My betta is flaring when he gets fed

I've been working on training him to eat from the tweezers I use to feed him and eventually work towards getting him to jump. Instead of hand feeding him, I've chosen to use tweezers since I feel like it's better than me touching his food. I started by just dropping his pellets into the water's surface and he'd eat them. Recently, I've been placing them into the water and slowly trying to get him to eat from the tweezers. When I place the tweezers with the food into the water, he will flare at the tweezers instead of trying to get the food. I assume this is because he thinks that the tweezers are a threat and trying to eat his food? Is there anyway to stop him from behaving this way? Should I just stop using the tweezers all together? I don't want to stress him out.

 

Either he will learn or he will keep doing it. Some flaring is not bad for bettas. Good exercise.

 

Either he will learn or he will keep doing it. Some flaring is not bad for bettas. Good exercise.

Okay! I'll keep at it for another two weeks or so and see if he keeps doing it

 

I would wonder if he poked himself on the tweezers and doesnt like them anymore? IDK its just a thought.

 

I would wonder if he poked himself on the tweezers and doesnt like them anymore? IDK its just a thought.

He's never come in contact with them and they're plastic without any sharp ends so that he won't injure himself <3

 

That's good!
is he still flaring at the tweezers ? maybe switch them for something else, You could try an eye dropper, or a pippet, or, you said he was eating out of your hand? you could get some unused ear plugs or a cutting from a pool noodle or other styrophone, and use it to cover the tips of the tweezers so that they look different. consider a different color then the color he is flaring at.

 

That's good!
is he still flaring at the tweezers ? maybe switch them for something else, You could try an eye dropper, or a pippet, or, you said he was eating out of your hand? you could get some unused ear plugs or a cutting from a pool noodle or other styrophone, and use it to cover the tips of the tweezers so that they look different. consider a different color then the color he is flaring at.

Yeah, tonight when I fed him he still flared unfortunately. He's becoming more comfortable with eating while the tweezers rest above the water while the food is in the water. Though, as soon as he eats, he'll flare. I'm pretty sure he thinks it's a threat lol I'll definitely try changing the color or getting new tweezers to feed him with all together

 

Hello maddiegrace,
Bettas flare to display dominance. If he has a bubble nest, he may be trying to guard it, or he thinks you are invading his territory. As mentioned earlier, flaring is a great exercise for bettas (on occasions). If your betta is in an area where lots of action happens, he may be on edge and feel his territory is at threat. My bettas eat from tweezers, and they only flare when they have a bubble nest to protect. In the end, he could just be adjusting to the sudden exchange from hand to tweezer. You can't really see in the photo, but I am feeding her using tweezers. She loves to jump up and grab worms from them. She needed zero adjusting though.
Hope this could have helped!

 

Hello maddiegrace,
Bettas flare to display dominance. If he has a bubble nest, he may be trying to guard it, or he thinks you are invading his territory. As mentioned earlier, flaring is a great exercise for bettas (on occasions). If your betta is in an area where lots of action happens, he may be on edge and feel his territory is at threat. My bettas eat from tweezers, and they only flare when they have a bubble nest to protect. In the end, he could just be adjusting to the sudden exchange from hand to tweezer. You can't really see in the photo, but I am feeding her using tweezers. She loves to jump up and grab worms from them. She needed zero adjusting though.
Hope this could have helped!

He's stopped making a bubble nest for now lol he'll make one then let it slowly dissipate and then make another. It's more likely that he's getting used to tweezer feeding. That did help a lot! Your fish is so cute btw!!

 

So I wrote a post not too long ago about my betta flaring at the tweezers I use to feed him. Well I took the advice I got about just hand feeding him, and now he flares at my fingers ): I think he thinks when he's getting fed that whatever is feeding him is a threat and trying to take his food. Does he hate me now since he flares at my fingers?..
Edit: I literally can't pick up my book (I have a book that I read on my desk in from the of him) without him flaring at my fingers. As soon as I hide my fingers, he's fine. Maybe he thinks I'm going to feed him? Idk.. maybe he doesn't like me anymore. This is really stressing me out lol

 

I've kept numerous fish species that have actually bit me during weekly maintenance.
I wouldn't take your Bettas aggression towards you too seriously.
His aggression is a indicator of his good health.

 

Sounds to me like he's just being territorial. Does he have a bubble nest? How big is his tank/ aquarium?
Not too long ago, I had a betta just like that. Every time I walked by, he would flare like crazy.

 

I've kept numerous fish species that have actually bit me during weekly maintenance.
I wouldn't take your Bettas aggression towards you too seriously.
His aggression is a indicator of his good health.

Well, that's good

Sounds to me like he's just being territorial. Does he have a bubble nest? How big is his tank/ aquarium?

He's never really acted like this toward me til yesterday. He doesn't have a bubble nest right now. He lets his dissipate then rebuilds it lol, his tank is 3 gallons, but that's temporary til I can get him a 5-ish gallon tank in December

 

My old betta did the same thing. Flares at fingers, at me when I pop over to check on him, when I trim plants in his tank, the whole bit. Just meant he was a feisty boy, lol. He lived a good while and was happy and healthy making bubble nests. Betta flaring is just a normal thing for a good happy fish.

 

My old betta did the same thing. Flares at fingers, at me when I pop over to check on him, when I trim plants in his tank, the whole bit. Just meant he was a feisty boy, lol. He lived a good while and was happy and healthy making bubble nests. Betta flaring is just a normal thing for a good happy fish.

Well that's good to hear! Thank you :3 just making sure he's not grown to hate me haha

 

I've had bettas that flared at me, but not my husband even though I am THE CAREGIVER....go figure! I have had them do what BigManAquatics calls the betta booty dance when I was feeding them, lol! And I've had them give me the fish eye, look at me coldly, as if to say "we are not amused...hurry up!" They are little fish with big attitudes who have been genetically bred to tear each other apart. Their being attitudinal is part of the fun/charm of having them!

 

I've had bettas that flared at me, but not my husband even though I am THE CAREGIVER....go figure! I have had them do what BigManAquatics calls the betta booty dance when I was feeding them, lol! And I've had them give me the fish eye, look at me coldly, as if to say "we are not amused...hurry up!" They are little fish with big attitudes who have been genetically bred to tear each other apart. Their being attitudinal is part of the fun/charm of having them!

Lol well that's great to know!