Let’s know about Do betta fish have teeth. Betta fish are also known as Siamese fighting fish and are reputed to be one of the toughest fish in any aquarium. This reputation can make anyone thinking of getting their own pair of betta fish or buying one to think about whether they have teeth.
If you look closely at your betta fish using a microscope or magnifying lens, you will notice that these pet fish have white teeth, even though they are small. You can even see them if you flash your camera at the fish’s mouth and zoom in on the picture.
What do betta fish use their teeth for?
feed
The primary function of your betta’s teeth is to break down coarse pieces of food and make them digestible. These fish mainly eat meat, although they also eat vegetables as they are voracious eaters.
Insects such as mosquitoes, midges and bloodworms lay their eggs in water, offering betta readily available frozen larvae rich in protein and water content. They also thrive on pellets, fresh plants, algae, and live food such as flying insects.
For this reason, bettas need to attack and capture live prey in order to prevent it from escaping before killing it. Teeth make it easy for them.
Bettas not only use their teeth to attack but also to chew and bite pellets, insects and algae for easier digestion.
To attack
Betta are known as Siamese fighting fish for a good reason. These fish are aggressive and defend their territory, often to the death.
They are quick to pick on anything they encounter, especially other males. Teeth are important to protect them.
Betta’s teeth are sharp. It uses them to attack and tear off its enemy’s tail, fins and scales. This is why it is not recommended to keep two male bettas in the same aquarium.
Do not mix it with any other fish, especially if it is brightly colored or has flowing tail and fins. If it is naturally aggressive, it may attack any type of fish regardless.
- See also: How to Care for Betta Fish (Care Leaflet and Guide 2021)
Do betta fish bite people?
The tendency to bite boils down to the individual temperament of the fish. Some bettas are laid back and timid and will not bite even if your hand is within bite range. However, other betta fish will see your hand as a threat and attack, biting it.
Even if the betta goes for your hand and nibbles on it, human skin is too strong for teeth, so they will not break through the skin and cause damage.
Bettas are generally not aggressive towards humans. A betta fish that “bites” you is probably just curious.
Does the bite hurt?
Betta bites do not cause pain to humans because their mouths and teeth are too small to deliver a painful bite. However, it is painful to other bettas.
The “love” bite usually feels like a slight tickle. However, others say it seems like an odd quip.
If you want to feel how it feels, you can put some food on clean and grease-free fingers and allow your betta to finger-eat. If it’s gutted, it will bite your finger as well as the food.
However, it is not advisable to do it too often. The reason a betta fish can bite and not let go is not because it is attacking you, but because the jaws are stuck.
If the jaws are stuck and can’t let go, you risk harming your fish.
Why do betta fish bite people?
- curiosity
Bettas are not aggressive towards people. If your pet fish bites your finger, chances are it saw your hand moving around in the tank, and it became curious.
These fish do not have hands to touch and detect strange things in their area. For this reason, they use their mouths to grab objects just to confirm whether they are edible or not.
- Self Defense
A betta may sometimes bite you because it sees your approaching hand as a potential threat. So it reacts defensively by nipping at you.
This is why you shouldn’t stick your hand into the aquarium too often, as it stresses the fish.
- Casual
If you have food on your finger, the fish may accidentally bite you. Although bettas are generally quite accurate, they can be a bit off-putting if they are hungry.
Do betta fish bite during spawning?
If your male betta shares an aquarium with females and tank conditions are favorable, you may see spawning behavior.
Signs of aggression are common during spawning, and it is not uncommon for males and females to bite each other. However, depending on the intensity of the bite, a bite can be either a good sign or a cause for concern.
When Biting Is a Good Sign
One betta may bite another (be it male or female). This is a good sign that the bitten fish may move back slightly or not move at all.
This means that it is not ready or not sure that it wants to have intercourse, but it is not opposed to the idea. The bite should be a bit of a bite, not a full bite. They may not always bite while laying eggs and still be interested in each other, though.
when biting is a bad sign
Biting can sometimes be a sign of aggression. However, such bites are usually aimed at the fins or tail, and you’ll want to isolate them if you notice them.
Aggressive biting during spawning means they don’t want to mate, and they mean it. Both males and females can become aggressive during this process.
You can tell an aggressive bite by the recipient’s reaction. For example, if it runs away and tries to escape the offender, there is no way they will mate.
You’ll have to wait a while until you try to breed them again.
Summary
Betta fish have teeth, but they are not meant to harm you. They use fish to defend themselves against enemies, to explore surfaces, and to eat.
If you keep more than one pet fish in the same aquarium, always be careful with your pet fish and separate them if they bite each other.
A betta bite will hurt the other fish, but won’t hurt you.