Beta won't eat in new aquarium?

Question

We recently placed our male beta into a 5-gallon heated/filtered aquarium after he spent about 6 months in a 1/2-gallon vase. He seemed to do fine in the vase, but was very cramped in there and it was a pain to constantly change the water. He seems to LOVE the new aquarium - swims all over the place and in and out of his new plants, even playing in the current. It is so neat, but the only problem is he has not shown any interest in food since we placed him in the new tank. We've tried bloodworms and beta pellets with limited success. He is usually too preoccupied swimming around and playing, but when he does notice the food he just swims right by. I think he's only eaten a total of 3-4 beta bites and maybe 1-2 blood worms in the three days he's been in the tank. Will he calm down eventually and start eating, or is his increased activity and lack of appetite a sign that something is wrong?

Answer 1

He needs to get used to the new environment. Make sure there are some decorations in the tank just incase he feels like hiding.
Since his place is much bigger it would be nice to get him a friend or two.

Go to a pet store and buy some stress relieving drops or Salt.
Since you don't have to change the water as much anymore also buy Amonia remover and PH balance.

Signs of Stress & Disease: Definitions

Loss of Appetite

Clamped Fins

Crashed on the Bottom

Glancing

Gasping at the Surface of the Water

Red or White Sores & Spots




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Stress & Disease: Key Points, Tips & Tricks

Probably 80-90% of diseases in captive fish can be prevented by avoiding stress.

Diseases and pathogens are almost always present in tanks, but a healthy fish's immune system will prevent them from being a problem.

Sick or Diseased fish should be isolated whenever possible. You do not want to spread infections among other healthy fish. (IE Hospital Tank)

There are literally hundreds of afflictions that can effect the health of your fish. The most common are discussed below.
Things you need to know.

Don't buy or add fish to your established tank that have any sort of the following symptoms:

Don't buy fish from a tank with alot of dead fish in it. Most likely they have a disease.

Any white mucus or Salt-like specks. (20-40% of all pet stores have diseased fish, be careful when buying new ones)
Unusual swimming behaviour e.g. tailspin, rapid or jerky movement

Signs of injuries to fins and body. e.g. bleeding, ulcers, skin or fin tear

Pay attention to the fishes for at least a few minutes a day. Look for any of the following signs:

Bad signs:

The fish is scratching against tank decorations, rocks or sides of the tank.

There are visible spots, lesions, lumps, or white patches on the fish's body or fins.

The fish's tail or fins appear frayed at the edges or are breaking off, disappeared.

Red streaks near scales.

The fish gasps at the surface of the water.

Gills that are puffy or swollen and the gill tissue is bright red or even a grayish color.

Clamped fins

Fish suddenly becomes really fat.

The fish refuses its usual food for more than 2 days. The fish
floats, sinks, whirls, or swims sideways.

A normally active fish is still.

A normally still fish is very active.

Signs of Stress & Disease: Definitions

Loss of Appetite

Clamped Fins

Crashed on the Bottom

Glancing

Gasping at the Surface of the Water

Red or White Sores & Spots

Answer 2

I had this problem moving a beta from a container to a 20-gallon tank. I had other fish, if you have other fish..perhaps some food or nutrients are being found in the tank. Mine eventually learned to come to the top and be fed piece by piece when he saw my hand. I just had to make sure that he noticed the food. If he has a favorite "hang-out" you might get a feeding ring and put the food there. Also it's not necessary for them to eat every day, some say it's best they don't.

Answer 3

He's probably just getting used to it, I just put my female beta in a 10 gallon tank with some other fish, she's doing pretty well. Your beta is probably just stressed. I actually have flakes that my beta prefers (both of them) Also, you probably don't have other betas of the same gender or oppisite gender in the tank but that shouldn't happen. As you probably know, betas are a type of fighting fish. Some betas prefer small vases, their natural habitat are small puddles in rainforests and places like that. It took my beta while to start playing around and not hiding, but he should get used to it soon. Just a tip, if its a male, don't put it in with other fish unless you have the right equipment (A tank within a tank).

Answer 4

If your Betta was acting lethargic I would worry, but that's not the case. He's just probably getting acclimated to his new surroundings.
If you have him in a community he probably isn't used to competing for food.
I would suggest feeding with the light off for a few days (community or not) and try some frozen brine shrimp (don't thaw it just drop it in frozen (small chunks if not in a community), that way it will stay ay the top for awhile and he can pick at it).
This is of course for your worries as long as he eats something, sometimes, he'll probably be OK.

Good Luck

Answer 5

Now worries! That is enough food for those dats anyways. He is probably excited. Don't worry! He is just interested to explore his new environment and forgets bout his food. If he doesn't eat much in 2 weeks, then you should try asking a vet.

Answer 6

Try putting a small chunk of chopped frozen spinach in the tank. because it is frozen it will float and that means that betta can eat it whenever he feels like it. Mabye it will help you to get some food in him. I know that my betta's love it and it's good for them too!

Answer 7

usually they don't eat when something is wrong -- but with that usually goes with clamped fins, etc.

i can almost always get a betta to eat frozen bloodworms. try those.

amazing how much life they have when they aren't squashed up in something small isn't it?

Answer 8

Yes he'll restart to eat!!!
Becuz he got to I'm almost sure that he's stessen and that's the why
If you have anymore question just write to my older brother who has petstore in montreal at
[e-mail]
hope hell be fine

Answer 9

Probably stress

Answer 10

First off, Bettas are better in small tanks. In the wild they live in puddles and shallow water. Second, try putting a tablespoon of aquarium salt in the water to relieve his stress. Lastly, eventually, all the swiming is going to fray his fins.