Hi everyone, I am new to the forums and also new to betta keeping, though I do have lots of experience with goldfish. I have read through some other topics about bettas' eating patterns, but none of the situations seemed to really fit mine. Please bear with me if this has been asked elsewhere.
Yesterday evening I brought home a male crowntail betta. The store he came from is not known for its quality, but he was so beautiful and I had an empty tank at home so I decided to make him part of our family. Here are the specifics about his set-up:
He is in a 10 gallon tank with a filter. He originally had a bubble stone hooked up (old goldfish habits I guess lol) but I unplugged it because I have read that too much water movement is stressful. I also filled the tank to just below the level of the filter output so there would be less current in the tank.
The tank was not run through a regular (month long) fishless cycle, but I did use a biological agent that I have had great results from in the past. The bottle claims "instant" cycling, and while I know this is a topic of debate, I have seen this brand work in the past. Just in case, I will be doing small water changes daily until I can be sure there won't be an ammonia spike. I also added some marbles from my established goldfish tank to help get the bacteria growing.
The water was treated with Seachem Prime and the water temperature is a steady 80 degrees. I do not have a heater yet but I live in the desert and it does not cool off much if at all at night. My goldfish tank has been at a steady 80 degrees for about a month, so I am reasonably sure the temp. will not fluctuate. There is a thermometer in the tank so I can see right away if the temperature does change.
The tank has a very thin layer of aquarium gravel in the bottom and three smooth plants to keep his fins safe. There is also a small terra cotta pot (unglazed) that he has already adopted as his hiding spot. The hole in the pot is blocked off as well to prevent injuries. There is a hood on the tank to prevent jumping accidents.
(I am by no means an expert on betta needs so if there is anything in this area I am missing please let me know!)
The reason I am posting is that since he came home he has shown no interest in his food, either pellets or bloodworms. The bloodworms are freeze-dried but there are no stores with live food in town that I know of. I know it is not uncommon for fish to lose their appetite a bit when they first come home, but he will swim right up to the pellets and seems to not even realize they are edible. He doesn't even nibble at them. They are not too large, in fact they are some of the smallest pellets I have ever seen, and I have been pre-soaking them. He doesn't have trouble eating them that I know of, he just doesn't even try.
He is active and seems to be in good health. Everything I have read indicates that his behavior is normal, he just seems to have no interest in food at all, even the bloodworms which I thought would be a huge treat. Today he has spent 5-10 minute periods in his clay pot resting/hiding, but after a short time he comes out and patrols the tank. He doesn't seem nervous, and never swims away to hide or acts startled when I come near. I know this may very well be perfectly normal behavior, but I want to be absolutely sure I am not overlooking any problems. I am so used to goldfish behavior, I just can't figure this little guy out yet.
I originally offered the same food the store fed him, but after reading the ingredients on the Tetrafin food I went out and got some by Nutrifin Max. My goldies eat this brand of food and love it, so I am hoping he will learn to as well. I am pretty limited on food options where I live, the only other options would be Tetra betta flakes or Aqueon betta food.
I am just wondering if it is normal for a betta to shown no interest in food at all so soon after coming home, or if I should be worried. Any other newbie pointers would of course be great as well! Thank you all so much!
Yesterday evening I brought home a male crowntail betta. The store he came from is not known for its quality, but he was so beautiful and I had an empty tank at home so I decided to make him part of our family. Here are the specifics about his set-up:
He is in a 10 gallon tank with a filter. He originally had a bubble stone hooked up (old goldfish habits I guess lol) but I unplugged it because I have read that too much water movement is stressful. I also filled the tank to just below the level of the filter output so there would be less current in the tank.
The tank was not run through a regular (month long) fishless cycle, but I did use a biological agent that I have had great results from in the past. The bottle claims "instant" cycling, and while I know this is a topic of debate, I have seen this brand work in the past. Just in case, I will be doing small water changes daily until I can be sure there won't be an ammonia spike. I also added some marbles from my established goldfish tank to help get the bacteria growing.
The water was treated with Seachem Prime and the water temperature is a steady 80 degrees. I do not have a heater yet but I live in the desert and it does not cool off much if at all at night. My goldfish tank has been at a steady 80 degrees for about a month, so I am reasonably sure the temp. will not fluctuate. There is a thermometer in the tank so I can see right away if the temperature does change.
The tank has a very thin layer of aquarium gravel in the bottom and three smooth plants to keep his fins safe. There is also a small terra cotta pot (unglazed) that he has already adopted as his hiding spot. The hole in the pot is blocked off as well to prevent injuries. There is a hood on the tank to prevent jumping accidents.
(I am by no means an expert on betta needs so if there is anything in this area I am missing please let me know!)
The reason I am posting is that since he came home he has shown no interest in his food, either pellets or bloodworms. The bloodworms are freeze-dried but there are no stores with live food in town that I know of. I know it is not uncommon for fish to lose their appetite a bit when they first come home, but he will swim right up to the pellets and seems to not even realize they are edible. He doesn't even nibble at them. They are not too large, in fact they are some of the smallest pellets I have ever seen, and I have been pre-soaking them. He doesn't have trouble eating them that I know of, he just doesn't even try.
He is active and seems to be in good health. Everything I have read indicates that his behavior is normal, he just seems to have no interest in food at all, even the bloodworms which I thought would be a huge treat. Today he has spent 5-10 minute periods in his clay pot resting/hiding, but after a short time he comes out and patrols the tank. He doesn't seem nervous, and never swims away to hide or acts startled when I come near. I know this may very well be perfectly normal behavior, but I want to be absolutely sure I am not overlooking any problems. I am so used to goldfish behavior, I just can't figure this little guy out yet.
I originally offered the same food the store fed him, but after reading the ingredients on the Tetrafin food I went out and got some by Nutrifin Max. My goldies eat this brand of food and love it, so I am hoping he will learn to as well. I am pretty limited on food options where I live, the only other options would be Tetra betta flakes or Aqueon betta food. I am just wondering if it is normal for a betta to shown no interest in food at all so soon after coming home, or if I should be worried. Any other newbie pointers would of course be great as well! Thank you all so much!
. Maybe point the food out as if it comes from a different place or looks different it may be confusing for a while.
