training pics

[bkk_group]

since there is a show coming up and i currently have a spawn of showing age i'm taking drastic steps in my training of these guys, very rigorous routine, i'm trying to instill of that killer spirit in these guys so that when the time comes to judge them they will be as aggressive and posture-ful as possible. with that in mind i have selected the potential show fish and lined them up on a table by the window that gets light in tall rectangular jars and carded them all so that they are blinded from their neighbors. at three times during the day and evening i will pull the cards off and let select pairs flare against each other. i will only let them flare for 15 minutes at a time though. there were a couple that were getting lazy before i selected them for this project and by regulating their flare time have brought them back to full, aggressive posturing in a manner of weeks. recently i have added another aspect to my training - the "angry stick". in thailand part of the training of fighters involves making them more aggressive. there are many methods of conditioning and one of the techniques is called using the "angry stick". i have a black coloured pencil that i will use the blunt end of to point at my fish with. a properly conditioned betta will get upset by the pencil (literaly get angry) at the sight of itt and flare like it was another betta. it took a few weeks of doing but now i can make every betta flare on comand with the "angry stick", just like a conductor

initial recognition

combustive reaction

bandit and the angry stick

bandit again

 

[FishyLoveBug]

Beautiful little guys!

 

[newfishies]

beautiful fish!!

 

[Mr Miagi]

man, they are topps. !

Edit: I love the use of the 'angry stick' what a great idea. Ive never heard of it before!

 

[Idolz]

Good work Bkk!!
Beautiful bettas too

 

[Grams]

wowo i love the last pic and the 3rd pic. Amazing.

 

[Styx]

Those fish are just stunning.

 

[daudy_dojo]

i hope you wanted the "ooo aaa *drools*" effect cause you got it ooo aaa

 

[F15H3R]

Great pic. Im curious how you condition them to respond to the stick? Do you present the stick to them each time you present another fish so that in time they associate the stick alone as a threat?

 

[bkk_group]

Great pic. Im curious how you condition them to respond to the stick? Do you present the stick to them each time you present another fish so that in time they associate the stick alone as a threat?

usually after their flare time is over and they have been carded again i will give them some angry stick action, at that stage they are sufficiently riled up that the blunt end of a pencil looks like a threat to them. onece they are conditioned though pretty much any time they will flare.