He has been building his nest for about a month. Every week I clean his bowl and he starts over. He used to be real active and eat alot and now he stopped.
2006-07-19 04:51:22 · 15 answers · asked by vickie f 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
Nest building is a good thing and nothing to worry about. How much are you feeding him? He shouldn't be eating more food than the size his eye ball in a day? He'll eat himself sick if you let him. Lack of appetite in a betta is a bad sign. Maybe he's just bored, and a bit bloated. When you clean his bowl are you rinsing out his gravel?
Move his bowl to a higher traffic area. Give him 10-30 minutes of mirror time twice a week. Let him fast for 2 days. Cook a pea, peel it, and feed him a piece of it. (This will clean out his digestive track.) Then go to a more normal feeding cycle.
PS- This could be an early sign of disease. Is he showing any other signs of disease other than not eating, or listlessness? (See link for details on what to look for.) For example it could easily be something like velvet. (Not that I'm saying it's velvet unless you shine a flashlight on it and see a fine gold or rust mist on his scales.)
2006-07-19 06:13:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they spit out the food because they can't eat those big flakes all at once. they will suck the big piece into their mouth, then spit out what they cant swallow. so don't worry. if he hasn't died and you've had him more than 2 wks, he's eating fine. he builds his nest because that's what they do. of course he starts over when you clean it. that's normal-if they do it one time, then it's just as normal for them to do it every time.
also, in a new environment, they are very active and naturally need more food because of that. but keep in mind though, that betas in the wild live in little puddles. they get used to a bigger surrounding, then after that go back to doing what they do in the wild- being in a small area and not moving around. hope this helped!
2006-07-19 15:34:09 · answer #2 · answered by dplovincalvinist 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is going through his breeding stage. You can let him build his nest if you have some kind of aeration in the tank you can wait a bit longer to clean it. He will start to eat again.
2006-07-19 13:54:16 · answer #3 · answered by eva diane 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What are you feeding him? Make sure it's food for betas. Betas will do that from time to time. Don't worry about it. Unless he starts looking sick, there shouldn't be a problem.
2006-07-19 11:56:14 · answer #4 · answered by puppyraiser8 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have had Beta fish as well as fresh and salt water tanks.Are you feeding him pellet food or flakes?Try the opposite of what you are feeding him.How often are you feeding him?Mine have gone about a week without eating.If you feed him too often he won't last long.Hope he get's better.
Jayne
2006-07-19 13:18:31 · answer #5 · answered by jayne s 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like your fish is sick, or maybe just getting old. Go to the pet store (any one with fish will do) and find someone that can help you figure out what's wrong with your Beta. Maybe they have some suggestions for things you can do to help him eat.
Good luck.
2006-07-19 11:55:09 · answer #6 · answered by plcarnrike 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put another beta in the bowl. They will fight til the death and the winner will eat the loser. And not spit it out. There you go, you just fed your beta.
2006-07-19 11:57:32 · answer #7 · answered by bceagles 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
his belly is sooooo tiny he can only enjoy a morsel at a time. dont worry my beta is the same way.... keep bowl out of the sun and clean it more often like every other day.... keep water fresh and not tooo cold or tooo hot... best of luck
2006-07-19 12:18:16 · answer #8 · answered by sinneragain 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Beta's usually spit out some of their food after they swallow it, so I don't think it's such a big problem
2006-07-19 11:57:04 · answer #9 · answered by FootballFan1012 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
take it to the vet or just for a smaller bill flush it and get another 1
2006-07-19 12:04:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