I have a betta fish that hasn't eaten in about 2 weeks. I got him pellets and bloodworms. His water was cold, so I bought him a lamp and even after 3 days of 78 degree water he still is not eating. Can someone help I don't want Big Red to die??? Thanks!
2006-10-16 08:37:38 · 3 answers · asked by Dawn A 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
2 weeks is starting to push it for a betta to survive without food. The larger concern is that he's not eating. Healthy betta are complete pigs. Are you changing his water regularly? Is he showing any other sign of illness?
I'd clean his tank/bowl. Give him 1/2 hour of time with a mirror. Then remove the mirror, and feed him 2-3 blood worms. I'd also pick up some melafix/bettafix at the fish store. Lastly add 1 teaspoon of salt per 2.5 gallons. Predisolve the salt in a cup of tank water. Table salt will be fine for this purpose.*
PS- Over feeding is a real risk with bettas. Blood worms the worst thing to over feed. They are good for bettas, but they are the steak dinner of the betta diet. Alternating small amounts of pellet and worm is a good idea.
* Despite various claims iodine is as good for fish as humans. (Also aquarium is sea salt which has iodine.) I've yet to see a modern anti caking agent that would effect fish.
2006-10-16 11:05:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He may have some digestive troubles after being overfed for a long time. Fish will often eat until it won't go in their mouth anymore but it really isn't healthy. Especially with dried foods. If he were eating bugs as fish do in nature, there would be moisture in them and he could digest it better. Dried foods are concentrated and pressed so they soak up water when they go into the tank water. They soak even up more moisture once they are inside the fish. This prevents proper digestion and can even cause constipation or fatal intestinal blockage. Offer him a couple of pellets twice a day. If he doesn't eat them, scoop them out and leave him until the next feeding time. He'll come around, eventually. My latest female took 2.5 weeks before she decided she was going to eat.
If his belly seems swollen he may be constipated. I usually recommend feeding cooked green peas in little chunks (not canned-too much salt) But, if he isn't eating it makes it even more of a challenge.
2006-10-16 15:47:45 · answer #2 · answered by rltouhe 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i had a betta fish he got sick and died. he will probobly die like now.
2006-10-16 16:43:49 · answer #3 · answered by sup yo 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