My Fishie Isn't Eating!

[raggy]

Hey guys, My fish just got over ich.  I changed the water 100%, and i also added 1 teaspoon of salt for good health of the fish (betta).  The betta also has a torn fin, he had some holes while he had ich, idk if it is fin rot or not,but im being told its not.  his fins arnt getting anyworse, in fact theres no more holes in his fins but a tear on the end now.
 
But even though as it seems he is recovering, he isnt really eating. He is swimming around a lot, so i dont think he is sick anymore, but he wont eat anything i give him.  He used to always eat pellets like a pig.  He sometimes goes after flakes but on occasion he'll spit it out.  He'll eat worms sometimes.  But usually he doesnt go for food until it has sat at the bottom of the tank for a day. (i unintentionally put the food there.  Trying to pick up left over food he doesnt eat and it accidentally sinks) 
 
Is my fish still sick? 

 

[Lillefishy]

It's possible that the 100% water change has shocked him, this is probably a silly question but you did temp match & dechlorinate the water & use aquarium salt?

 

[ncguppy830]

my opinion here but most bettas dont eat pellets and shouldnt a variety of flakes and livefoods is much better.

 

[Lillefishy]

I've never had a Betta yet that won't eat pellets, mine won't touch flakes.
Variety is good whether it be flakes or pellets alternated with bloodworm, daphnia, cyclops etc

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Pellets are better than flakes for Bettas.
Do you presoak the pellets Raggy?

 

[ncguppy830]

mine prefer brine and bloodworms i think livefoiod is better but my opinion

 

[raggy]

Pellets are better than flakes for Bettas.
Do you presoak the pellets Raggy?

 
no i never thought of that. the thing is though is that he used to eat pellets out of the container like a piggy.  I just realized he will eat worms.  My last betta would only eat worms and he got bladder infection from it i think.  (or maybe I over fed him).  
 
I did add salt to the tank and the temp is fine, its been three days now and i also have a heater in the tank that keeps it at 78 f.  
 
I will try pre soaking the pellets.  I just dont get how he had a change of appetite so quickly.  I dont know if its bad for the fish if they eat worms for the rest of their lives.

 

[Blondielovesfish]

How long ago was the ich cured?
 
Is your Betta looking bloated at all?

 

[raggy]

How long ago was the ich cured?
 
Is your Betta looking bloated at all?

 
I cured the itch maybe 4-7 days ago.  He's not bloated at all.  He actually got skinnier cuz he's not eating anything but worms.  But im afraid if i just feed him worms he'll be unhealthy.  thats how my last fish died.  he stopped eating pellets for w/e reason (he wasnt sick at all) and he just at worms.  

 

[ncguppy830]

try different foods maybe freeze dried brine shrimp or a different type of pellets.

 

[jugutha]

You have to be carefull with worms because if the fish has to much it does cause constipation

 

[Wildbetta]

For domesticated bettas, a diet of dry pellet food is the best daily food.  Feeding frozen treats once or twice a week is good.  Flakes and freeze dried foods are best to be avoided because they are a big risk of causing bloating and constipation.  Live foods are good but you have to be careful.  Live foods are big causes of parasites and constipation.  This normally happens if you feed your betta a worm that is too large for them (which 99% of them will still insist on eating by the way).  The worm will back up the system and cause all kinds of havoc.
 
I personally do not recommend adding salt to a FW fish tank unless treating an issue. (like ICH)  The increased salinity is not good for the fish's kidneys and all it really does is increase the slime coat which to me is not worth it for everyday use.  I recommend removing the salt and upping the temp to about 80F.  Then give him some time to recuperate from the ICH attack.  Treatment for any kind of parasite and disease takes its toll on the fish and it might be a while before he wants to eat again.  They can easily go 2 weeks or more without eating and suffer no ill effects.  Offer him a pellet or two daily to see if he wants to eat just make sure you remove any uneaten food if he doesn't go for it. You can also try soaking a pellet in garlic juice as most fish will take a garlic soaked food.  His fins should heal with very clean warm water so I wouldn't worry to much about them as long as they do not get worse.
 
Good luck and I hope he gets better fast.  

 

[raggy]

For domesticated bettas, a diet of dry pellet food is the best daily food.  Feeding frozen treats once or twice a week is good.  Flakes and freeze dried foods are best to be avoided because they are a big risk of causing bloating and constipation.  Live foods are good but you have to be careful.  Live foods are big causes of parasites and constipation.  This normally happens if you feed your betta a worm that is too large for them (which 99% of them will still insist on eating by the way).  The worm will back up the system and cause all kinds of havoc.
 
I personally do not recommend adding salt to a FW fish tank unless treating an issue. (like ICH)  The increased salinity is not good for the fish's kidneys and all it really does is increase the slime coat which to me is not worth it for everyday use.  I recommend removing the salt and upping the temp to about 80F.  Then give him some time to recuperate from the ICH attack.  Treatment for any kind of parasite and disease takes its toll on the fish and it might be a while before he wants to eat again.  They can easily go 2 weeks or more without eating and suffer no ill effects.  Offer him a pellet or two daily to see if he wants to eat just make sure you remove any uneaten food if he doesn't go for it. You can also try soaking a pellet in garlic juice as most fish will take a garlic soaked food.  His fins should heal with very clean warm water so I wouldn't worry to much about them as long as they do not get worse.
 
Good luck and I hope he gets better fast.  

 
 
He's done with ich.  Now just fin rot from some odd reason, or it just seems to be a little case of torn fins.  But he seems very happy.  he's being a suborn fish.  He's not eating anything but worms now.  Thanks for the info, i guess ill just starve his butt until he eats pellets again lol 

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Salt won't help torn fins.
I recommend that you do a 100% water change and do 50% every day and his fins should hopefully heal without without infection.

 

[raggy]

Salt won't help torn fins.
I recommend that you do a 100% water change and do 50% every day and his fins should hopefully heal without without infection.

 
 
yeah im doing about 20-50% wc each day, i think i got fin rot under control, im just worried about him not eating anything but worms.