My betta splendens - Juju - was in a small 1 gallon bowl. Everything was fine - he never had a disease, always ate, etc. But for some reason, I decided to move him to a 10 gallon tank. I do everything - check for spikes, check nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, and chlorine. The tank has a filter (aqua-tech), a heater, and a pump. Originally, the betta didn't have tankmates, but now he shares the tank w/ 2 tetras and 2 mollies - he gets along fine w/ them. The problem is that ever since I moved him to the tank, he's been eating less (went down from 4-6 pellets per meal to one or two). He even did this when he didnt have mates. I don't know if he sees the food (it was closer in the gallon, so it seems like it would be easier). I've really tried to feed him...even turning off the filter and the pump when feeding him to help him see the food, but its so hard for the poor fish. I know that he's hungry because he starts nipping on the tetra food and spits it out bc he doesn't like it.
2007-04-21 17:22:34 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
Also, he's only a few months old from the petstore. I got him in March, so I'm guessing he's around 9 months old.
2007-04-21 17:31:34 · update #1
I think you are just looking at a typical adjustment period you can see in may fish when they are moved from one environment to another. Lots of other things could be a factor, even something as simple as temperature. Make sure the tank is in the mid to upper 70's or even into the lower 80's.
I would also suggest adding a few new things to his diet. Bloodworms are the current hot trend because bettas do love them, but brine shrimp, daphnia, blackworms and mosquito larvae are all excellent choices as well. Offer him pellets once a day and one of the other foods at a second meal for th day. Give him at least a week to become used to the idea and he should begin eating well.
I also agree that 2 pellets per meal twice a day is not a bad amount for a betta. In fact, it's fairly normal.
MM
2007-04-21 18:06:51 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Aside from decent advice already given, also make sure the tank is set up properly. If the tank is wide open with no decoration, this would stress him out. Betta's don't like open spaces, but this doesn't mean they need a small bowl - it means they like a well planted environment.
I keep my betta in a 15 gallon with other fish and he's thriving better then any I've seen in a bowl, but the tank is also decorated with a lot of plants.
2007-04-22 03:02:42 · answer #2 · answered by Ghapy 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I may be biased but I don't think it is a good idea to keep bettas with other fish. I know from my own experience that it seems to stress them out even if they don't show it in any real obvious ways. They kind of suffer quietly and just become unhappy slowly and loose their appetites. I have to suggest that you provide him with his (or her) own tank, preferably something more than a fish bowl, with light, aeration and or filtration, and a heater if the light does not do the trick. I would suggest a 2.5gal min. setup which you can buy at a pet store for a very reasonably inexpensive price. I found a 2.5gal for my betta at a second hand store and he is very happy in there and has filtraion etc.
I hope this may be of some use to you.
2007-04-21 17:34:29 · answer #3 · answered by Ash 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
instead of trying to get him to eat more in one setting try feeding him twice a day, 4 pellets a day may not seem like alot to us, but it's just fine for a betta. honestly, even two pellets a day isn't bad. it's better to under feed than over feed, and he won't starve to death if he eats two a day.
do NOT move him back to the one gallon bowl. they not like smaller spaces, and they are not only found in rice paddies (which are quite large for most of the year) but also in slow moving streams. as long as he doesn't get sucked into the filter he's fine.
2007-04-21 17:39:07 · answer #4 · answered by Kylie Anne 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
He needs time to adjust to the change. It's in shock. I had and have many Betta and when I place them in my 50 it takes them time to get use to the tank. My males fins even shrunk up so he can swim easier. Bio gold and blood worms (freeze dried) is all I feed mine, plus what ever he wants from the others. Good Luck..><>:)
2007-04-21 18:34:06 · answer #5 · answered by PaPa Norm 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
many animals adapt to a certain environment and when you make a drastic change they need time to adapt, or they get shocked from such a big change. try keeping him isolated in his 1 gallon bowl (back to the way things were) and see if he returns to normal. if he does, and you still want to put him into the 10 gallon tank, try slowly (and gradually) introducing to larger sizes of bowls/tanks and only one or two fish at a time so he can have time to adapt. just an idea, i hope it all works out.
2007-04-21 17:31:10 · answer #6 · answered by huy_zer 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
you can buy frozon worms and dried worms at pet stors you can even try to buy liqid baby fish food..? i do not really know but its worth a try!
2007-04-21 17:36:11 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
try bloodworms all bettas love em
sugey7394@yahoo.com
2007-04-21 17:48:17 · answer #8 · answered by suggie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Betta's like small spaces and non moving water. You are asking him to adapt to a new environment and he might not be able to.
2007-04-21 17:30:13 · answer #9 · answered by Faerie loue 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋
dried blood worms.
2007-04-21 17:33:21 · answer #10 · answered by Carol B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