adriatwin

I have had regular bettas for years and recently got a crown tail betta, for two days now i have heard clicking sounds coming from his bowl and when i look he appears to be making the sounds! Is this possible and why is he doing it?

ShaynaB

Hmm... Is he moving rocks around or hitting something in the tank or are the sounds actually coming from him? Never heard of a talking Betta before. Maybe he sings?

Devon

Welcome to FishLore!
Really funny you just posted this question, because I SWEAR I heard Bowie make an unhappy noise when I was cleaning his tank a minute ago (I accidentally hit him with the net when I took him out.)
I read a highly mediocre essay on betta fish intelligence that mentions his bettas making sounds, but he doesn't back up a single thing he says beyond that he "observes" his fish doing this or that, and immediately attributes these things to his own perceived reasons. I think half the reason I don't like him is that he kept his bettas in bowls, but anyway: http://www.raoulpop.com/2005/08/17/t...ed-betta-fish/ He mentions it in the August 2005 section.
There's another forum thread here that discusses betta fish noises as well, it isn't unheard-of, but I haven't found anything yet to back up the possibility with true science. So far my favorite explanation was this one:
LOL!!

Steve113

I have heard this - but it is not my betta who is guilty.

I've yet to find an explanation but when I drop an algae biscuit into the tank all my fish seem to go crazy for it - that is, until my big scary plec scares them all away...

However, when my balas pick at the biscuit they make a very loud cracking noise - it almost sounds as though my glass is cracking. It has given me a scare on a few occasions.

I have noticed this on a couple of occasions whenre there has been no algae biscuit there but 99% of the time it's when they are chewing on one of these. - As for where or how the noise is made? All i know is that it is NOT anything hitting the inside of the glass, - (no gravel to hit it as sand substrate and the biscuit stays on the bottom of the tank so theres nothing that can hit the side!)

Teeth/Jaw clicking noises? That's all I can guess at...

Allie

I use to hear Jasper RIP making his bubble nest. Which sounds like a clicking/popping sound.

Steve113

Hmm...
My noises arent bubble nest - It's clearly not my betta who's making the sound.

It really is a loud noise when I hear it - dunno if you're the same adriatwin?

Chief_waterchanger

Well it is not uncommon for fish to make noises, and I'm sure with the proper motivation a betta probably could also.

Plecostomus squeal. It sounds like a small child going "NEEAAAAAA."
Clown loaches make a click noise with the spines just under their eyes when really excited or "on the hunt" for the elusive red worms or mosquito larvae.

Fishies-for-me

I swear I heard Blue crunching food one day...but only once and the food never crunches any other time for him or the other fish....could he of been making the noise himself??

Devon

That's creepy, but that seems like the noise that I think Bowie made when I put him in the cup, kind of a whine.

Now I want loaches even more!! They're so cute.

Lonely Angel

It is possible to hear bettas chewing if you listen very carefully. When I feed pellets I hear the little "crunch crunch crunch" but not with bloodworms which are too soft. I think it's so cute!

I've never heard them make any other noises though.

TFA101

I know gouramis make noises like that. Bettas are in the same family, so I would believe this story. But all the bettas I've had, from Fighter (my first betta when I was 9, passed away @ 2 months) to Dusty, and Mango all made crunching sound when chewing their food. But I've never heard any of them making clicking noises just because. Doesn't mean they cant, though.

adriatwin

WoW thanks for all the replys! He hasnt made any sounds today but when he did it sounded exactly like tapping your fingernail on glass and he was tilting his head back, no bubbles though. I've been doing some research online, so far not alot out there about talking fish!