My Betta Thinks I Abuse Him

[Lacuna]

My halfmoon betta Bubble has an annoying habit when I feed him of grabbing at his food and then twisting round in the water, sort of looking over his shoulder, and snapping again at any food he might have missed. Twice when doing this he has bitten his own tail. When it happens he dives to the bottom of the tank and hides among the vallis, quivering on the gravel, scared of me. He obviously thought it was my fault. He's so silly, but it kinds of breaks my heart that he thinks I have hurt him. It will then take a couple of minutes for me to persaude him to come back up and finish his food. The first time, he came up and grabbed his pellet and hid in his coconut cave to eat it. But despite the fact that he thinks I'm abusing him, he still comes back to get his food. Nothing matters to him more than his tummy.

 

[CrystalClear16]

He is proberly hiding away in embarrassment

 

[Lacuna]

He ought to be embarrassed! But he quivers like he's afraid. He's like a toddler who blames the parent for something that is entirely his own fault.

 

[gearhead65]

Out of all my fish, my female Betta never ceases to amaze me with her personality.

 

[BettaBoysGirl]

Hehe, I have 4 bettas, each one different in their way of greeting me. Only one makes me laugh. If you touch his tank (the outside of it) with a single finger, he comes up and will flare at you. I talk to him, reminding him of who feeds him. He won't attack my finger in the tank, only flare. But will attack anyone elses hand in there. Wanna guess his name?
Mr. Grumpy Gills. He was given this name before he started that habit. It just fits.