What can I do?

Question

What can I do to help my betta fish start eating again? One problem's resolved, he use to lay on the bottom of the tank all the time and never swim around much so I cleaned out his tank and filled it with warmer water, and he's MUCH better, he swims around now and seems like he tries to eat when I feed him... when I feed him, he actually goes up to his food and bites it again, but then spits it out... I've tried flakes, dried worms and this other special food that's supposed to reduce stress and stuff... In my other question about him I got lots of great answers and I've helped him out and all, but the only problem is he won't eat... He always spits out the food, and now he's starting to just ignore it... Does anyone know what could be wrong?

he hasn't ate in about 2 weeks, at all... he won't...

Answer 1

maybe you're feeding him too much. They only need a few pellets every few days....

Answer 2

You could try fresher foods like frozen bloodworms or brine shrimp. They both come in these bubble type packages sorta like what pills come in and you pop them out. Its usually a little frozen cube of the food in water. What I do is pop the cube of food in another little cup and fill it with warm water so it melts and the food floats around freely. Take a toothpick and pick up some of the food and put it in the water, most fish love food like this because it still "smells" good to them. Its kinda gross but the food isnt alive so it wont hurt you. You can then put the unfinished food back in the freezer and warm it back up next time with some warm water.
You can usually find this food at a fish store, Petco and Petsmart carry it. It comes all sanitized for the protection of your fish ie no parasites etc.

Answer 3

You probably need to keep doing what you did before. Keeping water quality high takes regular maintenance.

Is your betta in a filtered, heated tank? If not, his wilting behavior is probably something you just need to get used to. Bettas in unfiltered, unheated bowls live short, listless lives.

To keep a healthy, lively betta you should have a low-current filter and a heater keeping the tank at a stable 78-80 degrees Farenheit. Monitor the ammonia and nitrate levels in your tank at least weekly and do partial water changes when you have any readings at all on either of the two toxins.

Good luck to you and I hope you'll keep asking questions along the way!

Answer 4

I would go to the Library and get myself a book on the fish that you are having trouble feeding. You need to get proper info. Don't you have a good pet store in your area? If yes, go and check with them.

Don't forget that the stomach of a fish is only about the size of his eye. He might be picking food from the bottom of the tank at night.

Good luck in nursing/feeding him.

Answer 5

You can try live worms or even betta pellets. My bettas only eat betta pellets even though they are supposed not to like them. That is all they will eat! They hate dried worms and disdain flakes but love the betta pellets.

Answer 6

It's okay all fish do this it is normal. Believe it or not he is eating. Its the way a fish eats. They don't need much food at all. Just feed him a coulpe of flakes a day and he will be fine. Try not to worry so much and just relax and enjoy your pet.

Answer 7

maybe the condition of the water isnt up to his liking. betas are tropical fish, adn need warm water of atleast 75 to 80 degrees.

also as far as feeding him, betas looooooove freeze dried or even frozen bloodworms...seems to be their food of choise. that and the fact that it helps keep their color great, and their fins healthy. try feeding it that.

Answer 8

He may not be hungry.

They don't need to eat that much- you can get away with every other day or even every 2-3 days. Bettas aren't exciting fish.

Other than that, try live foods-he may dig that.

Answer 9

Add a plant suitable for bettas. He may need natural oxygenation.