Betta Foods and Feeding

I find it hard to feed my Betta. He seems to be so busy when near the surface and doesn't respond like other fish do to food. Even when I give him some time to relax when I have the cover off the tank he doesn't seem to realize he's being fed or something.

 

bettas can be surprisingly picky eaters...I suggest trying some new foods....what r u feeding him right now?

 

Ever try Betta Bio-Gold floating pellets? Most fish won't touch them but the bettas usually love them. Try giving him some freeze dried blood worm too.

 

Bettas make the pickiest of eaters easy to please. It is all trial and error (mostly error). The truth is vin is right. I have 3 and 1 will eat HikarI Betta Bio-Gold pellets, 1 will eat HikarI Freeze-dried Bloodworms, and the other is still on the fence as to what she will eat (I have only had her 36 hours). I do not recommend Fresh food because of the risk of introducing bacteria to your tank. The freeze-dried versions are the same nutrition content without the risk. Don't spend a lot of money on different kinds until you try the two listed above. I can nearly promise he will eat one or the other. Just don't overfeed. 3 pellet of the Bio-Gold twice a day or 6 - 7 bloodworms twice a day is all or you will have a very constipated Betta. (The way to tell that they are constipated is they shimmy when they swim or they stay at the bottom and don't want to swim at all) If that happens, get some frozen peas at the supermarket. Take one and put it on a saucer and Microwave it for 30 seconds or until it is just defrosted. Remove the skin and chop into very small cubes about the size of a small seed. Feed him 2 or 3 pieces or the amount equal to about half the size of his eye. You should see results before the end of the day (swimming and happier).

Rose

 

Thanks for the advice. I've heard worrisome things about live bloodworms, should I get the frozen kind then? I was told by someone else that all he needs are the pellets but he doesn't seem to want them, nor does he want the flakes I bought that are supposed to be Betta flakes.

 

bettas mouths are not shaped for flakes no matter if they make flakes for them or not. they just cannot seem to get them down. also the Betta-Bio-Gold is the only pellet that is the right size for a bettas mouth that I found until I found the new food for the little one (baby) the other day. I do not recommend the frozen bloodworms either. The only safe ones that I am aware of are the Freeze-Dried. The others either Live or Frozen sitll carry the chance of introducing bacteria into your tank. You can make up your own mind on this issue. I am just one overprotective Betta Mom and anything that says bacteria isn't going anywhere near my tank. He can do just fine on the pellets alone, but if he doesn't want them and they are not the HikarI brand, most of the other brands for bettas are too big for their mouths and they won't even try them. It doesn't do any good to break them up, they just sink. Try the freeze-dried bloodworms. A can will last 6 months before it needs to be rotated, so get a small one. I don't think the brand matters. If he will eat the fresh or frozen he will also eat the freeze-dried.

Rose

 

It's actually mildly annoying. I have the Topfin and the HBH pellets and he's not interested at all. You may have something with the mouth size thing though; he tried swallowing one of the Topfin pellets and then spat it out, and ignored the following one. Anyway, the Corys rather seemed to enjoy the small amount of flakes I tried earlier.

Just an update: he seems to be eating well now. He ate 3 pellets this morning and possibly another but he was nuzzling in the duckweed and I'm not sure if it fell down or he ate it. Someone mentioned that their Betta liked algae wafers but he's shown not the slightest interest in them, so I'm not worried about overfeeding. Thanks for the advice!

 

Hey, I saw that Omega One makes Betta food. Has anyone ever tried it, is it any good? They are flakes, but you could always crumble them into small pieces. That's what I did when my two baby Guppies started to show interest in flakes.

 

Just an FYI - Stay away from live bloodworm- not only are they full of bacteria that can harm your water, but that same bacteria can harm humans.

Also, do not handle the freeze dried bloodworm, but rather shake a few into the cap of the container and sprinkle them into your tank. The dust from these worms can be very harmful if inhaled. I only open a small corner of the foil on the container and sprinkle a few into the top. Then sprinkle those into the tank and immediately cover the container again.

You can't be too carefull with that stuff!

 

My betta gobbles up the freeze dried bloodworms. I thought he may be constipated from them but he has become very sick since I started changing his diet. Can the freeze dried bloodworms contaminate your water?
Gina

 

My betta gobbles up the freeze dried bloodworms.  I thought he may be constipated from them but he has become very sick since I started changing his diet.  Can the freeze dried bloodworms contaminate your water? 
Gina

Gina,
What else have you been feeding him? If he's bloated, try some veggie flakes.

