Not Even Here For A Week.

[thelastbetta]

My newest, unnamed has not even been here for a week and he's already got me confused.

I walk up to the tank and he swims away, hiding under his rock cave. So ok. Figured it was normal. Left him alone and came back to check on him an hour or so later, he's swimming around, curious, healthy and normal looking, I sneak up very slowly, but what? he swims frantically back under his rock cave. I don't feed my bettas anything but frozen food with a pair of tweezers, all my other betta's, the second they see me walk up, swim to the top frantic for their dinner, but he doesn't. It's been two days and he's not eaten, I don't know what to do. I don't want to just let it float down to the bottom, him not notice it and it rot. I leaned a bloodworm on one of the leaves right beside his cave while he was tight inside and left it there, came back, he was out swimming around normally, but of course, second he see's me he's gone, and the bloodworm is still there.

I know he is healthy because in the pet shop he was completely flared, the top of his jar had at least half an inch of bubblenest on the top and he looked very happy. He's in a 5G right now, I was wondering if maybe that was too big was why he was hiding and not noticing the food, because I do swirl it around the top of the water like a real worm would do, but I don't think he even knows it's there.

 

[thelastbetta]

Well. I finally got him to eat some worms. I snuck up on him while he was out swimming around and floated one on the top of the water and hid. After a couple minutes he found it and just sat there, staring at it. After another couple of minutes he tried to taste it, spat it out, then finally ate it. I was so relieved. I don't know what I'm going to do though.. I can't just sneak up to feed him, I mean hell I can't even look at him without him hiding. How do I fix this?

 

[lljdma06]

Well. I finally got him to eat some worms. I snuck up on him while he was out swimming around and floated one on the top of the water and hid. After a couple minutes he found it and just sat there, staring at it. After another couple of minutes he tried to taste it, spat it out, then finally ate it. I was so relieved. I don't know what I'm going to do though.. I can't just sneak up to feed him, I mean hell I can't even look at him without him hiding. How do I fix this?

Well, I have B. imbellis in quaranteen and they wouldn't eat either, so they were placed next to Fasolt, my most mellow and outgoing betta, who is being treated for tail-biting. Yeah, that sucks, but whatever, he's my HM too, well not now. He can't see them, but they can see him. They couldn't really be effected by him, but they could see eventually that "ulgly woman with tweezers" wasn't out to get them, but out to give them yummy things to eat. Of course, Fasolt is more than willing to put up a great show and be friendly with me. I think that they will eventually see this as a routine. I try to feed at a similar time each day. Though, my imbellis are still shy, they will come out when "ugly woman with tweezers" approaches.

 

[osteoporoosi]

Could you post your water spesifics? Especially the tempeature,is it high enough?

 

[thelastbetta]

Well. I finally got him to eat some worms. I snuck up on him while he was out swimming around and floated one on the top of the water and hid. After a couple minutes he found it and just sat there, staring at it. After another couple of minutes he tried to taste it, spat it out, then finally ate it. I was so relieved. I don't know what I'm going to do though.. I can't just sneak up to feed him, I mean hell I can't even look at him without him hiding. How do I fix this?

Well, I have B. imbellis in quaranteen and they wouldn't eat either, so they were placed next to Fasolt, my most mellow and outgoing betta, who is being treated for tail-biting. Yeah, that sucks, but whatever, he's my HM too, well not now. He can't see them, but they can see him. They couldn't really be effected by him, but they could see eventually that "ulgly woman with tweezers" wasn't out to get them, but out to give them yummy things to eat. Of course, Fasolt is more than willing to put up a great show and be friendly with me. I think that they will eventually see this as a routine. I try to feed at a similar time each day. Though, my imbellis are still shy, they will come out when "ugly woman with tweezers" approaches.

Lol ok.

Could you post your water spesifics? Especially the tempeature,is it high enough?

No. I don't test my water because It's pointless since I change it every 5 days. The temp is 26 c.

 

[Durbkat]

Why do you all feed your bettas bloodworms with tweezers for, why don't you just hold it with your thumb and index finger and let them eat it? Come on it can't be that bad to hold.

 

[thelastbetta]

Why do you all feed your bettas bloodworms with tweezers for, why don't you just hold it with your thumb and index finger and let them eat it? Come on it can't be that bad to hold.

I have fat fingers, so it's hard to grab them.

 

[RandomWiktor]

He is probably just very shy and not yet used to his surroundings. It'll all get better with time.

 

[lljdma06]

Why do you all feed your bettas bloodworms with tweezers for, why don't you just hold it with your thumb and index finger and let them eat it? Come on it can't be that bad to hold.

There was a thread about this earlier. I am actually allergic to bloodworms, Durbkat. I break out in hives and my eyes get so puffy I can't see, and the effects last for several days, if I'm exposed. A reaction can be triggered by touching my eye or face even after I washed my hands after coming in contact with bloodworms. If I'm particulary sensitive or haven't taken Benedryl, smelling them can cause a reaction, though not as severe. So that is why I feed bloodworms with tweezers, I can't vouch for others in this forum, but I think several are allergic. Since I feed bloodworms, I might as well feed everything that way. It has actually proven to be useful in serving portions that are a good size for bettas, and tweezers are very effective for shelling peas. The bettas also have come to learn that the appearance of tweezers means food. Some will even eat from the tweezers. It is also a little cleaner as I don't get oils from my hands or cleaning products into the tanks.

Be glad you are not allergic, you are very lucky.

 

[Durbkat]

Oh sorry to hear I don't know if I'm allergic because I don't feed my bettas bloodworms.