Betta won't eat!

[FishFor2018]

Ok, so he is young, so not an age thing.

They can go a while without eating before issues set in due to lack of nutrition.

If you haven't tried this, you can try soaking his food in garlic juice. If you have some minced garlic around the house, or can pick some up from a store, then you can use the liquid that the garlic is soaking in to soak his food. It will make the food soft, and it will appeal to his sense of smell.

I did have a betta who was acting like a vacuum cleaner looking for food, and he did get a piece of gravel which lodged in his throat. They tend to get into everything! I am not saying that this is what happend to your aqua baby, but just something to keep in mind as you try to get him to eat.

The only other thing that I can think of is to look very carefully at his mouth to see anything develops there (white spots, fungus, etc.). Keep track of his body shape, too. If you see anything changing, post a pic. I should get the alert, and I will take a look at it.

I do hope that he bounces back, and that he is just being a fincky eater!!!

Okay thank you! I will try the garlic tonight for him and tomorrow I might pick up some frozen blood worms. I see him “pecking” around the driftwood and plants but I haven’t seen him do it around the gravel but I will definitely keep that in mind.

 

[Rose of Sharon]

He’s around 6 months old, stopped eating about a month ago roughly, he’d eat occasionally but the last week or two has stopped eating fully pretty much I’d say and yes I do have gravel in the tank, it’s small gravel since it’s capping off soil
This is him, I got a picture from above and you can see he is a bit skinny at least compared to my other bettas he is and then you can see how he will sit sometimes in an upward position but I think it’s from his fins, I feel bad for him having to drag those things along. Could he maybe not have the energy to catch his food at the surface?View attachment 788991View attachment 788992View attachment 788993View attachment 788994

He's a cute little guy, by the way. My bettas have all done the sitting position, even those with shorter fins. And I see what you mean by his being thin.

Has that area on his head always looked like that ...that spot?

I do hope the garlic works!!!

 

[FishFor2018]

He's a cute little guy, by the way. My bettas have all done the sitting position, even those with shorter fins. And I see what you mean by his being thin.

Has that area on his head always looked like that ...that spot?

I do hope the garlic works!!!

The orange ish color on his head? It’s new but he has gotten a lot of coloration so I figured it was just more color coming in, this is what he was like when I first got him so you can see he has changed colors a lot. Do you think it’s something else maybe?

 

[Rose of Sharon]

The orange ish color on his head? It’s new but he has gotten a lot of coloration so I figured it was just more color coming in, this is what he was like when I first got him so you can see he has changed colors a lot. Do you think it’s something else maybe?View attachment 789002

I'm not exactly sure, but it could be his colors changing since he has the marble gene. He's changed a lot since you first got him!!!

Just in case, keep an eye on that spot to see if it spreads. I am not trying to alarm you, but his not eating plus having lesions would not be good.

 

[FishFor2018]

I'm not exactly sure, but it could be his colors changing since he has the marble gene. He's changed a lot since you first got him!!!

Just in case, keep an eye on that spot to see if it spreads. I am not trying to alarm you, but his not eating plus having lesions would not be good.

Okay thank you! Yes he has changed sooo much. I will make sure to monitor everything about him closely, thank you

 

[BettaLove2021]

This morning I noticed white marks on my betta. They seem to be coming from her gills. I have taken a video but it is not easy to see the marks. She is eating and acting as normal.

I have some more information to add. Two days ago her tank water was Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0 and Nitrate 0. Today it is Ammonia 0.25, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 30. I now think the tank is having a mini cycle. I had been treating it with panacur as I had a lot of planaria. When cleaning her tank I used the gravel vacuum on the sponge filter to remove planaria. Maybe I removed some good bacteria by doing that. I have just done a 50 % water change to reduce the ammonia.

 

[bcfishtanks]

Could you try to take a picture? White things hanging from her gills sound like gill flukes to me.

 

[BettaLove2021]

Could you try to take a picture? White things hanging from her gills sound like gill flukes to me.

Thank you for replying. I have been trying all day to get a clear picture but cannot. She has less white but I feel her gills are swollen.

