My Betta Has An Eating Disorder...

[summer_jane]

yes..and he's getting thinner...i've been trying to feed him those pallets with dried bloodworms.. i am terrified of bugs/worms so no chance that i'll touch anything that resembles a worm..
the pallets just float at the top and he doesnt seem to notice...so should i change the food or method of feeding?

 

[TammyLiz]

Bettas often go on a food strike when they are new. Maybe because they can't get used to the food. A week is not too long, but he needs to eat something soon. How big is his tank? Is it heated? Is there much current? Is the water clean? Making him as comfortable as possible is the first step. If everything is perfect and it has been over a week and he is still not eating, then you can try floating him in a small container so he is right there at the surface when you plop the food in, and sees it drop. This can encourage them to eat. If still no eating, you may want to try an internal parasite treatment. I have heard that freeze dried bloodworms should only be used as a treat and not fed on a regular basis. Make sure you remove any uneaten food so it doesn't pollute his water.

EDIT: Oh, and welcome to the forum.

 

[thelastbetta]

Fez is doing the same. He just stares at it then swims away.

 

[love cichlids]

Everyone says no regular feeding of freeze dried blood worms but that is all that my bettas will eat. They would not eat the pellets for almost 5 days and I got worried. I bought the bloodworms and they have been fine since. There is one or two days a week I do not feed any of my fish, which helps.

 

[aquagirl]

Just give hi msome more time. As long as he's still looking at the food you're okay.

It took my Takuta two to three weeks before he started eating regularly.

 

[summer_jane]

thanks for the help everyone. this's the first time that im raising anything at all so its pretty exciting. But ya, the fish is still holding out. He seems to be terrified of me cuz whenever i go close to his tank, he swims around like crazy and as far away from me as possible...

 

[liz2]

Has he got a little cave or somewhere he can hide, so he can feel safe? He will soon get used to you. It takes them at least 2 weeks to settle down. He will soon be rushing out and threatening you when he sees you! How about his eating?

 

[summer_jane]

when i first got him i put in a little fake mountain thing and he loved to hang out behind it... then i took it out when i was cleaning the tank because i was afraid that he couldn't see the food. so now its just an empty tank with some pebbles in the bottom...
btw, are the pebbles good for his fins? cuz he likes to swim low and drags his fin on the little rocks..

and still no eating...as far as i know at least

 

[Kairi]

it took my betta a good month before he would come out when i came around- a good 3 months before he'd stop flaring and hiding from my husband. i would try blood worms, you don't even have to touch them, just shake a few out of the can into the lid and pour like a couple in there for him.

 

[joey]

Maybe try feeding flakes or try feeding it brine shrimp it is just a shrimp and flake its not a worm::

 

[liz2]

I have found that they do like somewhere to hide. If you think of their environment and all the activity they must be able to see going past their tank I think they do need a little hideaway. Mine have almost all got terracotta pots now with the holes blocked up.