Betta Gorged On Algae Wafer!

[Shelster]

Ahhh help!

My betta has a 50 litre aquarium with two assassin snails.

I put 1/4 algae wafer in for the snails for the first time this evening without a second thought that Gaston would eat it.

His diet is betta pellets, four every other day.

He was fed tonight.

Now look at him



I immediately removed the wafer once I noticed him having a good chomp on it, but way too late.

Please help me, he is my favourite


Double disaster!! S has my other betta flippin heck!!!! So angry with myself.

 

[Mamashack]

Ohh!! What a greedy pig! lol
That actually happened with Cobalt the other day and I just omitted feeding him for a day or 2. He soon slimmed down.

 

[Shelster]

Oh thanks mama, I hope this works out for my bettas too.

I don't think this betta and snail thing will work out.

I'm worried I'm going to go downstairs to two dead bettas you have put my mind a bit more at ease though

 

[Mamashack]

If it's a tank that's been on the go for a wee while the snails will find something to eat - such as algae on the tank walls or decorations.
I have an assassin snail that I thought had died so after a few months I put another one in and within a couple of weeks I thought I was seeing double! 2 assassins! The first one had buried itself into the substrate for absolutely ages and came out bigger than when it went in so don't worry about them eating - they'll find it somehow.

 

[Shelster]

Well yes I do keep having this argument with myself.

I do leave algae for them, and they are alive and been in the tank months, but I fed the rabbit snail in Conans tank and had a bit extra algae wafer break off so thought I'd take pity on them.

Needless to say, I then looked at Conan and he is all fatty too!

Argh, I do hope they'll be ok.

Will rabbit snails be ok too? Having said that, his is a new set up with Conan.

 

[Mamashack]

Haven't got or had any rabbit snails but I imagine their needs are very similar to most snails. 
Have you seen Donya's pinned article on freshwater snails? If not here's the link:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/424364-freshwater-snail-species-in-the-hobby/

 

[Shelster]

Ooh thank you, I shall have a read

 

[Ninjouzata]

Not trying to worry you but this is why my bettas from now on will be by themselves. The one in my profile pic, Discord, started taking the snails and cories food and he gorged himself so much he got pineconed.
WildBetta told me to use epsom salt and fast and he is back to normal now though I only feed him one pellet every day or every other day.

 

[Shelster]

The pellets they have are tiny and pre soaked. It's the algae wafer has been the problem.

If things have improved this morning, no more wafers are being given for sure.

 

[EllieJellyEllie]

I would make a place where the snails can get to, but your betta cant. All bettas are pigs and 99% will eat anything put in the tank. Mine died from bloat from eating a whole wafer, but he also had alot of problems with bloat that I found out most dont have. He should be fine, you may want to put him in a breeding net for 1 day a week to allow the snails to eat, but is may stress him as well.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

For the future you can make a little mesh food house thing and put the wafers in there so snails can get in and the betta can't.  I have one for my community tank to keep my honey gourami from eating too much.
 
I have a thread somewhere in my history with a picture of mine.

Found it.
 
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/428193-honey-gourami-proof-cage/

 

[Shelster]

Thanks for taking the time to find that link for me. Ha ha I loved the fact that naughty honey got in!

I did consider catching the snail and putting him in a breeding tank, but I think what I might do is prepare a coconut shell instead, look a little more natural.

Gaston my red is looking much better today, but Conan the black one is still a little fat.

Either way, they aren't going to be fed for a few days, and I'm never going to make that mistake again!

Fingers crossed all will look better by tomorrow