My male betta fish won't swallow food. He just puts it in his mouth and then spits it out. What do I do?

Question

I've tried feeding him pellets, flake food, and blood worms. He treats it all the same.

Answer 1

They do this when the food is too large, too hard to break up, or something unfamiliar. If you soak the pellets and freeze-dried bloodworms for about a minute in some tank water before you put it into the tank, they'll be easier for him to eat. While most fish do have teeth to chew, in more cases than not the teeth are hard plates on the tongue or roof of the mouth, so hard foods are difficult to break up, so they have to mouth them as they soften. In the case of new foods, or longer foods like frozen bloodworms, it may just be a case of "tasting" them to see if they're palatable, or turning them so they're in a position that can be more easily swallowed. Not many bettas I've owned like flakes, so I would keep these to a minimum.

Something else you might try for some variety are live mosquito larvae, if you can get them from a clean water source (it's fun to see the betta react to the first time their food tries to get away). Mine also like frozen daphnia.

Answer 2

Actually, he is getting some of the food before spitting it out. Been awhile since had a betta but that is how mine ate too. It looks like they are spitting it all out but was advised at store this is normal. He lived a long time and was a big boy.

Answer 3

All Bettas do that. I don't know WHY they do it. I have had several Bettas over the years. They spit it out & then eat it again. But there is nothing wrong with that.

Answer 4

I agree. He may not be hungry. I've had mine for over a year now, and sometimes they will eat like pigs, but then go off their food for a while?? Don't know and couldn't say, but mine are very healthy fish.

Answer 5

Get some flakes for him tomorrow. He's probably just picky. For now, crush the food, that's fine. Some fish just prefer flakes. I like tetramin color flakes, they're great. Good luck!

Answer 6

My 7yr old daughter got her 1st Beta about a month ago, when we got him he did the same thing for all but a week but then just out of the clear blue he just perked right up and now he's the biggest pig i've seen and his color is great so maybe it is a normal occurance w them.. good luck!

Answer 7

I have had a few betta fish, not real experienced, in fact i just got another one today, is he eating it after awhile? because i have had some spit it out and then eventually eat it.

Answer 8

When mine did that he wasn't hungry. Cut back on the food, try feeding him only twice a day, two flakes at a time. Make sure to suction up any sunken food before it fouls the water as it disintegrates.

(Mine didn't like blood worms but he did like daphne).

Answer 9

He might not be hungry. Leave him alone for a day or two, change is water and then in two or three days talk to him and give him the pelets once more.

Answer 10

Maybe you could ask the people that you get the food from, they might know , I do remember my Beta doing that, maybe its the brand , I wont fish again they are so neat.