My betta is not eating!?

Question

It was fine just 2 days ago. Yesterday I tried to feed it but it refused to eat. I noticed the wtaer was extremely filthy (it had gone through 2 weeks of no 100% water change) so I decided to completely rinse out the tank and change the water. I transferred it into a little bowl for 14 hours but at the beginning it started to look pale.

His color was restored once I transferred it back to the 1/2 gallon tank with dechlorinated water, but it still refused to eat. I tried giving him some of his ordinary pellets again several minutes ago. but he always takes them, chews on them, and then spits it back out. Sometmies he goes back to eat it but then spits it out once again. I am scared he will suffer from starvation. What is wrong with him?

Some other symptoms I've noticed: He remains at the bottom sometimes, or at the surface in a corner behind the plant. His head looks discolored and weird does not match the rest of his body. Is the water too cold or is there more to it??

I feed it 3-5 pellets a day (before, when it was always very reluctant to eat).

He has eaten these pellets ever since I first got him

The room temperature is about 50-70 °F here in California

Answer 1

Most likely he was suffering from ammonia poisoning. This may have depressed his immune system. Define discolored, and wierd? Is it a cottony/moldy growth around the mouth and gills? (most likely columnaris) Is it a gold/rust dustying that showsbest in a dark room under flash light? (velvet)

In the case of columnaris aka cotton mouth, mouth fungus. You want an antibacteria that targets gram negative bacteria. In the case of velvet follow the same treament as ich/ick. Most ich med will work with vevelt. (check the back to be sure)

Answer 2

First of all, his water temp. is a little too low. Bettas like warmer water, 75 - 80 F. He may have internal parasites. Sorry for asking this but, is his poo white? And stringy? If it is, there is no dought that it's internal parasites. You need to get some meds that work. You can explore on www.bettatalk.com and find some different things to help. As for the color of his head, he may have "gray skin". That can be treated too, I believe.

Answer 3

100% water changes are way too stressfull. I prefer to keep them at no more than 50%. Allowing the water to get and stay dirty also is not good for the fish. Most likely your fish has developed some kind of infection. Below is a link you may find helpful.

Answer 4

Room temp is 50°? you like it cold eh? Warm up to temp to 75°+ and add a little aquarium salt (1 tsp/gallon) to the water.

Feed a little, once a day till he gets better.

Answer 5

It sounds to me like an internal parasite. What you need to do is get a product that is for internal parasites, it will be in a drop form or a small pill you put into the water.

Answer 6

he might be sick, keep an eye on him. stop trying to feed him until he seems ok, you might be polluting his water too much. all those water changes could be stressing him. fish can live for 3-4 days without food so don't worry about the food.
if he's sick there's nothing you can do, you might have to get another one..good luck.

Answer 7

While changing the water, always add some of the old water or it will prove to be very stressful.

Answer 8

You have feed Betta with live foods, feed betta with blood worms or tubefix worms or even earthworms ( small ones) or mosquito larva. Betta can withstand any water condition, its advisable to feed them with live foods rather throwing pellets....

Answer 9

yo make sure the water is not cold or im very sorry to say but its
dying

Answer 10

that poor guy.
try taking it to a vet