5 Gallon Tank Betta fish constipation prevention?

So I just spent 3 days fasting my betta fish since he’d ended up getting constipated and I wanted to make sure he got it all out which I think he has. So today I gave him 3 pellets that I’d soaked for 5 minutes to make sure they were nice and soft. I tried feeding him some freeze dried bloodworms in order to vary his diet because I’d only been feeding him his Aqueon Betta food pellets, but he spit it out and refused to eat them which is what has happened the past few times I’ve tried feeding them to him. I’m worried he’ll get constipated again, but I’m not sure what to do since I can’t afford to be buying frozen foods for him. I’m worried about over and possibly under feeding him at this point because the way he eats is that if he doesn’t immediately notice the food it’ll just fall and he won’t eat it which is why I hadn’t been soaking the pellets until now because when I’d previous done it he spent nearly a week not eating. Today after soaking I had to pick the soft pellets up one by one and place them in front of him and make sure he grabbed them before they sank to the bottom. However, I’m not sure if 3 pellets is too much or not enough for him because I don’t want him to starve just because I’m worried about him being constipated again. Just wondering if anyone has tips on how to keep him from getting constipated again, any help would be appreciated.

 

I know you can't afford frozen blood worms, but they love it. I recommend Hikari micro pellet for variety. You don't have to soak and they float for a bit. I started with betta pellets and ended up putting them in a salt grinder with other food that was too bit for my neons and I had the same issue as you with the soaking sinking, etc. Fluval bug bite flakes are also something mine love. Feed small amounts 2-3 times a day instead of all at once.

 

I know you can't afford frozen blood worms, but they love it. I recommend Hikari micro pellet for variety. You don't have to soak and they float for a bit. I started with betta pellets and ended up putting them in a salt grinder with other food that was too bit for my neons and I had the same issue as you with the soaking sinking, etc. Fluval bug bite flakes are also something mine love. Feed small amounts 2-3 times a day instead of all at once.

Okay, I happen to have some tropical fish flakes I could feed him as well possibly? Do you have any experience with veggies that Betta fish can eat once boiled? I have two snails so there is usually a carrot or cucumber in the tank sometime during the week but he doesn’t ever seem interested in them. He’s just a really picky eater it seems, but I can’t really afford to buy anything else at the moment since I’m unemployed currently.

 

Betta's are carnivores so they need their meat. Tropical flakes are okay to rotate with the other food. Try chopping up your freeze dried blood worms then soaking them and feed your betta one bit at a time. I do it with my finger so he can catch it before it floats to the bottom. Let me know if he eats the freeze dried blood worms that way. My betta, nor most of my other fish don't care for the freeze dried stuff. It's also to big for most of my fish.

 

Betta's are carnivores so they need their meat. Tropical flakes are okay to rotate with the other food. Try chopping up your freeze dried blood worms then soaking them and feed your betta one bit at a time. I do it with my finger so he can catch it before it floats to the bottom. Let me know if he eats the freeze dried blood worms that way. My betta, nor most of my other fish don't care for the freeze dried stuff. It's also to big for most of my fish.

I’ll try soaking them a bit tomorrow- I usually try to feed them one at a time, placing them in using my thumb and he’ll go for it at first before spitting it back out and not going for it again that day. I’ll try taking a few pictures or a video of what I usually do tomorrow because I know meat is important and I used to feed him these little live bugs but they all ended up dying before reproducing. My betta is just such a pris lol When he grabs the bloodworm it all definitely fits and is good, he just spits it out like it doesn’t taste good or something

 

yeah, mine does the same. I have a full container I don't use because of this.

 

I know you stated that this would strain your budget, but if you can invest into frozen daphnia, it would be a worthwhile investment. I cut a frozen cube into quarters. Betta gets one piece, the rest goes back into the freezer. This will last you a long, long time. I also feed him a cooked pea here and there for variety, he loves it and it is very cheap.

 

Thanks everyone! For the pea do I just need to boil it or would it be best to lookup a video on how to do it?

 

Thanks everyone! For the pea do I just need to boil it or would it be best to lookup a video on how to do it?

I put a frozen pea for 10 sec into the microwave. It easily comes out of the shell, and is nice and soft. Cutting them is a pain as they are round and a bit slippery.

 

I personally disagree with feeding bettas any kind of vegetable as they are carnivorous and their digestive tracts are not suited for plant matter. Their bodies get the most nutrition from protein rich foods. I feed my betta frozen food and bug bites twice daily with one fasting day per week and I have never had issues with either bloating or constipation. I believe it comes down to the quantity and quality of the foods being fed.

 

I personally disagree with feeding bettas any kind of vegetable as they are carnivorous and their digestive tracts are not suited for plant matter. Their bodies get the most nutrition from protein rich foods. I feed my betta frozen food and bug bites twice daily with one fasting day per week and I have never had issues with either bloating or constipation. I believe it comes down to the quantity and quality of the foods being fed.

