Characteristics of the betta splendens personality

[floras]

I recently brought home my first Betta, Max, and I'm curious to know about the personalities of Bettas from experienced keepers.

I've only had Max for about a month, and he's currently living in a 29-gallon tank with a snail as his tankmate. When I try to interact with him, he doesn't seem too interested. At first, when he'd swim near the glass and I'd put my finger up, he'd quickly dart away and wouldn't return until I left. However, he's becoming bolder now and even flares a bit when I do the same thing. He's really beautiful and seems very curious about his surroundings - I love watching him swim around the tank and explore all the ornaments and decorations.

He eats well, but I think I've spoiled him since I initially only fed him brine shrimp. I did get a small bottle of betta food, but he's not interested in it - he still goes crazy for the brine shrimp. That's pretty much Max's personality so far. What are your experiences with your Bettas?

[SeaBidder]

Mine are all unique, each with their own quirks. I've got one that's quite shy and loves to hide, while another one is just the opposite - he's like a little king, strutting his stuff around the tank. Then there are the two social butterflies that always come to say hello at the glass. One of them is a bit of a builder, always constructing bubble nests. My oldest Betta is a bit of a homebody, he's got his favorite perches on the sponge filter or a ceramic mermaid decoration, and he'll often just chill there, waiting for me to call him over. I've learned that just like people, each Betta has their own distinct personality - they're all special in their own ways.

[farmhand]

Morocco, my Veil Tail, is quite the character - red with these lovely purple bits here and there. He's entertaining to watch, but I wouldn't say he's what you'd call "playful". He doesn't flare up unless he's in a bad mood for some reason, yet he always swims up to greet me.

He's quite the predator, taking down those cherry shrimp in his tank with ease. He's got a powerful bite and isn't afraid to show it off when grabbing those bloodworms from the feeding pipette. He'll eat just about anything that moves, but he'll also take pellets if that's what's on offer. There have been a few times when he's eyed my finger, but I'm not about to indulge that nasty little habit of his.

He's a prolific bubble nest builder - like the world's going to end tomorrow or something. He loves exploring his surroundings, and I'm glad to say his fins have recovered nicely after that mishap with the Hornwort. A big thank you to @kingrise for recommending Anacharis - it's worked a treat for him. He's quite fond of curling up inside a log for a snooze. I never thought I'd end up with a Betta, but I'm really glad I did.

[kingrise]

My Betta, Ace, has a pretty bold personality - he's always up for interacting with me. I've noticed he's quite curious and loves following my finger when I put it on the glass, and he's even comfortable enough to swim between my fingers when I put them in the tank. He seems really chill around me, which I think is pretty cool.

It's worth noting that if your Betta is darting away, he's probably just not used to you yet. It takes time for them to get comfortable and bond with their owners - it's just part of the process.

[floras]

I think I just need to give it more time with Max to see how his personality develops. I remember the day we got him from the pet store - my niece and I were looking at all the Bettas in their little cups. She actually picked Max out, but I was eyeing this beautiful half-moon Betta with a gorgeous red color. The water in those cups was so cloudy it was hard to see the fish, but when I picked up Max's cup, I was surprised by how colorful he was. I ended up giving in to my niece and bringing Max home. Even though he doesn't seem to care about interacting with me, he's still really fun to watch. His little body is so small compared to those big, colorful fins of his. Thanks for all the responses, everyone.

[daintree]

I recently brought home my first Betta, Max, and I'm curious to know about the personalities of Bettas from experienced keepers.

I've only had Max for about a month, and he's currently living in a 29-gallon tank with a snail as his tankmate. When I try to interact with him, he doesn't seem too interested. At first, when he'd swim near the glass and I'd put my finger up, he'd quickly dart away and wouldn't return until I left. However, he's becoming bolder now and even flares a bit when I do the same thing. He's really beautiful and seems very curious about his surroundings - I love watching him swim around the tank and explore all the ornaments and decorations.

He eats well, but I think I've spoiled him since I initially only fed him brine shrimp. I did get a small bottle of betta food, but he's not interested in it - he still goes crazy for the brine shrimp. That's pretty much Max's personality so far. What are your experiences with your Bettas?

Kevin is quite the character - always greeting me at the glass and constantly building those intricate bubble nests. He's a big eater and absolutely adores his little houses. My girls, Katie, Gretchen, Regina, and Karen - the Babes Sorority - are an absolute hoot. They're always anticipating food whenever I approach the tank, lounging on the plant leaves, and occasionally chasing each other in a playful manner, never nipping at one another. I think they get a bit bored at times, but it's entertaining to watch. I've grown quite fond of bettas and believe they've become underappreciated far too quickly.

[floras]

I'm starting to think Max is a bit slow on the uptake. When I feed him, he misses the food completely. I drop a few pieces near him, but he swims right under it and ignores it. I end up dropping more in and leaving him alone. Later, I see him approach the food and nibble at it. The thing is, he only eats brine shrimp, and I've run out - I need to head into town to restock. His food pellets are fresh, I bought them just a few weeks ago, so that shouldn't be the issue. Someone on this forum suggested New Life Spectrum Betta 70g Fish Food, which I've been using.

[sSjey]

My experience with betta eating habits is quite varied. I recall having one betta that was extremely particular about his food - it had to be soggy. I'd soak the pellets in tank water for a few minutes before placing them on the surface. He wouldn't even consider eating them if they sank. Interestingly, when I got my next betta, I automatically followed the same routine, only to discover he had the opposite preference - he'd only eat nice, hard pellets.

[oakleaf]

My betta Lotus has a thing for squeezing through tight spaces, like those rosette swords - she just loves to dart in and out of them. She's got a bit of a food issue, eats way too much, but who can blame her? When her log is stationary, she gets a bit territorial with other fish, but as soon as it's on the move, she's fine. I did see her go after a ramshorn snail the other day, not a pretty sight. On the other hand, she's super sweet with people, always comes to say hello.