you can use gel food.

RussellTheShihTzu

· #11 · Jun 12, 2014

You could try feeding him with a pipette or small eye dropper instead of a straw.

huckleberry77

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jun 12, 2014

RussellTheShihTzu said:
You could try feeding him with a pipette or small eye dropper instead of a straw.

Yeah I need to track one of those down (actually a few of them now that I have the flourish). Not sure where you can buy them.

RussellTheShihTzu

· #13 · Jun 12, 2014

You can find them on eBay. I bought mine when I got a bunch of stuff from Foster & Smith. They have the best prices on Seachem products and it doesn't take much between our horse, fish and dog supplies to make their $49 free shipping.

huckleberry77

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jun 12, 2014

RussellTheShihTzu said:
You can find them on eBay. I bought mine when I got a bunch of stuff from Foster & Smith. They have the best prices on Seachem products and it doesn't take much between our horse, fish and dog supplies to make their $49 free shipping.

:-D Oh, another horse, dog, and fish household!! Me too!!!

RussellTheShihTzu

· #15 · Jun 12, 2014 (Edited)

huckleberry77 said:
:-D Oh, another horse, dog, and fish household!! Me too!!!

Yep.

Ben: 26-year-old Walking Horse
Red: 25-year-old Walking Horse
Cindy: 10-year-old Rocky Mountain
Smoke: 5-year-old Walking Horse

Russell: 2.5 year-old Shih Tzu
Boo: 1.5 year-old English Setter
Edward: 7-month-old Shih Tzu

Stretch: 12-year-old Yellow Tabby

And the fish. ;-)

The past six months have been really rough as we had to euthanize our three elderly German Shorthaired Pointers.: Loretta, Pearl and Joe.

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VivianKJean

· #16 · Jun 12, 2014

FishWhisperer said:
They help with constipation. Or you can use gel food.

Peas DO NOT help with digestion. Bettas are carnivores so their digestive track can't digest plant protein so what ends up happening when you feed a pea is that it travels through his body in one large chuck and that could rip the lining of his digestive track. Feed him daphnia instead

huckleberry77

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jun 12, 2014

RussellTheShihTzu said:
Yep.

Ben: 26-year-old Walking Horse
Red: 25-year-old Walking Horse
Cindy: 10-year-old Rocky Mountain
Smoke: 5-year-old Walking Horse

Russell: 2.5 year-old Shih Tzu
Boo: 1.5 year-old English Setter
Edward: 7-month-old Shih Tzu

Stretch: 12-year-old Yellow Tabby

And the fish. ;-)

The past six months have been really rough as we had to euthanize our three elderly German Shorthaired Pointers.: Loretta, Pearl and Joe.

You have impeccable taste in pets!!:-D

We have a 5 year old english pointer (mix?) from the pound, a 28 year old TWH with PPID who is still ridden (on loan from a friend for the past 2 years), and 3 bettas.

I love GSPs. They are so loveable. I am sorry for your loss.

mpooyan83

· #18 · Jun 12, 2014

I've heard to feed peas to Betta everywhere by a ton of people when they look bloated/constipated. why shouldn't they be fed a pea once in a while?

VivianKJean

· #19 · Jun 12, 2014

mpooyan83 said:
I've heard to feed peas to Betta everywhere by a ton of people when they look bloated/constipated. why shouldn't they be fed a pea once in a while?

this is a misconception. Bettas are carnivores so their digestive track can't digest plant protein so what ends up happening when you feed a pea is that it travels through his body in one large chuck and that could rip the lining of his digestive track. Feed him frozen daphnia instead if he is bloated.

iElBeau

· #20 · Jun 12, 2014 (Edited)

I'd hate to disagree here, but there is a time and a place for pea feeding. If your betta routinely gets constipated, and is regularly at risk of SBD (some are naturally more prone to it than others) feeding a *very* tiny piece of blanched pea is appropriate.

You're right that it's indigestible by fish. That's not necessarily a bad thing - that means its fibre. Now fibre in any animal can be good, as it acts by providing resistance in the intestines, which builds their strength in the same way lifting weights for humans provides resistance our muscles work against and make them stronger. With occasional feeding over time it can help to strengthen the fishes intestines, thus actually improving their digestion and lowering their risk/tendency towards SBD.

However, if it is not done properly, ie. Too much is fed (I've heard horror stories of people feeding an entire pea) it can tear the intestines.

Note: this is actually the same as humans. Fibre is indigestible (ever notice how corn comes out looking the same on the other end?) But we need it to regulate digestion and strengthen our gut. If we eat too much, we get rectal bleeding, if we eat too little it leads to constipation and increased risk of certain digestive disorders. Now I know fish are not the same as humans, but intestines are intestines, and surprisingly function the same regardless of what animal were talking, and furthermore, anyone who's had a fish who's regularly constipated and develops SBD repeatedly whos used the pea method correctly will tell you they successfully improved their fish's digestive health.

Keep in mind I do not believe in fish this should be used regularly, or that it should replace a varied diet that should supply fibre in and of itself for a fish, but rather that it is only necessary in certain very specific situations, and needs to be done properly to minimize any risk involved.

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