 

I tried the Omega One Betta Food and while the nutrition information made me wish they would eat it, the small pellets were too big for their mouths. If I broke them up they sank right away before they ate them and Marty won't eat anything but bloodworms so I ended up selling them on the swap section of this forum. I sure wish they could have eaten them because they would have been more nutricious than what they are eating. I also wish more manufacturers would truly make their pellets small enough for bettas to put in their mouths!

Rose
:

 

I'm using topfin which seems to have assorted pellet sizes in the bottle. BTW, don't you have kind of young bettas? Maybe that's why their mouths are too small? Mine just gobbles up that topfin pellet stuff, though I'm glad to see that he's not as greedy as other fish are.

 

I've only had luck with the Betta-Bio-Gold pellets as they are small enough. The only two things my betta would eat were the pellets and the freeze dried bloodworm....which he ate practically before it hit the water!!!

 

My betta gobbles up the freeze dried bloodworms. I thought he may be constipated from them but he has become very sick since I started changing his diet. Can the freeze dried bloodworms contaminate your water?
Gina

Gina,
What else have you been feeding him? If he's bloated, try some veggie flakes.

I was feeding him Betta Min tropical flakes. He did really well with those. Then for variety, I added the freeze dried bloodworms. I tried the frozen pea. I bought the hikarI pellets & I tried the veggie flakes. I thought he was constipated, but he was sick with something else.. There were no other signs of illness.

I'm sad to say that he died last night. :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( I tried the melafiix & I tried raising the temp. (bought a new heater) but it was already to late. This has been going on for a long time & until a week ago there were really no visible signs. At least he isn't suffering any more. I had him for almost two years. It's crazy how losing such a tiny animal can be so upsetting.

For now I think I am going to clean out the tank & maybe start over again later. I have learned a lot & will do it again, just not right now. I'm to sad. (Am I a dork or what?)

Thank you all for your help. Gina

 

Noel is 8 month old and probably almost as big as he will get. Marty is 5 months old and doesn't eat the pellets anyway. Misty is 2 months old and I have baby pellets for her that are tiny as poppy seeds. She can eat them but the Bio-gold pellets are even too big for her.

No there is a lot of size difference in the Bio-gold and the Wardley, Tetra, and Omega One. The other brands would make 3 of the Bio-gold pellets. Not that he would eat the Wardley or Tetra, he turned his nose up at them without even trying them, but he did try to eat the Omega One, He just couldn't stuff it into his mouth. I even tried to break them up but they sank before he could eat them.


I am so sorry and sad about your betta. Every time we lose a fish it is devastating. When you are ready to start again don't worry the new little guy will swim his way into your heart in no time. I know it is hard to think of right now, but I know as much pleasure as you got from the betta you had, it will happen again.

No you are not a dork. You are a caring fish owner who did the best to find out what was wrong and correct the problem. You couldn't have done more. It was just too much for him to deal with. Some fish are just not strong enough to go through a major illness.

Again my most profound sympaties. Stay with us and keep your chin up. It will get better. We are here for you.

Rose

 

Thank you Chickadee! It is devastating every time. But especially him.

I will stay here. I am going to continue reading & learning. It will take time for my tank to cycle & by then I will be ready to save a poor Betta from those stupid little cups they keep them in. They always look so sad. They are such beautiful fish.

Again thanks for the support. I knew all of you would understand how I feel.

Gina

 

Sorry to hear about your fish loss, Gina. I don't think you're a dork. It's just that fish are not mammals, their diseases are puzzling, and as much care as you gave sometimes nature just swoops down and grabs. I wouldn't be ashamed of having cared for your pet. I hope you have better success next time.

 

Gina, you're not a dork at all. I'm sorry about your Betta. :'( :'( It's so sad to lose a pet, no matter what size.

I thought the Omega One food was flakes, maybe I read it wrong. Rose, have you thought about hand-feeding? Then you could break the pellet but let the fish take it from your hand, so it wouldn't sink. My livebearers will hand-feed, and I've heard Bettas were especially good at that kind of stuff--they get so tame.

 

misty is going to be a hand feeder - is already actually. Noel is too skittish and nervous to come that close except for the green peas. Marty won't touch ANYTHING but freeze-dried bloodworms. I have the world's worst bunch to feed. I think Noel would have really eaten the Omega One but he does not dive for anything but peas. I just do not understand the love Misty and Noel share with frozen peas but they both love them. Misty will come right up out of the water to grab them off my finger She really is such a little doll, but growing fast.

