Oscar Jumps!!

[BettaBuddy ~ Miley]

I have been on spring break and I thought it would be really cool if I could teach Oscar to jump and I did!! hes so cute! Miley

 

[nmwierman1977]

Bettas naturally know how to jump. That's why it's always suggested to cover the top of the tank or bowl or whatever they may be in because they will. My very first betta Mr. Red did that once and nearly gave me a heart attack because I was cleaning his tank and he landed right in front of me. Just be very carefull with it and make sure that his tank is always covered and there are no gaps that he can fit through because they will find away to get out if they are given the chance too. Natalie

 

[COBettaCouple]

They're funny when they jump, aren't they? Did you train yours to jump with food on your finger? Sometimes when my wife is feeding the bettas, if she holds her hand over the tank too long (I put some food in her hand & she measures out the amount they get in her hand) without dropping the food in, they'll jump up & nip her hand. It really surprised her the first time one of them did it and that betta almost got a BIG breakfast. LOL

If your betta gets to jumping a lot & your tank has some open holes in the back, like around the filter & heater - one idea might be to take a net, cut the netting off the frame and tape it securely in place on the lid over top of the holes as best you can. I'm not sure if this is what a lot of people do & could be wrong, we're newbies with bettas - just started this year, but it seems like a good idea if your betta gets real jumpy or you want to train your betta to do more jumping tricks. If you do like the idea, maybe run it by chickadee - I've read a lot of her posts and she really knows her bettas.

 

[0morrokh]

That is really cute. But, do be careful as Bettas can jump out of their tank. You don't want him to get so jumpy he launches straight out of the tank when you open the lid.

 

[Isabella]

Wow, I didn't know Bettas are such acclaimed jumpers! LOL What's even more interesting, I didn't know you can actually teach a Betta to jump! How do you do that?

 

[COBettaCouple]

Wow, I didn't know Bettas are such acclaimed jumpers! LOL What's even more interesting, I didn't know you can actually teach a Betta to jump! How do you do that?

I think it's an instinct that they've inherited from the wild Bettas who live in those huge rice patties and dine on mosquitos flying near the surface so they will jump as part of their nature - the other day, impatient Aslan jumped up & nipped my wife's hand while she was measuring out his food and apparently not getting his breakfast in the tank fast enough to suit him. I've heard a lot of people train their bettas to do things like jump up to eat food off a finger or even jump thru a little hoop. It is cute and shows their ability to learn, but it also gives you a chance of waking up that jumping instinct and waking up to a dried-out Betta behind the furniture or on the floor, etc. They can live a little while breathing air thanks to their air labyrinth (the fish guy at our LFS had one that made it halfway down the hall before being found and put back in his tank) but it's still a pretty short time. Even knowing that, it's hard to resist the urge to teach our Bettas to jump on command (or on promise of food ).

 

[BettaBuddy ~ Miley]

thank you all for your concern but I have a lid with no holes and he only jumps when I tell him and he ABSOLUTLEY refuses to jump if the lid isn't there. its so cute too!!! Miley

 

[COBettaCouple]

thank you all for your concern but I have a lid with no holes and he only jumps when I tell him and he ABSOLUTLEY refuses to jump if the lid isn't there. its so cute too!!! Miley

He'll need a little bit of a hole to let air in while covered but that sounds good.

 

[BettaBuddy ~ Miley]

I haven't been on in forever! it has small holes all over it its a crittur keeper tank so its safe.. Miley

 

[COBettaCouple]

I haven't been on in forever! it has small holes all over it its a crittur keeper tank so its safe.. Miley

Welcome back Miley. Hope you, your sister & your bettas have been doing well.

 

[nmwierman1977]

I'm glad to hear that Oscar is doing well Miley. We miss hearing from you, but I'm sure we will once your on summer break. Natalie