Aggressive, Or Bored?

[ReiRei]

I don't know if anyone else has come across something like this - but my Fighter really doesnt like me.
I've had him for about 5 months, so he's used to me by now. But I've noticed he has a really aggresive personality.
 
For example, if I wiggle my finger to get his attention, he often flares up. If I try to do anything in the tank (clean glass etc) I get bitten to death, and feeding is the worst. He literally ATTACKS his food. If its dropped in the tank a short way away from him, he'll leap out of the water and lunge for it. When he does get ahold of it, he rags it like a dog would a toy.
 
Im beginning to wonder if he's just bored though, any suggestions? Or has anyone else had a strange case like this before?

 

[AlitaConejita]

I'm no expert - if I had a Betta like that I would just assume he is particularly aggressive. *shrug* ... Or hungry? Since you say he attacks his food and your hand. (I get cranky when I'm hungry )

 

[DerpPH]

Yeah. There are some bettas like that. My silhouette used to bite me when i did maintenance. Bettas HAve different temperaments per fish

 

[Wildbetta]

Yep sounds like an especially aggressive male to me.  Do not recommend him with anything else in his area he has claimed as his territory.  If you think it might be boredom you can exercise him once a day for a max of 5 min with a mirror and see if it helps.

 

[rpgmomma8404]

Wow, I've never heard of them being that aggressive. Mine are both pretty sweet towards me. Will come up to the front of the tank when I enter the room like they are waiting to be fed. 

 

[RCA]

I don't know if anyone else has come across something like this - but my Fighter really doesnt like me.
I've had him for about 5 months, so he's used to me by now. But I've noticed he has a really aggresive personality.
 
For example, if I wiggle my finger to get his attention, he often flares up. If I try to do anything in the tank (clean glass etc) I get bitten to death, and feeding is the worst. He literally ATTACKS his food. If its dropped in the tank a short way away from him, he'll leap out of the water and lunge for it. When he does get ahold of it, he rags it like a dog would a toy.
 
Im beginning to wonder if he's just bored though, any suggestions? Or has anyone else had a strange case like this before?

 
Hi ReiRei, do not worry your fighter is not taking it personally, and also I am sure you are still alive and his bite is not going to kill you 

 

 
As others have stated he may be one of those with a particularly aggressive personality, but hopefully you can "tame" him a little.  Of course, it all depends on his history, genetics etc.  Can you tell us more about his living conditions and if possible provide pictures?  Also, what food do you give to him and how often is he fed?
 
One thing I would be tempted to do is to feed him with tongs, putting the food into the water and letting him swim up to it.  Hopefully over time he will begin to become accepting of the tongs and then you can begin to replace these with your fingers i.e. so he sees your hands in the tank as something pleasurable vs a threat.  When changing the behaviour of any animal the key is to do it slowly and not rush into the next stage.  
 
You may also want to consider scooping him into a jug when doing maintenance so that he does not feel threatened when you enter his "territory", and therefore learns your hand equals food i.e. get him used to your hand in the water without disturbing his home.
 
Let us know if the mirror exercise is working i.e. is there any improvement?

 

[ReiRei]

I'm not too concerned if it's just his personality All of them are different, guess I just picked an awkward one.
 
In terms of feeding: At the moment it's not too hard, as long as I do it quickly and don't wait around. Even if the tank lid is closed, and the flakes floating around, he'll still attack it like crazy.
He's on a mixed diet of flake, pellet and brine shrimp. I'd love to add more to this diet, but he's also one hell of a fussy eater. He's fed once a day in the morning, straight after the lights are turned on.
 
He's in a 30 litre tank, with Hygrophilia Polysperma plants, which cover the top of the tank, providing more than enough cover. He's got a small ornament that he sometimes sits inside aswell. Tank is heated at 80, and filtered.
 
For water changes, he's not bothered at all by it. Jug goes in, jug comes out with water. All he does is sit patiently.
Haven't done the mirror yet! Completely slipped my mind. Shall start that asap and see how it goes.
 
Oh, one more thing!
He lacks a tail.
 
It started a while ago, I woke up one morning and it was gone.
And it's become a cycle.
 
It starts to heal up again, and then its gone again. Then it starts to heal again.
It's unlikely that he's catching it in anything, as there isnt anything sharp.
 

 

[tunagirll]

Sounds like a happy, healthy agressive Betta doing what comes naturally Mine is like that as well and I think it's pretty cute. If some of his pellets stick to the glass above the water line he'll jump out of the water to grab them. I had shrimp in with him who he decided they were a nice snack. I now have Kuhli loaches in with him and while he was agressive with them the first day, it's now been a week and he seems to enjoy them in the tank once he realised they aren't going to compete for territory. He often swims around the bottom looking for them and then when he finds them swims off. Like fishy hide and seek!