Do You Think Bettas Get Bored?

Okay, so for context, I have one male betta with about 5 shrimp and 6 nerite snails in a planted 20 gallon long tank. He has a floating log, 6 kinds of plants (though I'd like more since one of them isn't doing well and the other keeps getting stuck in the filter) a couple logs, a heater that keeps it at 80 degrees f, and of course thermometer, filter, and gravel.

I've tried to make plenty of places for my betta to explore in, under, behind, etc.. I've tried betta leaf hammocks, the floating log like mentioned, several plants, and having a long 20 gallon tank but I still feel like my betta just seems bored sometimes.

He immediately responds by swimming to anybody he sees, follows the Python/gravel vac around when cleaning and changing water, and will jump out of his water at your finger. I've never seen him flare though, and sometimes it seems like he's just sitting around in his tank.

Am I just projecting too many human emotions on him? He looks healthy to me, his coloring and fins are good, he's a good swimmer with not too long fins as a VT, and the tank parameters are good.

 

Does he ever hunt the shrimp? Have you tried feeding live foods like brine shrimp, mosquito larvae or flightless fruit flies?

 

I use an exercise mirror for about 2 mins 2x/day. It relieves constipation and helps their fins grow strong like bull ha. Someone posted on here that a laser pointer is awesome too. I have dry erase markers too lol. Google betta entertainment hacks....will give you some cool ideas.

My betta Dante:

 

Dry erase markers are an awesome idea!

 

Bettas are so cool. Theyre smart and behave kind of like dogs. Ive had my betta for a week and he is learning. He knows when I'm about to feed him. I spyied on him once and couldnt find him at first because he nestled himself within the dwarf hair grass carpet. I think he was bored out of his mind, but maybe I too am personifying him lol

 

Bettas get bored, for sure. In my mind, I classify bettas as one of (if not the) most intelligent fish, along with cichlids. They crave interaction.

 

Bettas are so cool. Theyre smart and behave kind of like dogs. Ive had my betta for a week and he is learning. He knows when I'm about to feed him. I spyied on him once and couldnt find him at first because he nestled himself within the dwarf hair grass carpet. I think he was bored out of his mind, but maybe I too am personifying him lol

You are not. Ha. Very social. More like a dog than a fish. I can pet dante lol

 

(Deleted because double posted)

 

Oh my goodness, I find this so funny because I worry about the same exact thing. I literally went to Lowe's and bought a bunch of colorful cactI and succulents to put around his tank. I change how they're arranged every day, and I always change the photos I have around the tank for him to look at. During water changes, I like to change a decoration or two so it gives him something new to explore. I once heard about someone who would put photo albums and books in front of their betta's tank, and would simply turn to a new page everyday

 

If you talk to people who have seen bubble nesting Betta species in the wild, they lead a semI quiet life. They hang under the surface, waiting to hammer mosquitoes. They don't get one every day. A lot of their time is spent watching the water surface, with their close in vision (very poor for distances beyond a few inches).
If a male swims around, he crosses into the turf of an other male. That's a bad idea. They live in swampy water with low visibility.
They build bubble nests, and hope females swim by, They spar with other males along the edge of their turf. They do their best not to get eaten by birds (stillness, hanging under leaves, all things we see in tanks).
When people put ping pong balls in as toys, they freak out and bounce them because something floating and blocking in their insect hunting zone is death. They have to get rid of it or starve, and instinct makes them look like they are playing soccer. But a floating log is cover, and an ambush point, all at once.
I don't think they get bored. They hunt (through hovering under the surface), they avoid the birds that aren't there in our living spaces and they wait patiently for food. They hate all tank mates as competition, but learn to tolerate the annoyance of some. Life goes on for them.

 

If you talk to people who have seen bubble nesting Betta species in the wild, they lead a semI quiet life. They hang under the surface, waiting to hammer mosquitoes. They don't get one every day. A lot of their time is spent watching the water surface, with their close in vision (very poor for distances beyond a few inches).
If a male swims around, he crosses into the turf of an other male. That's a bad idea. They live in swampy water with low visibility.
They build bubble nests, and hope females swim by, They spar with other males along the edge of their turf. They do their best not to get eaten by birds (stillness, hanging under leaves, all things we see in tanks).
When people put ping pong balls in as toys, they freak out and bounce them because something floating and blocking in their insect hunting zone is death. They have to get rid of it or starve, and instinct makes them look like they are playing soccer. But a floating log is cover, and an ambush point, all at once.
I don't think they get bored. They hunt (through hovering under the surface), they avoid the birds that aren't there in our living spaces and they wait patiently for food. They hate all tank mates as competition, but learn to tolerate the annoyance of some. Life goes on for them.

Agreed. They are social with humans though. Almost like comparing wolves and a labrador. My ghost shrimp and betta are cool. Wild caught? Heck heah....but the ones that are bred 100k times over are a little different imo. Of course a domesticated dog can turn on you, every betta is different.