Rose

 

It's amazing how such small fish can have such huge personalities! Marty really won't touch anything but bloodworms? Wow, he's worse than my brother! ;D : Have you tried freeze-dried brine shrimp? I'm pretty sure Bettas are supposed to like those. (yeah, right! ) Misty sounds so sweet. It makes me want to hurry and get my own female Bettas!

 

Yes we tried the Freeze dried Brine Shrimp I thought I was getting them a treat. They put them in their mouths and spit them out just as fast. So I threw them out! I have spent a fortune on treats for them and they are stuck on what they like and nothing more. When I say Bettas do not like variety I know what I mean. If they find something that is all they will try. (the naughty Marty won't even try the peas - don't know what I will do with him if he ever gets constipated He is the most stubborn of all three. )

Yes, Misty is a darling and she will stay that way probably although she is really still a baby and has a baby's appetite. She gets fed about every 3-4 hours during the day but only 2-3 baby pellets and one meal is frozen pea (defrosted). It works very well and seems to be getting her to grow. I will try pictures with her again in a day or so when the time presents itself. I hope I can get her fins to show since they are transparent unless the light hits them just right and shows the fluorenscence of them.

I know you would love having a female of your own.

Rose

 

Yes we tried the Freeze dried Brine Shrimp I thought I was getting them a treat. They put them in their mouths and spit them out just as fast. So I threw them out! I have spent a fortune on treats for them and they are stuck on what they like and nothing more.

hehe sounds like you're describing the Gerbils I had!

 

was reading the posts about how picky bettas are when it comes down to eating.
I am by know means an expert. Just got mine two weeks ago.
He would not eat anything I gave him. Tried HBH Betta Bites, Tetra Betta Min Flakes, and Tetra Freeze Dried Blood Worms. For three days, he would not eat, would put it in his mouth and spit it back out.
Found something, wishing for promis, and it worked.
Wardley Total Betta gourmet floating pellets. He gobbles them up each time, no problems, no turning his head, and when he knows that I am getting ready to feed him he gets very excited. I can feed him one pellet at a time. Have been feeding him very successfully with this for 10days now. 4 pellets, 2X a day.
I am so sorry for your loss, it always hits so hard and close to the heart.
Have had cats in the past, my last one was 16yrs old, and just as sweet as she could be.
So if you have a picky betta, hope this will work for you the way it has worked for me
LOL, Sharom

 

Yes, Bettas can be very picky, I'm glad you found something that he would take.

 

My betta likes the Tubifex worms, I only pinch off a few pin head size chunks each feeding, and she like regular fish flakes too. I recently tried the Betta Bio-Gold pellets, but she just spits them back out. :-\

 

what are tubiflex worms. Are they live? Can they bring any bacteria in the tank? Where do you get them?
Would like to try something else, I know it is good to feed a few dif. things.
Just like us, I am sure that they get sick of the same thing, besides how can one thing have everything that you would need in it.
Thanks Sharon

 

You can usually get tubifex worms wherever you get your fish food. Try and get the Omega One or HikarI brand if you can. My fish love them also. They usually come in cubes. You can take these cubes and smash them against the glass under the water in the tank. If your betta won't eat them this way, you can always do like mistycherI and just break off small pieces and float them. Don't feed live tubifex worms. They normally live in sewerage and can bring disease and bacteria to your tank. The freeze dried worms are much safer and the fish don't seem to mind.

 

Thanks Gunnie, w/my luck all my betta will like will be the pellets, but I guess it's better that he eats something over nothing.
I noticed that you had a tank with angels.
I love angels and have one, and I really love him. I would really love to build a tank around him and was wondering if you have had any luck with angels and other tank mates and what they where?
the tank is a 20 gal and really don't have room to move up. I like a community tank, so I would like to have community that the angel can live in peacefully. And I know if I get another, that will pretty much take up the 20 gal, so any ideas for other community tank mates?
Thanks, Sharon

 

To my utter amazement my Betta ate some fish flakes today. (the bottle says that they are designed for betta nutrition) I experimented now and then, since I have corys who will eat whatever he doesn't eat, and crumbled up some very fine, and he ate some. I'm going to try alternating the stuff to see if it supplements the pellet diet at all.

