Help With Xerxes

[Inedaan]

I got a new CT Xerxes just a couple days ago (Pics are in another topic). He didn't eat at all the first two days and that didn't surprise me too much. Now about half a week later ALL he will eat is the Freeze Dried Bloodworms I have. He rejects every type of pellet I've tried (Over five kinds) . Now my question is can you think of something he may eat other than FDB that isn't going to cost me a fortune over time? Any help appreciated

 

[mommyof2bettas]

try mixing the bloodworms and another food (pellets, flakes, ect...) he might gobble it all up, then change it to more of that other food than fdb, then slowly, more and more of the other food until he will eat it. HTH!

 

[zoekin8yg]

stop feeding him the worms, once he is hungry enough he will eat what you give him, may take a few days but it wont hurt him

 

[FBTgirl]

have you tried live food? Or crushed flaked food? That might suit him my female was like that. Then I refused to feed her for about 5 or 6 days and now she eats everything like a monster! She does not want that to happen again. Don't play there game is what I say to myself.
and my other female (newer one) now dead did not eat. She hated the Wardly stuff so I just gave up. Soon she got hungry enough and started eating. Poor thing died though

 

[laurasbetta]

"stop feeding him the worms, once he is hungry enough he will eat what you give him, may take a few days but it wont hurt him "

i'm sorry, but i feel that this is a very poor solution. what if he just doesn't like pellets? mine refuses to eat pellets, but he will eat flakes so long as they are crushed up small enough for him.
in my eyes, your solution is like if you had a baby who refused to eat carrot baby food, but it was what you bought and you didn't want to spend the time or money to find out if it might eat something else. so you starve the kid until it WILL eat the carrot baby food.

 

[zoekin8yg]

You cant personify a fish a fish is NOT a baby. Fish arent fussy if not used to pellets they might take time to eat them. Once a fish is hungry it will eat pretty much anything.

 

[Amunet]

You cant personify a fish a fish is NOT a baby. Fish arent fussy if not used to pellets they might take time to eat them. Once a fish is hungry it will eat pretty much anything.

Gotta agree. You can't go and compare a fish to a baby.
People use the method of not feeding their fish and then feeding them whatever the owner wants all the time. Like trying to get fish to stop eating feeder fish and onto pellets, or whatver else.
It's not going to hurt the betta to not be fed for a few days and when it gets hungry enough, it'll hopefully eat whatever you give it.

 

[laurasbetta]

You cant personify a fish a fish is NOT a baby. Fish arent fussy if not used to pellets they might take time to eat them. Once a fish is hungry it will eat pretty much anything.

Gotta agree. You can't go and compare a fish to a baby.
People use the method of not feeding their fish and then feeding them whatever the owner wants all the time. Like trying to get fish to stop eating feeder fish and onto pellets, or whatver else.
It's not going to hurt the betta to not be fed for a few days and when it gets hungry enough, it'll hopefully eat whatever you give it.

okay, i understand what you guys are saying. and that's fine. i respect your opinions. it's just personally something i don't think i could do. i know a fish is a fish and not a baby, but he seems like my baby, and i do treat him that way. not saying that you guys don't love your fish, or love them any less than i do. we obviously just have different ways to take care of them, and that's okay.

 

[liz2]

Make sure he is in clean water, so no bits of food are about and then dont feed him. Leave him at least 3 days. Still talk to him and wiggle your finger in the water. On the third day he will be hungry and stop being picky. I am sure they dont turn food down in the wild

 

[zoekin8yg]

You cant personify a fish a fish is NOT a baby. Fish arent fussy if not used to pellets they might take time to eat them. Once a fish is hungry it will eat pretty much anything.

Gotta agree. You can't go and compare a fish to a baby.
People use the method of not feeding their fish and then feeding them whatever the owner wants all the time. Like trying to get fish to stop eating feeder fish and onto pellets, or whatver else.
It's not going to hurt the betta to not be fed for a few days and when it gets hungry enough, it'll hopefully eat whatever you give it.

okay, i understand what you guys are saying. and that's fine. i respect your opinions. it's just personally something i don't think i could do. i know a fish is a fish and not a baby, but he seems like my baby, and i do treat him that way. not saying that you guys don't love your fish, or love them any less than i do. we obviously just have different ways to take care of them, and that's okay.

Of course, some people have different feelings. It really is fine and doesnt harm them

 

[Shaster]

Thank you all for the responses Inedaan and I will have to try some of them. We haven't tried any flake food yet, so that would be where I would like to start. Though I personally don't like the idea of not feeding a fish for a couple of days - if the other things don't work that might be the right course of action.

 

[knt5005]

Try buying some frozen peas. Microwave them to warm them up a bit, and then squeeze them out of their shells. Allow them to cool, obviously, before giving them to your betta. I know my bettas absolutely LOVE when they get peas.

Helps prevent constipation too! Yay peas!

 

[Shaster]

Try buying some frozen peas. Microwave them to warm them up a bit, and then squeeze them out of their shells. Allow them to cool, obviously, before giving them to your betta. I know my bettas absolutely LOVE when they get peas.

Helps prevent constipation too! Yay peas!

We've tried that (we've even tried with fresh ones)... Everyone but Xerxes will eat them!

 

[The_Dude]

OK, your fish obviously is a prissy fishy, but you do need to try these people's advice.In my experience, I had to break my betta, because all they would feed him at the store was live brine shrimp. The don't feed until hungry method DOES work, and it works well.Trust me.

 

[Shaster]

We do intend to try these suggestions out Dude.. I would just rather try the flake food suggestion before the straving suggestion. Call me a crazy paranoid fish parent. *shrugs* I'm beginning to understand just how serious people are being when they say every Betta has a unique personality. Xerxes is the exact opposite of Constantine who will eat anything, and easily gives up to his own reflection.