[LinkLover]

So a few days ago I got my first Betta, named Link (I'm a huge Legend of Zelda fan), and was very excited to experience a new type of pet, as I've never even had my own fish at all. He has a ten gallon tank, a heater, a filter, plants, caves, and I even got a little leaf hammock for him today. The day after I brought him home, my boyfriend wanted to add a snail, so I looked it up and thought it would be fine. But the snail wasn't happy, and neither was Link. So, we got a separate tank for the snail (and added two more) and got all the necessary items for them as well. However... I have been way more interested in the snails than the Betta (lame, I know) and am really worried. Will I change my mind? Will I become more interested in Link as time goes by? He will get excellent care no matter what, I love all animals, but I was very disappointed that my excitement went away so quickly. I don't know what to do!

 

[MrVampire181]

I get that way sometimes and I have tons of bettas (soon to be hundreds with my new spawns)! You will notice his personality and he will become a friend. During the first month they adjust to their new home and then they start to be themselves a bit.

 

[LinkLover]

Oh ok. That makes me more hopeful! He always comes up to the glass when I put my face there, which is also encouraging. I'm used to having furry pets, such as rats, hamsters, and I currently have a dog, so it's hard getting used to a pet I can't hold or play with. Thank you very much!

 

[Sivan]

It happens. You ended up with two new things at once, it can be hard to divide equal attention. As you care for him you're interest will pick up. Betta fish are beautiful creatures full of personality.

 

[Leeniex]

Mine crack me up. They really all have personalities.

 

[Rosso1011]

It may just take a little time. As the above users have mentioned, each betta has their own personality and if you spend time with them, you will begin to notice your betta's individual personality. I have two male bettas. One is more happy-go-lucky and the other is aggressive, but a goof as well. Another thing that may be of interest is keeping an eye out for a bubble nest. Bubble nests tells us that our guys are showing interest of breeding or maybe marking his territory (or so I've heard).

 

[Betta16]

Make Feeding time into a game with him, like seeing if he well jump or swim from side to side. my mate felt like you do and once she saw me get some of mine to jump durnig there feeding she has started games with hers and they are super close now.

 

[Olympia]

I got bored of my one, for like a month. Still took care of him, just didn't really interact with him. Thought I was bored of fish, but I had a really bad day and watching him made me feel better, and now I've gone nuts about them again.
Try putting things infront of his tank, making him chase your finger, try a new food like blood worms or brine shrimp.. You'll get to know them better that way and feel closer

 

[arin]

I'v had my first betta for about 3 weeks now. I was like you and always had furry pets. but my daughter has alligeries to them so we got her fish for her b-day and i got my betta. it is alot different but it can be just as rewarding. My little guy even has his own little ways of showing affection.:-D

 

[LinkLover]

Wow thanks you guys! That really helps a lot. I have tried getting him to come get food from me, but he likes to wait until it sinks to eat it. I hope that over time that will change. Do you have any suggestions on how to get him started with little games like that? He is brand new, so I'm sure he's getting used his new house, but I want to start doing that stuff as soon as possible so we can start being friends.

 

[Laki]

There are many games you can try to interact with your fish. My ct Bowser likes to chase water droplets if I squirt the outside of the tank, they both like to jump for bloodworms (trust me, frozen bloodworms will change your perspective of your fish), some like to peck at light floating things like a ping pong ball or floating cork.. They can chase your finger and once you target train them to a pen or your finger I have seen people get their bettas to swim through hoops! lol

I keep one fish on my desk so I can always show him new things (he's infatuated with the LCD menu on my cell phone!!) and the other fish is in the kitchen window so we play with him when we're doing dishes or cooking (we spend a lot of time in the kitchen!)

Don't feel bad for getting bored of your betta, with time you two will come to appreciate each other! Give him toys and lots of plants and he will amuse himself.

 

[Bombalurina]

Last year I had glandular fever and lost interest in almost everything, my fish included. I found the best way to get interested was to get involved. I started planning aquascapes, drawing them out, colouring them in, researching suitable plants, looking up biotypes etc. That got me right back into it.

