Hand-Feeding Peril!

[Jonty]

The last couple of days I've started hand feeding my betta, which he responds to well, and now associates my hand with food. Before this, however, I got him to flare by putting my finger up next to the glass. Last night, while giving him a little flaring exercise, he came up to my finger, as normal, but didn't flare. A second later, he jabbed at y finger, and there was a sound you could here outside the tank! Ruby, the poor boy, (yes, it's a girls name...) curled up and floating onto a leaf, and was still for up to a minute. He was completely lifeless, curled up so I couldn't see his gills. Suddenly, he jerked up and came up to flare at me . It was frightening though!

 

[silverrabbit]

Haha mine suck at my fingers too... I got them onto hand feeding with bloodworms so now they think i've got a secret one between my fingers when I go in the tank

 

[BettaBoysGirl]

Lol, I wonder if you set off the reaction I've seen happen on breeding videos. In the middle of a failed attempt, the males will freeze up and be lifeless like that, females do it after being squeezed for eggs.

 

[Night61]

i have been training my little girl thera to jump for her single pellet. she gets one pellet then what ever flakes she can steal from the other food. i started doing this because i can give her edible food and this has become helpful little habit in training her. i recommend this for any betta in a community tank.