Betta Spitting Out His Food

[BENCHMARKMAN]

I am new to the world of fish and a betta is my first experiment. I got a male 4 months ago and he has been happy and doing well. The last two days he is attempting to eat the pellets I am giving him but then spits it back out after 15 - 30 seconds. I've tried a different brand of pellets, which are smaller, and he does the same thing. He does swim around some when I come near the tank but when I'm not around he sits at the bottom of the tank and doesn't move. I did some online research and I read bettas can live for up to a month with out food, so I'm not extremely worried yet. I live in VA and it has recently dropped in temperature but the room temperature has stayed steady. I have a filter on the tank and run that about 5 times a week for an hour. I also change his water every 6 - 7 days. The last time I changed his water was 5 days ago. Any ideas on what is wrong or what I can do?

 

[haleystropicalfish]

Well that sounds strange... If you didn't change anything, then I would continue to give him food (break them up a little if necissary) and see if a desease developes or something. Post again if something happens!

 

[BENCHMARKMAN]

Well that sounds strange... If you didn't change anything, then I would continue to give him food (break them up a little if necissary) and see if a desease developes or something. Post again if something happens!

Tonight he did eat two pellets, in a strange way though. He chewed spit the pellet out and then swam to the pellet and then finished chewing it again. He did go a little "crazy" after swallowing the 2nd pellet. He darted to the bottom and then across the tank. I can't break up the pellets because they are already tiny.

 

[WILDER]

Try him on some frozen foods.
Check the gills over as spitting food out can be a sign of flukes, pale with excess mucas on them, or red and inflamed.
Darting about can be bad water quaity, overdose of meds, stray voltage, to parasites.

 

[nemosworld]

some bettas don't eat if the temperature is too low too

 

[spazzinout53]

hey im in virginia aswell and my bettas had sort of the same issue, i think it was because of the cold water, i did a water change with slightly warmer water, and then i put some of my bbs shrimp in with them and they starded at them, but ate it up after a while

my first betta would never want to eat, he would only eat freeze dried blood worms, and then get a huge stomach ofcourse
so i would temp him with 1-2 of the bloodworms, and then he seemed to accept the pellet food

good luck!

 

[BENCHMARKMAN]

hey im in virginia aswell and my bettas had sort of the same issue, i think it was because of the cold water, i did a water change with slightly warmer water, and then i put some of my bbs shrimp in with them and they starded at them, but ate it up after a while

my first betta would never want to eat, he would only eat freeze dried blood worms, and then get a huge stomach ofcourse
so i would temp him with 1-2 of the bloodworms, and then he seemed to accept the pellet food

good luck!

Thanks for the advice.

What part of Northern Virginia? I'm in Manassas, I believe that is considered Northern Virginia. I'm new to the area, graduated from college and got a job here.

 

[PoptartShop]

Did you try flakes?
Or freeze-dried bloodworms, or brine shrimp? Maybe switch his food.