 

[jasonh]

So a few days ago I got my first Betta, named Link (I'm a huge Legend of Zelda fan), and was very excited to experience a new type of pet, as I've never even had my own fish at all. He has a ten gallon tank, a heater, a filter, plants, caves, and I even got a little leaf hammock for him today. The day after I brought him home, my boyfriend wanted to add a snail, so I looked it up and thought it would be fine. But the snail wasn't happy, and neither was Link. So, we got a separate tank for the snail (and added two more) and got all the necessary items for them as well. However... I have been way more interested in the snails than the Betta (lame, I know) and am really worried. Will I change my mind? Will I become more interested in Link as time goes by? He will get excellent care no matter what, I love all animals, but I was very disappointed that my excitement went away so quickly. I don't know what to do!

betta are very intelligent animals. it doesnt take them long to learn something especially when food is involved. they have a strong interest in people and what is going on outside of their tank.

i find watching my fish very relaxing. i have a 10 gal tank at my computer desk.

you might want to try adding 10 or so ghost shrimp. they keep things interesting. and they're cheap.

 

[Laki]

I always think they're trying to figure out how to get involved in human life.. Also, I wonder if they're capable of figuring out we are on a different planet so to speak, where we breathe air and don't live in water and prepare our meals and buy betta fish as a selfish human thing... I wonder how intelligent they are. (like, dolphins have probably figured out a lot about humans that we don't know)

 

[Rosso1011]

Wow thanks you guys! That really helps a lot. I have tried getting him to come get food from me, but he likes to wait until it sinks to eat it. I hope that over time that will change. Do you have any suggestions on how to get him started with little games like that? He is brand new, so I'm sure he's getting used his new house, but I want to start doing that stuff as soon as possible so we can start being friends.

Sometimes bettas will do that while they're adjusting to their new environment. Over time he should learn that it is easier to eat the food while it's floating. Another thing to take into consideration may be the size of the pellet. If it looks like the pellet may be a little big for him, you may want to try to split the pellet.

 

[Betta16]

For the first week or two always feed him in the same spot, then as he starts to come to the spot that u always feed him you can use a feeding stick or ur finger (I use a chopstick) put the pelet on the end of the stick and place it in the water letting him aproch the stick never chase the betta you don't want him to frear the feeding stick. He well find the food and eat it do this for a few days and then when u put the stick in as the betta swims to the food wigly the stick and slowly move away from him he well chase the stick. After he has learnd to chase the stick u can hold the stick abouve the tank and he well jump to get the food from the end (note not all bettas well jump and not all jump the same hight). We that's the beging of tricks

 

[jasonh]

For the first week or two always feed him in the same spot, then as he starts to come to the spot that u always feed him you can use a feeding stick or ur finger (I use a chopstick) put the pelet on the end of the stick and place it in the water letting him aproch the stick never chase the betta you don't want him to frear the feeding stick. He well find the food and eat it do this for a few days and then when u put the stick in as the betta swims to the food wigly the stick and slowly move away from him he well chase the stick. After he has learnd to chase the stick u can hold the stick abouve the tank and he well jump to get the food from the end (note not all bettas well jump and not all jump the same hight). We that's the beging of tricks

well i'd rather not train my betta to jump. i dont want him to leap out of a hospital tank or something else while i'm cleaning his tank.

one thing i noticed is fish do have an internal clock of sorts. they know when it's feeding time. on my days off i see them all go to the top of the tank and wait at 4:30pm... the time i usually get home. in the morning they are waiting expecting to be fed at the same time as well.

also i know they dont have ears but they really can sense vibration or hear in a sorts via vibration. i have an alarm clock ringer on my cellphone and when it goes off my one fish comes out from his sleeping place like he's startled. he's across the room.

 

[LinkLover]

Ok, I will try getting him on a good feeding schedule in the same spot. The pellets are SUPER duper tiny, he can fit a whole one in his mouth, but he does spit them out and grab it again, over and over. I will also try using a feeding stick. Would a wood skewer be ok? I assume the point would have to be filed down though. And do I just stick the food on the end and it will automatically stay there? Or would my finger be better? I wouldn't mind using my finger, but how does the food stick to it?

 

[TakoLuLu]

I don't know how Betta16 does it, but if you dip the stick in the tank to get the tip of it damp the food should stick to it without much difficulty.

 

[Laki]

I never thought of putting pellets on the stick! I use the end of a paintbrush for bloodworms. They just know stick=treats!