While I totally agree, a mix is the secret. Solely feeding peas is detrimental, but as a treat here and there it just goes through the system. No harm done.

 

While I totally agree, a mix is the secret. Solely feeding peas is detrimental, but as a treat here and there it just goes through the system. No harm done.

imo it's not much of a treat since bettas enjoy meaty foods much more and plants are more difficult for them to digest. Will it cause harm? No, but that doesn't mean it should be fed imo. There are more nutrient dense "treats" out there such as blood worms or even some small live insects like wingless fruit flies. To each their own though, that's just my two cents.

 

I’ve read some where that peas are not good for bettas.

 

I’ve read some where that peas are not good for bettas.

Peas are not daily staple food for Bettas. That it will help with constipation...some say yes and some say no, it is a matter of many articles and opinions. Do Bettas like peas? Yes. Is it a staple food? Again, no.
Peas just have the advantage that they are not digested, and go through the Betta as a filler. Does it kill the Betta? No. Is it worth a try? Yes.
I personally prefer Daphnia, but I can understand that in a financially tight situation we go with the second best thing.
Finally, the decision is in the hands of RamRam12.

 

Good points. so... where does one find frozen daphnia. I have never seen it in any of the big box or las.

 

Not sure about frozen as I'm in Canada and also have never seen it in-stores, but amazon has freeze dried daphnia. It's best rehydrated before feeding.

 

I am really lucky here as my LFS has all the goodies in the freezer.
Online search may be an option, ebay. It is Winter, depending where you live in the US I could sent you a pack

imo it's not much of a treat since bettas enjoy meaty foods much more and plants are more difficult for them to digest. Will it cause harm? No, but that doesn't mean it should be fed imo. There are more nutrient dense "treats" out there such as blood worms or even some small live insects like wingless fruit flies. To each their own though, that's just my two cents.

It is interesting... I put your statement to the test.
I put a piece of tubifex worm into the water, and a piece of pea. Guess what, he spit out he Tubifex and gulped up the pea. Not scientific, I know. But also Bettas have preferences in their tastebuds

 

It is interesting... I put your statement to the test.
I put a piece of tubifex worm into the water, and a piece of pea. Guess what, he spit out he Tubifex and gulped up the pea. Not scientific, I know. But also Bettas have preferences in their tastebuds

That is interesting since you would think they would be more inclined to have a preference towards protein rich meaty foods based on what we know about them as a species. Was the worm significantly larger than the piece of pea? Perhaps they do have taste preferences.

 

That is interesting since you would think they would be more inclined to have a preference towards protein rich meaty foods based on what we know about them as a species. Was the worm significantly larger than the piece of pea? Perhaps they do have taste preferences.

In a way it is understandable. Why do humans eat chocolate? Because the taste buds like it, it is sweet and makes us feel good. Peas are sweet as well, so there may be some attraction
But to your question, no, there was nothing specific about this tubifex worm, smaller than a blood worm. The piece of pea was of similar size as the worm.

 

In a way it is understandable. Why do humans eat chocolate? Because the taste buds like it, it is sweet and makes us feel good. Peas are sweet as well, so there may be some attraction
But to your question, no, there was nothing specific about this tubifex worm, smaller than a blood worm. The piece of pea was of similar size as the worm.

Oh wow- this has been going on! I managed to scrounge up enough money to buy some frozen brine shrimp that float for my little boy! I may have made the mistake of adding the entire cube like it said to on the back and that was WAYYYYY too much food for just a single betta fish so he got a small unscheduled water change so I could suck up as much of the excess food as possible any tips on how to get off like- enough to feed one betta fish? They’re circular and frozen so I’m not sure how to cut it so I won’t be wasting it. Here’s a little pic of him!

 

I put a cube on a cutting board and either shave or cut a portion. The rest goes back into the freezer. What he won't eat in one session I put into a small container in the fridge, and it will be good for a day. This way the frozen cubes will last you a long time.

 

I shave the cubes them cut up perpendicular. I find blood worms and brine shrimp to be a little big.

 

I shave the cubes them cut up perpendicular. I find blood worms and brine shrimp to be a little big.

Okay, so I’ve encountered a new problem My betta fish is refusing to eat the brine shrimp now- and will only eat his pellets- I don’t want him to end up constipated again because of his own stubbornness- any tips?

 

mine LOVE frozen blood worms which I do shave and chop with a knife. I this betta your only fish or can you feed the brine shrimp to other's?

Also, remember a very small amount of food 2-3 times a day. If you use the pellets, soak them first and feed one at a time if you can because they will sink quickly.

 

mine LOVE frozen blood worms which I do shave and chop with a knife. I this betta your only fish or can you feed the brine shrimp to other's?

Also, remember a very small amount of food 2-3 times a day. If you use the pellets, soak them first and feed one at a time if you can because they will sink quickly.

He’s my only fish- I have 2 snails with him as well, but they get fed carrots mostly. I soak the pellets one at a time now and place them in front of him with my finger- and I’ve been using tweezers to try and drop in the brine shrimp after unfreezing them.