 

[Pfrozen]

Looks like a secondary bacterial infection from compromised slime coat. Water quality is definitely the issue here.

You want your ammonia and nitrite levels to be below 1 ppm total. Keep doing water changes until you get there. I would personally want my ammonia no higher than 0.25 ppm. You basically have to run a "fish in" cycle at this point... 2.5 ppm of ammonia isn't a mini cycle unfortunately, that is considered a full crash

 

[BettaLove2021]

Looks like a secondary bacterial infection from compromised slime coat. Water quality is definitely the issue here.

You want your ammonia and nitrite levels to be below 1 ppm total. Keep doing water changes until you get there. I would personally want my ammonia no higher than 0.25 ppm. You basically have to run a "fish in" cycle at this point... 2.5 ppm of ammonia isn't a mini cycle unfortunately, that is considered a full crash

Thank you very much. I have done a 50% water change. Do I wait and test water tomorrow as I use Prime?

Thank you very much. I have done a 50% water change. Do I wait and test water tomorrow as I use Prime?

Sorry but I put the wrong measurement. It was 0.25 ammonia.

 

[Pfrozen]

Thank you very much. I have done a 50% water change. Do I wait and test water tomorrow as I use Prime?

Sorry but I put the wrong measurement. It was 0.25 ammonia.

Oh, never mind. 0.25 ppm ammonia is a mini-cycle. That shouldn't have compromised your betta's slime coat like that though. Keep up with water changes, add some tannins, and do what you can to make your fish comfortable. If symptoms continue to persist then I would look at running a treatment

 

[BettaLove2021]

Oh, never mind. 0.25 ppm ammonia is a mini-cycle. That shouldn't have compromised your betta's slime coat like that though. Keep up with water changes, add some tannins, and do what you can to make your fish comfortable. If symptoms continue to persist then I would look at running a treatment

Thank you. She has a big almond leaf but it is not producing tannins. I am not sure if it is doing any good but she likes going under it. Shall I not feed her tonight due to the ammonia?

 

[Pfrozen]

Thank you. She has a big almond leaf but it is not producing tannins. I am not sure if it is doing any good but she likes going under it. Shall I not feed her tonight due to the ammonia?

What do you normally feed it?

 

[BettaLove2021]

What do you normally feed it?

She has bio gold pellets twice a day. She does not eat bloodworms, daphina, baby brine shrimp or tubi worms.

 

[Pfrozen]

She has bio gold pellets twice a day. She does not eat bloodworms, daphina, baby brine shrimp or tubi worms.

Might want to reduce that to once a day.. overfeeding might be the issue. Just give her a few pellets and that should be all she needs. Might also want to change up her diet every now and then... some frozen daphnia or even freeze dried bbs or copepods would be a good treat... no need to feed blood worms as they are basically junk food for fish

 

[bcfishtanks]

I highly recommend alder cones. They leech tannins for a very long time.

 

[BettaLove2021]

Might want to reduce that to once a day.. overfeeding might be the issue. Just give her a few pellets and that should be all she needs. Might also want to change up her diet every now and then... some frozen daphnia or even freeze dried bbs or copepods would be a good treat... no need to feed blood worms as they are basically junk food for fish

She does not like daphina. She will only eat pellets. I read it is best to feed bettas twice a day rather then once. Is once better?

 

[Pfrozen]

She does not like daphina. She will only eat pellets. I read it is best to feed bettas twice a day rather then once. Is once better?

I guess it depends on how many pellets are going uneaten. If there is no waste then feel free to continue what you're doing. If some fall to the bottom of your tank then either reduce each feeding or cut down to one. I find my fish do better on a once per day schedule but I don't keep bettas.. perhaps they're different

 

[BettaLove2021]

I guess it depends on how many pellets are going uneaten. If there is no waste then feel free to continue what you're doing. If some fall to the bottom of your tank then either reduce each feeding or cut down to one. I find my fish do better on a once per day schedule but I don't keep bettas.. perhaps they're different

I feed her one at a time with a dropper. No food is uneaten. I also fed the bugs with the dropper or tweezers. She seems to just love pellets.

