I rescued a betta from a dark, dirty Wal-Mart shelf yesterday afternoon. He is swimming around and fighting with his reflection in the bowl, just like a happy fish...but he hasnt eaten anything yet. Is he just not hungry? Is he still adjusting to his new life? or should I be worried?
2006-10-31 02:10:14 · 13 answers · asked by Shannon L 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
Your betta's non-eating behavior could be attributed to:
1. Shock to his new environment. He probably needs time to adjust to his new fish tank. Just make sure he has enough swimming space (1 cm fish size per 1 gallon of aquarium water), hiding places (caves, decorations, aquatic plants, rocks), substrate (gravel, sand, etc.), and open air space (bettas are labyrinth fish, they breath air from the water surface so your tank must be open, you don't need an oxygen pump).
2. Wrong food item. He probably needs a variety of food items. Bettas usually thrive on betta flakes, worms, brine shrimp, and even mosquito fry. They have small mouthpiece so they can't take in pellets and fish fry. My bettas eat plain fish flakes. Just crush each flake down to smaller pieces and give in amounts only enough to be consumed within 2-3 minutes. And feed only 2-3 times a day. Overfeeding won't do any fish any good.
3. Health ailment. Your betta must be ill to feel no desire for food. Check his skin for any white spots. Bettas tend to contract the "white spot disease" which can be fatal. Medication is availble in major pet shops. Brands include Sera Medica and Tetra Medica.
2006-10-31 03:58:25 · answer #1 · answered by aquamike 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bettas can take a while to adjust to a new food, an some can be picky eaters. Given he was from walmart he is most likely use to eating flakes. I'd guess you are trying to feed him pellets. I'd just let him go hungry for another day or so. (He can easily go a week with out food as long as it doesn't happen all the time.) Generally they'll try anything after 2-3 days. Just be sure not to over feed him, and be sure to change his water often.
PS- Freeze dried blood worms are a great betta food, but it's generally best if you alternate between blood worm, and brine shrimp or a pellet/flake. With a flake or pellet make sure it's a meaty flake with most worm/shrimp/fish in it. Bettas are carnivores in nature. (insects, and insect larvae mostly.)
PPS- Blood worms are the last thing I'd try to convince a betta to eat. (Unless I knew he'd bee raised on them.) Often betta will need a little convincing to take that 1st bite of them. (After the 1st they'll happily eat themselves sick n them.)
2006-10-31 04:02:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lot of times a fish will need to adjust to their new invironment for a day or two before they begin to eat well. Bettas are USUALLY pretty good about making the adjustment quickly. What sort or food are you using? Mine love "betta bites" by HBH. Be sure he SEES you put the food in, if it isn't right infront of their face, they may not eat it, as they don't see it. If he goes for more than 2 or 3 days without eating, and he begins to act lifeless, then I would begin to be concerned, but I bet he just needs a little more time. :-)
2006-10-31 02:16:46 · answer #3 · answered by PennyPickles17 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
if you bought him you didnt rescue him you supported Wal Mart and kept the cycle going... (unless you stole him lol)
use BETTA food.. mostly they like the Betta pellets.. usually they eat 2 -3 a day
they can live for weeks without food but its best not to wait too long before feeding
he may just be adjusting
2006-10-31 02:14:08 · answer #4 · answered by CF_ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
He's most like still in shock. Keep an eye on him and only feed him food specifically made for bettas, and keep him separated from other fish. Since you got him from Wal-Mart (their fist aren't very healthy), you should make sure that his fins aren't torn, and the he doesn't have white spots on him (Ick). If something does happen to him (keep my fingers cross that it doesn't), buy your next betta from a pet store. Another thing to consider is to buy a book on how to care for him. I had a betta once (bought him from pet store), and he surprisingly lived for like 3 1/2 years.
2006-10-31 02:27:25 · answer #5 · answered by Zodiac_Child 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wait he will start eating when hes hungry enough. Most Bettas are used to small bowls they dont have to look or hunt for their food I have found putting them in a larger bowl confuses them the food is farther away ,and yes they do eat flakes.
2006-10-31 05:31:18 · answer #6 · answered by jm 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give it a few days sometimes bettas need to adjust. Walmat eah well good luck I've never seen a walmart fish last very long cuz they get such poor care at the store.
2006-10-31 02:15:27 · answer #7 · answered by emotionalyhurtmom 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Did you ask them what kind of Beta food they were feeding it? It could be because of a change in diet. My Beta eats blood worms, but some stores feed beta pellet food, some feed flakes and some feed blood worms or a mix of all types. Go back to the store and ask. Beta do no eat regular fish flakes normally.
2006-10-31 02:20:54 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No its all right. He is adjusting to his new environment. Give it a few days and he will be fine. If not, then try changing his food as bettas can be very picky about what they eat.
2006-10-31 04:28:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
#1. Your fishy is probably not used to his environment, or
#2. He doesn't like the kind of food you are giving him. When I had a beta, he wouldn't eat anything except for frozen bloodworms (which you can find at any pet store that carries fish supplies, just ask for them). They don't usually like the flakes.
2006-10-31 02:20:02 · answer #10 · answered by Angela 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