Traumatised Betta

[LauraFrog]

I bought a gorgeous betta on Sunday and he's not looking the best. He is absolutely beautiful and not sick - he's building a bubble nest and eating. The only problem is he won't do any of it while I'm in the room.
I'm officially classing him as a rescue. I removed him from the care of somebody who thinks it's perfectly okay to try and convince customers that bettas LYING ON THE BOTTOM OF THEIR JARS NOT MOVING are 'perfectly healthy'. I think he must have been badly mistreated because now that he's in a filtered, planted 2 gal tank with hiding places (instead of a cup with no option to hide) he won't come out of them. While I was there she tried to convince me that the bettas were healthy by poking them and swishing the water around to try and get them up. He may have come in for the same treatment and is terrified of people.
My other betta, Spider, is virtually hand-tame. He comes from my favourite LFS they look after their fish really well. So I know that it is possible to teach a betta to swim to the top of the tank for a pat every time you walk past, because I've done it.

Is there anything I can do to convice Moonshine that I don't bite? He is eating, but I only know because I chucked some pellets in and then hid to see if he'd come out. A large number of mosquito larvae have also vanished out of his tank and the filter has sucked up some poop. I don't think he's sick, although he had a rough trip home and still has the stress line on his side.

 

[Bubblenester]

I like to feed frozen or live food with an eyedropper. Even the most skittish fish will eventually approach and grab the food if you are patient, and they will start to associate you with tasty treats. Good luck with your little guy!

 

[LauraFrog]

Thanks! I will try that. That's how I worked with Spider, and now every time I walk past he's at the feeding flap looking for food.

I hope he improves...

 

[bronzecat]

HI
Even active healthy bettas can take a few days to get used to a new home, so i wouldn't be overly concerned at the momoent

 

[AngelOfDeath]

Betta fish can be awkward in my experience, my scarlet betta was very friendly and inquisitive before, then my stupid friend kept scaring it (well, only twice) and now he is scared of me when i put my finger against the glass

Your best bet is to start hand feeding, that's what i will do

 

[LauraFrog]

I've gotten him to take food while I'm sitting on the bed next to the tank. I'll call that an improvement but he's still hiding under his wood all day... poor fella. I called him Moonshine because you can seriously get drunk on looking at him, but even the most beautiful fish in the world isn't that pretty when you can't see it.