Can Fish Be So Intelligent They Become 'boring'?

[UninterestingUserName]

So I started my first tank in about 30 years and got a male Betta. He died recently but that was preceded over a few months of him changing his behaviour - he certainly knew I was his food source and reacted to me, but if he didn't think he was in line for some grub he would spend his time in the corner of the tank watching me. I didn't think he was ill - just a bit too smart for an interesting aquarium specimen. Now I don't know if his 'lazy' behaviour was an illness or just being quite intelligent & lazy at the same time.
 
So I'm wondering what to put in the tank next because I really don't want a 'boring' fish. I do want an interesting fish and this creates the problem. I value personality and character and activity which points to a somewhat intelligent fish ( a Betta or a dwarf puffer) but at the same time its these that hold the potential to become a 'food mercenary'.
 
Thoughts?

 

[Chad]

So I started my first tank in about 30 years and got a male Betta. He died recently...
 
Thoughts?

 
Well, to be honest, my first thought is that this is impossible. A betta cared for in the most exceptional conditions lives on average of 5-6 years. In normal conditions 3-4. In lab conditions one has been recorded at 10 years. If you started your first fish tank 3 years ago and the fish just died I wouldn't raise an eyebrow, but 30? 

 

[BettaBettas]

I don't think bettas live for 30 years... haha

 

[betta fish]

I'm not reading it as the betta lived for 30 years more that the betta was the first tank inhabitant for 30 years i.e you previously kept fish 30 years ago? some bettas are lazier than others especially the longer tailed types as they have to work harder to swim so get tired quicker, also ensure the flow in your tank is fairly low as they don't like heavy currents and this could also tire them. I recommend a plakat or short tailed betta as your next fish as they don't have to work so hard to swim so should be more active for you.

 

[Munroco]

If your looking for personality and a fish that will interact with you its probably going to have to be one of the larger cichlids. I've never kept them but some of the small puffers seem to have a lot of personality too.

 

[Chad]

I'm not reading it as the betta lived for 30 years more that the betta was the first tank inhabitant for 30 years i.e you previously kept fish 30 years ago? 

You're right of course! After a reread I realized I got it wrong. 
Carry on! 

 

[BettaBettas]

oh I read it wrong lol!

 

[UninterestingUserName]

Yeah thanks for the replies and Betta Fish got it bang on! I mentioned the time to show I'm quite inexperienced at the mo and can't really interpret behavior as ill or lazy!

 
The Betta was a crown tail so not much finnage to be honest and I managed the tank in a very pro Betta way (basically it was set up for him) and had only a little water current. I also quite dislike big finnage as I think this is kind of cruel esp when you get dumbos, poor things.
 
The tank is just 22 litres so no big fishies.

 

[Baccus]

I think it really depends on the type of interactive personality your hoping to find in a fish. I find corydora great fish and fun to watch, (and it really fun when they wink at you, just like Borneo Suckers) I even had a large albino female that I could hand feed garden worms. But corydora generally wont show a great deal of interest in you unless there is food involved, I dont think its a case of not being intelligent its just not suiting their requirements to be bothered about anything that doesnt involve food.
My angel fish will generally potter about the tank minding their own business and come over and inspect me, but are only certain to come over if they think there is a chance of food. They also like watching me when I do stuff with my other tanks, but again probably because they suspect the other tank is getting something they are missing out on. Or it could just be they are nosey neighbours and are the fishy equivalent of curtain twitchers.
Oscars are full of personality but can also be down right aggressive and defensive about any intrusions to their tank, a couple of Oscars I knew would bite your arm if you reached in to do anything in the tank. But they would also hand feed and could be more of less trained. But Oscars get huge and would quickly out grow a 22 L tank.
 
A 22 L tank is going to really limit highly interactive fish that you can keep. Because even Dwarf chain loaches that seem intelligent and are super active like being in a large group and there for need a large tank. Most small or solitary fish that spring to mind are not overly interactive with their keepers only with each other, and I suspect its not due to intelligence, instead its down to they are on the bottom of the feeding ladder, so they are geared to survival from being eaten by bigger fish. A slim possibility that I think you might be able to get work for you is a small species of mud skipper.
Other active and some what interactive species that spring to mind are Killifish and other small fresh/ brackish water goby species, bumblebee gobies are small but my personal favourites are Finke gobies. Gudgeons too are interesting and intelligent but would require a larger tank and male empire gudgeons when in breeding colours are simply stunning but 22 L might really be pushing it to keep a pair.

 

[UninterestingUserName]

Thanks for the reply Baccus. It is really only a Betta or Dwarf Puffer I'd be looking to get for my tank but if there is a 50% or more chance they may act like the Betta that just died (lazing in one corner and only coming out when he thought I was going to feed him)  I may as well chose what I consider unintelligent fish that haven't realized I am their food source but are continually on the go looking for food. At least there is a show there to see.
 
As it is I still don't know where I stand with that 50% line in the sand with a Betta or Dwarf Puffer. Otherwise its get some small fish that are just on the go all the time looking for food but not really 'fun' to watch and don't have much of a 'personality'.