 

[Pfrozen]

I feed her one at a time with a dropper. No food is uneaten. I also fed the bugs with the dropper or tweezers. She seems to just love pellets.

Well, fair enough then I just thought that maybe your mini-cycle was a result of overfeeding but you are good

I would continue to try to find some kind of dietary alternative if possible... bio-gold pellets are not the highest quality food but that doesn't matter as much as having clean water.

Let us know how she looks in a few days

 

[BettaLove2021]

Well, fair enough then I just thought that maybe your mini-cycle was a result of overfeeding but you are good

I would continue to try to find some kind of dietary alternative if possible... bio-gold pellets are not the highest quality food but that doesn't matter as much as having clean water.

Let us know how she looks in a few days

Thank you for all your help. It is a shame she will not eat any of the insects I bought.

I highly recommend alder cones. They leech tannins for a very long time.

I have just ordered some. Thank you.

 

[BettaLove2021]

Hello I think she has gill flukes as her gills are swollen and white. She is not her usual self. I fed her baby brine shrimp but she kept spitting them out then gave up. I read API general cure treats gill flukes but I live in the UK and cannot get it here. Do you know what I can use instead?

 

[BettaLove2021]

Tank
What is the water volume of the tank? 60 litres
How long has the tank been running? 3 months
Does it have a filter? Yes, a sponge filter
Does it have a heater? Yes
What is the water temperature? 25.5c
What is the entire stocking of this tank? (Please list all fish and inverts.) One female betta fish. Java fern, water wisteria, water sprite, anubius, moss balls.

Maintenance
How often do you change the water? Once a week.
How much of the water do you change? 50%
What do you use to treat your water? Prime
Do you vacuum the substrate or just the water? Yes I vacuum the substrate.

*Parameters - Very Important
Did you cycle your tank before adding fish? Yes
What do you use to test the water? API liquid test kit.
What are your parameters? We need to know the exact numbers, not just “fine” or “safe”.
Ammonia: 0.25 ( I have done a 50% water change as a result)
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 30
pH: 7.5

Feeding
How often do you feed your fish? Twice a day
How much do you feed your fish? 6 pellets at a time.
What brand of food do you feed your fish? Bio gold
Do you feed frozen or freeze-dried foods? She does not like them although I keep trying.

Illness & Symptoms
How long have you had this fish? 6 weeks.
How long ago did you first notice these symptoms? Yesterday.
In a few words, can you explain the symptoms? She has white on her gills.
Have you started any treatment for the illness? I have added methalyne blue to her tank just now.
Was your fish physically ill or injured upon purchase? No.
How has its behavior and appearance changed, if at all? She is spending more time at the surface of the tank. Her eyes look more protruding. She is opening her mouth more.

Explain your emergency situation in detail. (Please give a clear explanation of what is going on, include details from the beginning of the illness leading up to now)

Yesterday I noticed white coming from her gills. I tested the water and found 0.25 ammonia. I did a 50% water change adding prime. She is alert when she sees me but otherwise seems low in her mood. I believe I caused a mini cycle as I was doing her tank with panacur to kill planaria. I think I cleaned the tank too much and got rid of some of the beneficial bacteria.

I have had Rainbow for about 6 weeks. In this time I have noticed she is unable to eat food properly. I have tried giving her blood worms, daphina, baby brine shrimp and tubiworms. She has to chew them for a long time despite me soaking them and feeding them with a dropper. I have wondered if she has something wrong with her teeth. She will give up trying to eat the insects as she struggles. She loves bio gold pellets and gets so excited to eat them. I feed them one at a time with a dropper to ensure she eats them all.

I have ordered this medication, kusuri Fluke P, and it is due tomorrow. In desperation I have added methalyne blue to her tank in the meantime. I understand I am not able to use kusuri fluke p while the methalyne blue is in her tank so I am not sure what to do. I believe she has gill flukes as she had white things coming from her gills. Today she does not seem to although the gills still have white on them. I am unable to get a picture as nothing shows up and now her tank water is blue.

Before this happened I added two new plants to her tank. I soaked them in panacur to ensure there were no planaria. It could be the gill fluke eggs were on the plants.

