Alright, Martin...betta picky eater

So Martin is my black rimmed mustard halfmoon betta, and I just figured out something. He is probably the most picky eater in all of betta history. The only thing he will eat is frozen-thawed brine shrimp. I've tried all the the flake and pellet foods, but he just ignores them. I have yet to try frozen-thawed bloodworms though. Will he be ok eating just frozen-thawed brine shrimp? The only reason I'm worried is because I don't know if he will get all the nutrition he needs in just brine shrimp.

 

Probably not. How long have you had him?

Try soaking the flakes and pellets in garlic juice or garlic guard. Often that makes food more enticing for fish.

 

I would mix up the frozen foods at least. Bloodworms, daphnia, brine shrimp. Hikari adds vitamins to most of their frozen foods that I’ve seen.

My pickiest eaters all love bug bites community pellets (not the flakes as much).

I’m not sure how big your tank is and if you want tank mates but my peacock gudgeons learned to eat prepared from my rummynose going crazy at feeding time. Now they gobble everything. Maybe some embers or lamb chop rasboras?

 

I would mix up the frozen foods at least. Bloodworms, daphnia, brine shrimp. Hikari adds vitamins to most of their frozen foods that I’ve seen.

My pickiest eaters all love bug bites community pellets (not the flakes as much).

I’m not sure how big your tank is and if you want tank mates but my peacock gudgeons learned to eat prepared from my rummynose going crazy at feeding time. Now they gobble everything. Maybe some embers or lamb chop rasboras?

I just tried bloodworms. No response. He is in a 10 gallon with 5 ghost shrimp, a nerite snail, and a couple ramshorns. He bullies any fish that goes in his tank, but for some reason he leaves the shrimp alone. The first rasboras that I had died I think because of sheer stress of him chasing them around all day.

Probably not. How long have you had him?

Try soaking the flakes and pellets in garlic juice or garlic guard. Often that makes food more enticing for fish.

I will try that. Thanks.

 

Nemo was super picky too those first two weeks. He still is picky, but he wants his “crunchy” foods so be soft so soaking them helps him go for it.

 

Nemo was super picky too those first two weeks. He still is picky, but he wants his “crunchy” foods so be soft so soaking them helps him go for it.

Yea I think he is still in that new phase. But I am worried because he won't take anything except for brine shrimp.

 

Yea I think he is still in that new phase. But I am worried because he won't take anything except for brine shrimp.

I remember the feeling. Nemo would only eat the flakes for a solid week. I’d still introduce the other foods. Then I managed to get him to eat a bloodworm off of tongs which opened up his appetite for other things.

 

I remember the feeling. Nemo would only eat the flakes for a solid week. I’d still introduce the other foods. Then I managed to get him to eat a bloodworm off of tongs which opened up his appetite for other things.

Well flakes are a good staple diet. I can't get him to eat flakes or pellets of any kind...
He just ate his morning brine shrimp. I feed him brine shrimp one by one by the way, so I'm not just throwing brine shrimp in the tank. My female betta is not a picky eater at all.

 

So Martin is my black rimmed mustard halfmoon betta, and I just figured out something. He is probably the most picky eater in all of betta history. The only thing he will eat is frozen-thawed brine shrimp. I've tried all the the flake and pellet foods, but he just ignores them. I have yet to try frozen-thawed bloodworms though. Will he be ok eating just frozen-thawed brine shrimp? The only reason I'm worried is because I don't know if he will get all the nutrition he needs in just brine shrimp.

Did you ever find a solution? Mine is the same way!

 

Did you ever find a solution? Mine is the same way!

Well, kind of. He eats Hikari betta bio-gold, but he doesn't eat bloodworms. He will eat any pellet, but reluctantly. You have to really coax them. I hope you find a solution for yours!

 

Well, kind of. He eats Hikari betta bio-gold, but he doesn't eat bloodworms. He will eat any pellet, but reluctantly. You have to really coax them. I hope you find a solution for yours!

The betta bio gold is what mine is refusing. He’s only eating the frozen bloodworms. I haven’t tried garlic oil yet.

 

The betta bio gold is what mine is refusing. He’s only eating the frozen bloodworms. I haven’t tried garlic oil yet.

Did you just get him?

 

Did you just get him?

I’ve had him a month and a half.

 

Probably not. How long have you had him?

Try soaking the flakes and pellets in garlic juice or garlic guard. Often that makes food more enticing for fish.

yes I would also definitely recommend it! garlic is a natural appetite enhancer (that is why it is in most fish food) it will also boost the bettas immune i give it to mine about once a week or if they get sick.

 

I’ve had him a month and a half.

That's weird. They usually open up after a month. Just keep trying different types of pellets. And DO NOT feed bloodworms, at all costs. I know it might seem cruel, but it's not. You'll see why, and you'll be giving the same advice to someone else with this exact problem some day.

 

Thanks!