 

Thanks Gunnie, w/my luck all my betta will like will be the pellets, but I guess it's better that he eats something over nothing.
I noticed that you had a tank with angels.
I love angels and have one, and I really love him.  I would really love to build a tank around him and was wondering if you have had any luck with angels and other tank mates and what they where?
the tank is a 20 gal and really don't have room to move up.  I like a community tank, so I would like to have community that the angel can live in peacefully.  And I know if I get another, that will pretty much take up the 20 gal, so  any ideas for other community tank mates?
Thanks, Sharon

Angels are pretty cool. Butterfly has quite a few of them also. Is your tank a 20 gal. long or high? High is usually better for angels, but the 20 long would be okay if that's what you have. You could add cory cats, blue rams or some of the other apistos, some of the less aggressive tetras like the rummy nose, and I am thinking of trying a tank with one of my pairs and adding a pair of kribensis. Usually you don't match african and American cichlids, but these are supposed to be an exception. Angels can get quite aggressive when they spawn, so keep that in mind if you have a pair in the tank. They will claim at least 1 half of the tank!

 

one of my bettas only likes the bio gold pellets...he won't eat anything else not brine shimp or blood worms...not even flakes....

 

I'm not sure if this has ever been brought up before, and it likely has so I'm sorry for asking this...

I've been feeding Atlantis about 5 bloodworms daily, what can I mix this up with? I've tried pellets but he just sticks his nose up to them.

I'm not sure if this would have much to do with it, but lately he's been spending some time just laying at the bottom of the tank. Mind you when I walk up to him he perks right up... is this much to worry about or is he just missing me when I'm 6 feet across the room?

 

He is not getting enough to eat, I am sorry to say. For bloodworm meals, they should get 6-7 bloodworms TWICE a day. They do not need much variety in their meals and most bettas do very well on one food as they tend to be picky eaters and really like what they like and not much else. Most of my little ones will eat one thing and that only. If they eat pellets, they will not touch bloodworms and vice versa. It is kind of nice when you have one who will eat both but it does not happen often. You can forget most flake foods, their mouths are just not made for it. Freeze-dried brine shrimp can be a meal for a couple times a week but no more as they are rich but not very nutritious and the bettas do not get enough food value from them. (and mine won't touch them)

It really is not a joke but true that I am surprised that betta owners do not go broke finding foods that they will eat. I have tried all kinds of foods but the frozen kind as I am not willing to try something that expensive and have it rejected. I have 3 on freeze-dried bloodworms and they love them, the other one is a baby yet and won't touch them ~ he eats Atison's Betta Pro pellets and snarfs them up as fast as they hit the water. The others will eat the pellets OCCASIONALLY but you have to be careful as the digestive system of the betta is very touchy. Do not overfeed any type of food or you will have a sick fish.

As far as pellets go, there are really very few pellets that are small enough to fit in their mouths. It is so strange that most products labeled for bettas are too big for them to eat. I have only found two brands that My Fish will eat and are small enough for them to get the whole pellet in their mouth. (HikarI Betta Bio-gold Pellets ~ available almost everywhere; and Ocean Nutrition Atison's Betta Pro and Atison's Betta Formula ~ not as readily available but worth the search especially if your betta is young)

Rose

 

Part of the problem is that after about 5 worms he stops eating, he'll look at it and swim away. I've tried feeding a second time a day, but he won't eat anything.

I'm actually having that problem right now as he won't eat the worms that I've dropped in... he's a pain in the rear. :-\

 

I know they aren't supposed to really have them but mine enjoys finely crushed veggie and tropical flakes along with omega one gourmet pellets. Some of the pellets I have to cut up, some I don't.

 

Atlantis still doesn't seem too interested in eating today. I hope he's not bunged up or anything... what could his problem be? He just kinda stares at the worms but doesn't take a bite, he just swims away.

 

Oh, no. I hope Atlantis is okay. That is what I first noticed about Bessie when she got sick. She did not seem to want to eat. I hope there isn't some kind of new Betta disease that they are all getting. It seems odd that 3 bettas would get the same thing at the same time. Also, it doesn't seem like Atlantis would be constipated since you haven't been feeding him that much. Hopefully we will get this figured out soon.

CherryRose

 

Yeah he's just been hanging out at the bottom of the tank today, comes up for air and then goes back down. He perks up when I go near the tank but he still won't eat. I try talking to him and everything but he just doesn't seem to interested in much of anything.

