Do fish have changing tastes?

[sharkweek178]

My betta used to love wingless fruit flies. Now he doesn't show much interest. He still eats his other foods. So it's not a loss of appetite in general. Do fish sometimes have a changing palate?

 

[Uberhoust]

I would say yes, but not because of any real knowledge. Every animal I have cared for seems to have food desire changes over time.

 

[GaryE]

Good question. I know some fish change their tastes with time - some algae eaters stop eating algae as they age. Others, as they get older and maybe lose their edge a bit seem to go for the easiest food - forsaking live for prepared. I doubt they'd live long enough for that in the wild.

They have taste buds - so I guess they'd have preferences.

 

[sharkweek178]

Good question. I know some fish change their tastes with time - some algae eaters stop eating algae as they age. Others, as they get older and maybe lose their edge a bit seem to go for the easiest food - forsaking live for prepared. I doubt they'd live long enough for that in the wild.

They have taste buds - so I guess they'd have preferences.

Now that you mention it... he doesn't eat his flakes as enthusiastically as before either. Everything else... Bug Bites pellets, frozen bloodworms and mysis shrimp, live grindal worms and mosquito larvae; he eats just fine. So maybe it's not a matter of taste as much as behavior. Maybe for some reason, he doesn't like feeding from the surface now.