Can't Get My Sick Betta To Eat!

[Morphkid03]

Oliver, my betta, has been sick since March 20th or so... He had/has fin rot... He hasn't eaten anything since he got sick, he's getting better but still no appetite. I have tried his normal pellets, bloodworms, flakes, pea, and all four of those soaked in garlic juice to no avail.

How can I get him to eat? I'm totally lost...

 

[Cdarmychi]

try live foods, they work wonders for me. not the dried or frozen stuff, it has to wiggle lol.

 

[electric yellow]

Do you have any other tanks with cichlids in it? I grind up my cichlid for my betta because he went off his normal betta food a few weeks ago.

 

[pammy172]

.......... I grind up my cichlid for my betta ...................

nooooooooooooooooooo - presume you mean cichlid food lol

 

[electric yellow]

oh dear....TYPO!...yeah thats what i meant!! Unless my bettas a massive eater

 

[Morphkid03]

There is no places around my area that sell live foods such as bloodworms, and I don't have any cichlids... I am on a student budget I am totally strapped for cash D:

Any other possibilities?

 

[bronzecat]

Hi

If he hasn't eaten for that long then you need to check his environment.

Whats the tank size, water temperature, water stats (ammonia, nitrItes etc)

 

[Morphkid03]

Hi

If he hasn't eaten for that long then you need to check his environment.

Whats the tank size, water temperature, water stats (ammonia, nitrItes etc)

He's in an isolation tank where he's been being treated for his fin rot, it's a 1 gallon bowl with a small heater, temp hovers around 75-78 degrees. Water is being changed and re-medicated daily so there won't be a reliable number if I test it.

 

[bronzecat]

Ah right, thats no prob then

Maybe get the temp up to 80. Do it over a couple of days though. Some bettas go a bit lathargic at cooler temps.

 

[Morphkid03]

Ah right, thats no prob then

Maybe get the temp up to 80. Do it over a couple of days though. Some bettas go a bit lathargic at cooler temps.

That's the thing that's confusing the heck out of me. To keep outside stimulus to a minimum I have a cloth wrapped around the bowl. As soon as I take that off, to change his water or what have you, he starts swimming around and is active. Even flares if you show him a mirror... So he's not lethargic... just won't eat. Best I've gotten is he'll take a pellet or a bloodworm in, then just spit it back out.

 

[bronzecat]

I'd say up the temp 80. No higher than 82 though.

 

[Morphkid03]

I'd say up the temp 80. No higher than 82 though.

And that should stimulate his appetite?

 

[bronzecat]

It may well do. At lower temperatures, i understand that their metabolism slows down, and by raising the temperature it can induce feeding. You've tried loads of different foods, so may as well try upping the temp. Its not going to do any harm

 

[Morphkid03]

It may well do. At lower temperatures, i understand that their metabolism slows down, and by raising the temperature it can induce feeding. You've tried loads of different foods, so may as well try upping the temp. Its not going to do any harm

Ok, I'll try.
I'll let you know how it goes...

Also, should I move him back to the main tank? The fin rot has halted, should I keep treating him with Melafix in isolation or move him into his 5gal with his cory catfish companions?

 

[bronzecat]

You wont be able to up the temp with the cories in the tank So i would keep him where he is for now.