Red_Rose

Let me tell you a bit about my boy, Jake. He's a Crowntail betta that I had gotten in December 2006. At first, he was staying in a 1/2 bowl temporarily until I found a good 2.5g that was of a reasonable price. He wasn't even in there for a month when I moved him into a 2.5g with a heater. He was quite content with that until I decided to give him a 10g planted tank because I wanted to house him in something that was cycled so it would be easier on both him and me.

Well in July, it will be one year since he's been in his 10g home and I think he's become very spoiled because of it. Normally, when I have to do a lot of plant pruning, I prefer to scoop him up into a container so the water being moved around from my hands won't stress him out. That is what I did today and I had no problems scooping him up(I had put a lid on the container) but a couple of minutes later I heard "click, click, click!". When I looked at him, he was trying to jump out of the container! I quickly put him back into his home and let him relax for about a half an hour. After that, I just left him in there while I removed plants and added new ones. He was such a good boy for me! He never got stressed out once and he kept swarming my hands while I was adding new plants to his home.

Before, it never bothered him to stay in that container for a bit but now he just won't have it! I guess that's my fault for putting him in a larger home but he loves it and deserves it!

shellbell4ever

That's so cute!!I always leave my babies right in their tanks while I do any maintenance just because I don't want to stress them by removing them and re acclimating them,they never seem to mind my hand in there and often come see what I'm up to
What a lucky boy Jake is to have such a nice mommy and such a nice home all to himself

joycey1221

Haha funny story
Just dont put your hand in there to much, or he will think it is a competitor and be afaid of it next time you feed him and he sees you hand

Martinismommy

Sounds like Jake has a wonderful life..I leave all 4 of my boys in their tanks during water changes etc..Haven't had a problem...They all 4 eat out of my fingers..

Red_Rose

Thank you! When I first saw bettas in those tiny cups and especially once I started doing research on them, I just wanted to give Jake a great home to live in. Sometimes, when I see him in there swimming around, I wish that all bettas could all have a spacious home but unfortunately, a lot of people think it's acceptable to keep them in those ridiculously small "tanks" that many LFS' sell.

I'll definitely be leaving him in there from now on whenever I have to trim plants, etc. As for becoming afraid of my hand, I don't think that's possible with Jake because he's so nosy! Most fish(accept for my guppies) would usually hide when a hand were to go into the tank but Jake is right there checking it out. I often wonder if he thinks "What's that doing in MY home?". lol

Lucy

I feel that way too, I see Prissy enjoying her 10g, and my heart breaks for all the bettas in little cups or bowls.
I wish everyone were like the betta owners here and would truly appreciate their beauty and need for room.

joycey1221

Oh...sorry about the false information (I think), I saw someone "playing" with a betta and the betta was flaring as hard as it could

Red_Rose

I agree. I just can't stand it when people put bettas in small bowls because of the myths that people tell about them.

I'm sure we all know about that mud puddles myth.

No need to apologize. Maybe if the betta wasn't use to that person's hands in the water or if the betta is very aggressive, s/he would probably flare at the hand instead of swimming around it. Or the person could've been a jerk and was trying to get the betta to flare intentionally by putting their hand in there to make the betta think it's a predator.

chickadee

Well I think all bettas should be spoiled and treated like little royalty. They are so mistreated during their preowner lives that they deserve anything they get to make their lives easier and happier.

Jake will let you know when he is wanting things different. He wants to have the freedom to have the complete run of the tank at all times. If he can deal with the maintenance then I say let him play during the fun. I have never removed the little fish from my tanks when I do maintenance unless I need to remove more water than they can deal with then they get to stay in the hospital tank just long enough to have the change done.

Rose

COBettaCouple

LOL.. They're very easy fish to spoil.