How do I make my betta fish less skittish?

I'm sorry that picture isn't the best and it's so gigantic. I should try and get a better picture of him sometime but he's so skittish around me so it's really hard to do, but man is he ever beautiful! He's a dark red with gorgeous blue and white speckles on his body, and a shiny turqoize above his eyes.

Anyways, he seems terrified of me and I'm wondering what I can do to make him chill out and learn what I can do to make friends with him more. I've read that betta fish are super intelligent and you can train them to eat out of your hand, which I'd love to do. He sometimes loses his fear during feeding times, but otherwise won't come near.
He looks healthy to me. I don't think I've ever seem him get mad or "flare up" at anything. He's very relaxed and likes to swim around, he goes up to the surface lots, then he'll explore down on the bottom sometimes, then he likes to hide in caves for a bit, then he'll swim around again. But as soon as he sees me he'll swim away and try to hide from me.
He's currently living with 6 neons. He's not skittish around them and doesn't seem bothered by them at all and they also don't care that he's there either.
I was planning on moving the neons to the bigger tank as soon as they got bigger, but the neons and betta fish are existing peacefully together and I'm actually thinking of keeping them in there with him. I watch them together lots, and the neons have never tried to nip at his fins or pester him or anything.
I think the neons might like more space but they seem really happy in there.
The only issue of having them together is the neons are much faster at eating food than he is, so I always have to feed them at different spots in the tank.
But anyway, the neons leave him alone and he leaves them alone.

What can I do to make him less afraid of me?

Oh also, they are in a 5 gallon tank that is filtered and heated.

 

How long have you had him?

Your neons will appreciate more space to swim in, they are far too active for a 5 gallon.

 

Remove the other fish and possible lower the flow on the filter. Too much activity and too strong a current will overwhelm most bettas.

 

My question was how do I get him to stop being afraid of me.

The filter isn't strong and he's not overwhelmed by the neons. He's perfectly fine and relaxed in there.

 

How long have you had him?

For about a few weeks maybe.

 

It is possible that he is still adjusting. Bettas can take a while to even eat sometimes. The longest for me was almost 3 weeks. Once he understands that you are his food source he should start recognizing you and slowly get used to your presence.

 

My question was how do I get him to stop being afraid of me.

We understand that, but moving the neons might make him more active. Neons need cooler water than bettas, and shouldn't be in anything less that a 20 gallon(preferably more). I have found that bettas are more likely to interact if there aren't any tank mates distracting them.

 

Also, try to be around the tank more if you aren't around it much. The more he sees you, the more comfortable he'll get with you.

 

It is possible that he is still adjusting. Bettas can take a while to even eat sometimes. The longest for me was almost 3 weeks. Once he understands that you are his food source he should start recognizing you and slowly get used to your presence.

Maybe but maybe he just doesn't like me LoL because he's eating alright.

 

You could sit and watch him for hours and he'll watch you and then you'll both get used to each other lol

 

I used to run my finger along the side of the tank when ever I fed them. eventually they start to follow your finger, Also then if I dropped in a pellet and he didn't see it then I would point to it from the top of the tank and he would look and snarf it up. I always took the top cover off when feeding and only fed one pellet at a time for a total of 3 or 4. They just get used to you and learn you mean good things are gonna happen when they see you. I also agree with moving out the neons. You could do a nerite snail with him . Less distraction. Also they love frozen blood worms as a treat a couple times a week and will almost turn them selves inside out to get some. You might want to try them for handfeeding. Alison

 

We understand that, but moving the neons might make him more active. Neons need cooler water than bettas, and shouldn't be in anything less that a 20 gallon(preferably more). I have found that bettas are more likely to interact if there aren't any tank mates distracting them.

My betta fish is not distracted or bothered by them at all, and he's certainly active, like I've mentioned before. The problem is not the other fish, he's just afraid of me when I get too close.

Also I'm not sure where you're getting the info that neons need cold water. Every source I've ever read says they thrive in water around 70 - 80. That's warm like most tropical fish and they originate from the amazon river.
Betta fish like temperatures around 74-80... that makes bettas and neons a great match temperature wise... because it's the same. And the temperature it's at is keeping them nice and healthy!

My neons are doing amazingly in the 5 gallon even though I've mentioned before that it's temporary, and they still have plenty of space to swim around in there, so there goes your theory that they can't do well in 5 gallons. They certainly are doing well in 5 gallons. They've been in there for a few weeks now and they love it. I do very frequent water changes. Anyway, I can't move them out until they get bigger.

 

I believe Anders247 can help you understand the temperature difference. He may be scared the neons will bully him away from food. Bettas should be kept with either snails or shrimp. Nothing else.

We have advised on some issues that might be making your Betta skittish. It is up to you to decide whether or not to take our advice, although I hope you do.

 

My betta fish is not distracted or bothered by them at all, and he's certainly active, like I've mentioned before. The problem is not the other fish, he's just afraid of me when I get too close.

Also I'm not sure where you're getting the info that neons need cold water. Every source I've ever read says they thrive in water around 70 - 80. That's warm like most tropical fish and they originate from the amazon river.
Betta fish like temperatures around 74-80... that makes bettas and neons a great match temperature wise... because it's the same. And the temperature it's at is keeping them nice and healthy!

My neons are doing amazingly in the 5 gallon even though I've mentioned before that it's temporary, and they still have plenty of space to swim around in there, so there goes your theory that they can't do well in 5 gallons. They certainly are doing well in 5 gallons. They've been in there for a few weeks now and they love it. I do very frequent water changes. Anyway, I can't move them out until they get bigger.

Neons can live in a 5 gallon temporarily, permanently there isn't going to be adequate for them. They will be 'happy' to a certain point, when they get bigger.
Neons actually need cooler temps. They can live in temps over 75, but they will have shorter lifespans. chromedome52 can help explain.