"Do Bettas get frustrated?

[Ethos]

I have to start this post as saying how much I enjoy it when people can have a decent conversation without one person getting mad, or very, very frustrated.

Ok. So heres my thoughts.

MY fish seem to have a sence of time, and atleast long term memory.
Time: When I get up in the morning, my fish are already at the top of the tank, waiting to get breakfast. I personally dont think they spend all night up there.
Also, I think they have long term memory, because at night, when I turn the light they scurry to the top of the tank. Also, when my gouramis see my walking to the tank, they come to the front seeing what I am about to do.
They also know that when I'm vaccuming the tank, the vaccum is not there friend!

 

[Seahorse]

Yup, like I said, a dog knows when you are coming home.

However, what he doesn't know is that he waited 8 hours for you He doesn't comprehend it like we do. Which is all I am trying to say Not sure how that is arguable but I guess some people would think fish comprehend that.

 

[Synirr]

Yup, like I said, a dog knows when you are coming home.

However, what he doesn't know is that he waited 8 hours for you He doesn't comprehend it like we do. Which is all I am trying to say Not sure how that is arguable but I guess some people would think fish comprehend that.

WE don't have a sense of time either!!
I know all of you have started doing something you enjoy and then all of a sudden it's 6 hours later and it only felt like 30 minutes to you... time is relative, we just have clocks to help us keep track of specific intervals

If anything, animals have a better sense of time than we do. They're better able to predict what time of day it is than we are even if they're in a windowless room.

 

[Ethos]

They're better able to predict what time of day it is than we are even if they're in a windowless room.

Maybe its because they have nothing better to do, so they swim in circles, and count the time in there heads!

 

[fishmom]

Just a suggestion--Put a 'barrier' in between the two tanks and see what each of them do. If seeing each other causes them 'frustration' that should take care of it.

They do act on instinct quite a bit, but I think they also learn behavior--like who will feed them and who will not. Where do they get fed in their tank? They will go there and wait when I walk in the room.

 

[OohFeeshy]

yes, and you also must realize that humans have learned to think in words. Animals think in pictures. If we can learn words, it is not too far off to think we also learned emotions like desire, frusteration, etc.

Again, how do you know? The only reason you know humans think is that, well, you are one. Almost every animal has a way of communicating, just because they don't speak English or whatever doesn't mean they don't I agree with Synirr, if you don't have a clock you haven't the foggiest what time it is. Sure, you get hungry around lunchtime, but so do other animals. Why else do cats hang around the kitchen in the evening? And Ethos, they don't have anything better to do in a tank. Fish in the wild can spend their day swimming over a large area, hunting for food, raising young if its that time of year, etc. A betta in a 1 gallon bowl can't do these things. Not that I'm comparing your typical Walmart betta to a wild one, but I'm pretty sure I know which they'd rather be doing

 

[Ethos]

My too. I'm sure they'd much rather be in the wild. But here's the fact; They are already in the petstore, now, you can either buy them, and give them a good home, or let them suffere in a store that kills 2 times as many bettas than it sells.

 

[Seahorse]

I agree. I hate supporting establishments like Walmart, but I do buy bettas there semi-regularly, thus making them think it is alright to get more bettas, and treat them the same. It is really a catch 22.

 

[Ethos]

I do the same thing. I hate walmart. But I buy bettas that I feel sorry for. I hope my walmart stops sell bettas...