Betta Tricks & Toys?

[RainboWBacoN420]

So my girlfriend was telling me that you can teach your betta how to play soccer. I looked it up myself and it's true! I also came across information that you can teach your betta how to: jump, jump through a hoop, ring a bell when they're hungry and other cool tricks. Has anyone else tried this with their betta fish? If so how successful have you been? I'm thinking about putting a ping pong ball in there and see how he reacts to it. I mean after he tries to nip at my finger or the cup i use to scoop water up to moist his food. So he's clearly not afraid to interact with thing a hundred times his size, why not a ping pong ball..?

 

[LyraGuppi]

Mine never liked ping pings, but I had got then to rest in my hand just be being in the tank alot and handfeeding.

 

[RainboWBacoN420]

That sounds adorable. I'll definitely think about trying that.

 

[attibones]

I taught my sorority to jump for their food. Nearly twenty fish all jumping at one time is pretty impressive. Of course, I didn't teach them to jump too high so that they would flop out, but just enough to hop up and nibble at my fingers. It was fun. I also had a male who liked to be held. 

 

[RainboWBacoN420]

I think I'll try the ping pong ball. But how high do they even jump?

 

[NickAu]

This is cool... However that poor fish needs a bigger tank.
https/www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTYFRcTduBc

 

[attibones]

I think I'll try the ping pong ball. But how high do they even jump?

Very high. I've heard reports of one foot or higher. To avoid this, if you want to teach your fish to jump, wet your finger with tank water, put pellets on your finger and hold them just above water level. The fish will jump up to get them. Gradually increase the height until it is just a few centimeters. Otherwise he could grossly overshoot and find himself on the floor.

 

[RainboWBacoN420]

That looks like it would the same size as mine which is 3.5 gallons. Would you consider that too small for a betta?
And cool, thanks for the tips dude. C:

 

[attibones]

3.5 gallons is okay for a betta (personally I use a ten gallon). Just make sure it is heated and filtered.

 

[RainboWBacoN420]

Well I heard that bettas should have at least 2 gallons. That's why I went out and got this. He went from a little cup at PetSmart to a one gallon to a 3.5 gallon. He seems very happy and I think he regconizes me, so I might try to teach him some cool tricks. Actually I do have this 5 gallon cycling right now for something I'm gonna do soon, but after I might just give the 5 gallon to my betta. I'm sure he'll appreciate it, and with that he'll have plenty of room to perform tricks!