It seems every betta fish I've ever had has always been a pig when it comes to eating. I don't feed them every day, normally every other day, and when I do, it's only a few (2-3) pellets, I don't over-feed them. But they always act like they're starving.
Is that normal or do I just have weird bettas?
2007-07-07 18:50:42 · 13 answers · asked by kt_carrera 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
I think that's normal behavior for any fish - it not limited to just bettas! How much you need to feed them depends somewhat on the water temperature - if the water is warmer, their metabolism is higher and they need more food than at a lower temperature, but if it gets too high, the eat less as well.
You might try feeding your betta a little more, though. I actually feed mine about 4 pellets twice a day, but this can vary with the brand/size of pellets. I sometimes replace one of the meals with either some frozen daphnia, a few frozen bloodworms, or some live mosquito larvae. I also feed a piece of a cooked pea once a week in place of a regular meal to prevent swim bladder problems.
2007-07-07 19:17:30 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You don't have weird bettas. Bettas will often act like they're hungry...mainly because they always FEEL hungry, even when their stomachs are full. Of course, we're not supposed to feed them beyond what fills their stomachs, so they will always seem hungry even after a feeding.
You might want to feed your bettas a bit more though. It depends on the size of your pellet. I use HBH Betta Bites, which are tiny, and I feed my bettas 3 or 4 pellets a day. Some say to feed them only what they can eat in 2 minutes, but if I were to feed my bettas what they could eat in ONE minute, I think it would be something like 15 pellets each! So I just stick to 3 or 4. Underfeeding is always safer than overfeeding when it comes to bettas.
2007-07-07 23:34:33 · answer #2 · answered by ninjaaa! 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had a betta that lived for 4 years which is a long time for a betta. I feed him twice a day, just two or three pellets in the morning and at night. that way he diden't eat so much as to hurt his float bladder. betta are very hardy fish and can live a long time in harsh conditions but if you want your fish to be happy then you need to feed him more often.
in short your fish is acting like its starveing because it is. you can not feed it a large amount of food all at once, that would be over feeding but feeding small amounts two times a day will keep your fish healthy.
2007-07-07 19:28:06 · answer #3 · answered by Aztrik 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Your Betta isn't abnormal, at all. Have you noticed him get excited when you do visit him and feed him? Some of that excitement, IMPO is because you are paying attention to him. I think they get bored too.
Depending on the size or shape of his home, you could probably feed him a few more pellets, I give mine 5 daily, but I also have him in a 2 gallon filtered tank. Plus the pellets are teeny tiny.
2007-07-07 19:14:55 · answer #4 · answered by Tammy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is, because they are very aggressive fish. I have 2, and they are the same way. I would feed them more than just 2 to 3 pellets though, depending on how big the pellets are. I feed mine a little more than that.
2007-07-07 18:54:24 · answer #5 · answered by Cathrine K 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Feed him 2-4 pellets a day.
2007-07-07 22:46:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He's not alone in acting like that, but I would feed him more--unless your pellets are much larger than the ones I am used to.
I give my betta, Monet, 4-5 pellets in the morning and 4-5 at night. Occastionally I cut back on his pellets, but give him a blood worm at midday.
He knows when it is eating time, though. his bowl is on my computer desk and at 9pm on the nose he swims to the front of his bowl and stares at me, if I ignore him too long, he starts moving the rocks in his bolw around so that they make a *clink* noise.
he always acts like he is starving to death and like I mistreat him, but I think that is just fish in general.
2007-07-07 19:46:21 · answer #7 · answered by Annie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bettas or any type of fish is easily overfed for you see that don't really know they are full. So just feed them what your suppose to and they will be fine. It's very normal goldfish are also bad about that.
2007-07-08 05:21:11 · answer #8 · answered by mombean1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES!betta fish are little finned piglets!!!after i feed my male,he always stays at the top of the tank begging for more!he's a cutie though=)
2007-07-08 02:01:47 · answer #9 · answered by Ladyinpinkッ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I love how food aggressive bettas are. I have conditioned one to jump up and take food from my fingers. I love it when he surprises someone at work when they go to feed him, he hops up expecting to be hand fed. It is so cute.
http://www.ultimatebettas.com/
http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article38.html
http://www.badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article44.html
http://www.tropicalresources.net/phpBB2/agreement_contract.php
2007-07-07 21:45:32 · answer #10 · answered by Palor 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