Silly Betta... Algae Is For Loaches!

[holokai]

Hey all,

I've got a 5 gallon planted tank with my male betta (Biggie Smalls) and my three kuhli loaches. I feed Biggie three hikari pellets in the morning and three in the afternoon. My Loaches get one quarter of an algae wafer two to three times a week. Lately, Biggie has taken a liking to the algae wafer, and after eating his pellets, scarfs down the algae wafer. His stomach gets all puffed out and he can hardly swim. By the end of the day, he's usually back normal.

This is bad, obviously. Bad for Biggie because he's going to get constipated some day and die of eating too much. Bad for the loaches, because he chases them away from the wafer and they are getting VERY thin. There just aren't enough fish in teh tank for the bottom feeders to survive unless they get their wafers.

I've tried distracting Biggie with more pellets while the wafer falls into some plants, but then he eats the pellets, sniffs out the algae and goes and gets it. I'm not sure what else to try.

Any Ideas?

Thanks!
- Chris

 

[gilaesther]

I saw a question like this on bettatalk.com, and the suggested answer was to get a temporary divider at the petstore and separate the fish so they each eat only what they're supposed to.

I suppose you could also try sticking mister piggy into a breeding net or something, as that serve the same purpose, if he doesn't escape from it.

 

[holokai]

Yeah, I thought of those too, but this is at work so I shouldn't really take so much time every day, you know. We'll see. Maybe I just don't feed him enough?

Should I try feeding more pellets more often?

Thanks!

- C

 

[stang1]

If he's started to get bloated, then feeding him more often would only cause problems. You sound as though you've tried different methods to no avail. You may end up having to remove him or the oaches I'm afraid.

 

[holokai]

Awww... you guys aren't telling me what I want to hear!

I think you're right though, I probably need to divide the tank or remove Biggie or the Loaches.

Not cool!

Thanks again.

- Chris

 

[gilaesther]

You could permanently divide the tank, then you won't need to worry about it taking much time every day to separate the fish to eat. Plus, you won't have to rehome any fish.

You could permanently divide the tank, then you won't need to worry about it taking much time every day to separate the fish to eat. Plus, you won't have to rehome any fish.

Do NOT feed him more, better to underfeed a bit than to overfeed! Fish can survive on less than we think - they're coldblooded. Please only feed him what you've been feeding him. If you feed him more, than he'll probably just eat that + the algae wafer still, he'll most definitely get sick if he does that.

 

[gilaesther]

Awww... you guys aren't telling me what I want to hear!

I think you're right though, I probably need to divide the tank or remove Biggie or the Loaches.

Not cool!

Thanks again.

- Chris

Sorry we can't give you better news! We all just want what's best for everyone's fish, right?

 

[-germ-]

You could try some courgette? Or other veg..
While its still fresh your betta won't be able to take any, although its hit and miss if your loaches will take to it......

 

[lilfishie]

try putting the food at different ends of the tank, his and 1/4 algae pellet at one end then another 1/4 pellet at the other, he can't be at both

 

[jollysue]

Are kuhli Loaches herbavores?

I have had some problems with some tankmates and Bettas overeating. When my B.straita/zebra loaches were in the sorority. the girls overate and the loaches were too shy. In addition my ADFs were really undernourished. I now have Dwarf petrocola Synos in the tank with 2 Plecos. The Synos come and grab the wafers (catfish wafers, not algae wafers) and take them away. The girls have nothing on them.

 

[holokai]

All good ideas... I'll give em a shot, but what is courgette?

Thanks!

- Chris

 

[joycould]

Wikipedia says it is zucchini.

 

[jollysue]

Wikipedia says it is zucchini.

 

[holokai]

Haha... thanks guys

 

[HODDY]

drop his pellets one end and pwhen hes eating pop the wafers the other so when he is eating he don't see the wafers and eat them to.