 

Yeah. It's the same with Bessie. I hope we get this figured out soon.

CherryRose

 

Could a large water change and a tank rescape put them in a better mood???????

 

I did an 80% water change and moved Bessie into a floating container and she is still exhibiting the same symptoms. I will do a 25% water change again today as per medication instructions. Of course, she might not even have the same thing wrong with her that Atlantis has. It does seem strange that they have the same symptoms though.

CherryRose

 

What are the water parameters? Could it be that the city water supply is having a problem, I lost a betta one time for that reason. Also, what temperature is the water? You could try to raise the temperature a degree or two unless it is already at 82. Check the heater function with a thermometer, your heater could be faulty.

I do not know that any of these things are the problems, just throwing out suggestions.

Rose

 

The water is fine, and temperature is at 81F. I know it's likely not relevant, but Comet (the goldfish), is doing just fine in his tank. They both had 50% water changes today (the goldfish has no filter yet, so he's been getting lots of water changes) but Atlantis hasn't taken to anything I've done for him.

I wouldn't even know what medication to get him because I've got no clue what the problem is

 

Well the Maracyn family of Maracyn, Maracyn2 and MarOxy is a great combination and covers almost everything under the sun until you need a serious heavy hitter. MarOxy is for fungal infections if I am remembering correctly so I think we can put that on the shelf for this one and the other 2 can be used together if you can swing it. I would use the other two together for the course of treatment and see if you can get it nipped in the bud. If it was finrot, I would say go with Maracyn 2 and if it was definitely a bacterial infection of some known type I would say Maracyn, but with this type of thing; I would go with both of them.


You are both in my thoughts and prayers and I do hope he improves.


Rose

 

I got your email, Rose, thanks. I'm going to run to the store to see what I can get for him. His scales are looking pine-coney from all angles, so I think it's the same thing as Bessie and Royell. Although I finally got him to eat something, he ate one worm and is looks like he is deciding on taking another one right now.

Ever since I got home though he's been floating around the top, but when he's at the bottom he's pretty much doing a nose-dive into the gravel. He seems to have gotten a little fatter too.

After supper I'm running to the store to get him something.

 

I was hoping that your Atlantis was better. I sure hope it's not the same thing Bessie and Royell have. Our poor little fish. Come on Atlantis...you can do it. Please get better. Hang in there Asinity. We are all rooting for both of you.

CherryRose

 

I got him some Maracyn-Two and dropped one in the tank at 8:30 tonight. I did a water test today, but unfortunately I ran out of Nitrite tests, (that's what I get for getting previously used tests), I didn't have much of any left, but I got some readings, Ammonia was at 0, and Nitrate was floating at 25 or so. I ended up getting new Ammonia and Nitrate tests 50% off, unfortunately they were out of Nitrite so I've gotta go back on Thursday in hopes of finding some.

After examining Atlantis a little closer, the bloating is only towards his right side, which I find kind of odd. His scales are standing on end a little more than they were earlier in the day and he seems to be having some trouble staying afloat at the top of the tank, he just kinda sinks down.

I'm hoping that the Maracyn-Two works and isn't too late...

While I was at the store I also got the goldfish an Elite Stingray5 filter for the 2.5, I've been meaning to get him one but I didn't have the money.

I just got home and had a look at Atlantis, and it looks like the bloating has gotten even worse than yesterday. He's barely moving now and slow to breathe.

I think I was too late :'(

 

Do you have any Epsom salt or Aquarium salt? If you do have epsom salt add an 1/8 of a tsp in the water and if you have aquarium salt it say's on the container you can add 1 tblsp of it to the water. The salt will help drain the water out of his system. I did it last night and it worked like a charm. He's not nearly as fat as he was. I only put a tsp of the aquarium salt in the tank, but I only have 3 gallon hosp. tank,s o the tbslp would've been way too much. If you don't want add a whole tblsp then a tsp and see if tha helps. Kepp using the tablests. I wouldn't just dropa tablet in though. You have a 5.5 gallon tank. So, you should dissolve the tablet in 10 oz of water(it takes awhile to diisolve so I would do atleast an hour before his next dose and then pur 5.5 oz of it in his water. it's 1 oz per gallon of water. Hope this helps. I too will keep Atlantis in my thoughts and prayers and hope that he get's through this. Natalie

 

I've added some epsom salts, so hopefully that does something to help, at least ease the obvious pain the poor little guy is in.