Training

As an aquarium fish, you can teach him various tricks to entertain. For teaching a betta you need a little patience and persistence. In wild species, the betta is a highly intelligent fish, so you can teach them easily with proper training.

For the training, you can catch the attention of Betta via light or sound. There are various techniques to catch the attention such as giving them a signal, using sound and vibration via bell, call, and clap to cache the user's attention. Use light and shapes for indoor signals.

Signal to incorporate: Fish’s best response training when they hear a clear signal. They help know when it’s time to look for a target.

Sound and vibration: fish have lateral line organs, they react when sound and vibration. At a major aqua, fish hear their trainer walking out on catwalks and platforms indicating that food is on the way. You can do this using a bell, call, clap, or footstep. The biggest components of training are patience and consistency. Use the same signal every time.

Light/shapes: switching light is the most common signal for indoor tanks. Fish can see color, but shapes and different colors will be easy to recognize.

When you start teaching a betta start with the easiest trick. Start the training by following your fingers. For this, start by dragging your finger in a tank, until betta notices your finger. When betta reacts and approaches you give them food to encourage them. These might take time to days or weeks. But eventually, they catch you. You can repeat the process until they approach you as soon as possible.

Fetch a mirror and a red or capped pen. Use the same pen throughout training to easily identify. Put a small mirror and pen in the tank. Use the same pen throughout the training session. Once betta flares, place the pen next to a mirror. Repeat the process here or four times. Sometimes betta may be afraid and didn’t move. Once betta is comfortable and starts flaring replace a mirror with the pen. Give a reward when he/she is successful. Each time they flare give them food to encouragement.

When a male betta sees another male, he flares. In a Flaring process, betta open their gills and stretch their fin as much as possible. That’s why Bettas looks double their actual size. Flaring is considered as an exercise, that helps betta to be active and prevents boredom.

Betta is a natural jumper. To train your betta for jumping. Take one stick and any dried frozen food. Hook the food in the stick. Place the stick above the fish tank. Now try to catch the attention of the betta. If the betta notices the stick move the stick up, for food betta jumps into the water.If they successfully jump, reward them with food. This trick performs when you need a lid if they jump.

For this choose a hoop or bangles. Place it on the side. Move your finger where the hoop is placed. Every successful attempt gives them rewards. Repeat the process until they naturally swim through the hoop. In a starting phase take a big size of the hoop, when betta learns to swim through the hoop, gradually decrease the size of the hoop until it’s slightly larger than one inch in diameter. This is a difficult task so it’s taking time to teach. Encourage them. You can use pipe cleaner as a hoop; band a pipe cleaner in a round shape.

If your betta does not learn, be a little persistent. Don’t give them stress. Give a proper time to rest for them. When you start a training conduct a 5 -10 minute session. You can teach twice a day.

Whatever you put in the tank whether it’s hand, stick, or food. Also, properly wash and sanitize them. Because these objects may bring bacteria and fungus to the tank which causes the health problem.