 

[evonner]

Do you know of the nitrogen cycle? It could be ammonia or nitrite poison

I would like to know more about ammonia or nitrite poisoning. Our Betta has not been eating and staying at the bottom of tank.

My teen daughter's best friend had to move across the country and the Betta could not go. She asked my daughter to care for him. He came to us in a tank with no hood, no heater, no thermometer or testing kits. The tanks volume is about 4.5 gallons, came with gravel substrate, some artificial plants, a couple of decorations and Tetra BettaSafe water conditioner.

Her friend told her not to use a filter as his fins were damaged from being attacked. She told my daughter to clean the tank every week and add the conditioner. Here is where trouble started. My daughter would transfer him to holding bowl (not acclimated using tank water or dechlorinizer). Then she would thoroughly clean out everything, even cleaning the gravel in strainer with hot water. Refill the tank and the BettaSafe conditioner. Within days of getting him, I bought a digital thermometer. A couple weeks later I bought a 50W adjustable heater. After about a month, he was showing signs of illness. I bought an air pump set with tubing, check valve and airstone and a flow control valve. The only testing kit I had was for pH. I had no clue about the Nitrogen cycle. He then stopped eating, was lethargic. Before this happened, his behavior was hanging at the top of the water to breathe, would swim sideways or float/sleep sideways. Could any of the above have possibly given him Ammonia or Nitrite poisonings?

He is in a new tank (10 gal) with live plants, a bio sponge filter, heater, hood with light, over the tank filter that I baffled. I put him through a lot stress with my lack of knowledge and with fin rot treatments. He still wont eat but this afternoon he seem a bit interested. He still will not surface. He stays on the bottom and sleeps. This tank has been running since Oct 10th. My water parameters have been perfect except that my tap water is very hard, it has Nitrates of 5.0 and pH is 7.4. A few days ago, my pH went up to 8.0 then yesterday I had 0.25 of ammonia. I did a 30% water change and added some Indian Almond leaves. Today, ammonia is gone and a test are excellent but pH is still at 8.0.

 

[Shrimp42]

I would like to know more about ammonia or nitrite poisoning. Our Betta has not been eating and staying at the bottom of tank.

My teen daughter's best friend had to move across the country and the Betta could not go. She asked my daughter to care for him. He came to us in a tank with no hood, no heater, no thermometer or testing kits. The tanks volume is about 4.5 gallons, came with gravel substrate, some artificial plants, a couple of decorations and Tetra BettaSafe water conditioner.

Her friend told her not to use a filter as his fins were damaged from being attacked. She told my daughter to clean the tank every week and add the conditioner. Here is where trouble started. My daughter would transfer him to holding bowl (not acclimated using tank water or dechlorinizer). Then she would thoroughly clean out everything, even cleaning the gravel in strainer with hot water. Refill the tank and the BettaSafe conditioner. Within days of getting him, I bought a digital thermometer. A couple weeks later I bought a 50W adjustable heater. After about a month, he was showing signs of illness. I bought an air pump set with tubing, check valve and airstone and a flow control valve. The only testing kit I had was for pH. I had no clue about the Nitrogen cycle. He then stopped eating, was lethargic. Before this happened, his behavior was hanging at the top of the water to breathe, would swim sideways or float/sleep sideways. Could any of the above have possibly given him Ammonia or Nitrite poisonings?

He is in a new tank (10 gal) with live plants, a bio sponge filter, heater, hood with light, over the tank filter that I baffled. I put him through a lot stress with my lack of knowledge and with fin rot treatments. He still wont eat but this afternoon he seem a bit interested. He still will not surface. He stays on the bottom and sleeps. This tank has been running since Oct 10th. My water parameters have been perfect except that my tap water is very hard, it has Nitrates of 5.0 and pH is 7.4. A few days ago, my pH went up to 8.0 then yesterday I had 0.25 of ammonia. I did a 30% water change and added some Indian Almond leaves. Today, ammonia is gone and a test are excellent but pH is still at 8.0.

If there was no filter and you were doing cleanings only once a week in an uncycled aquarium, then ammonia and nitrite definitely accumulated to unsafe levels by the end of the week. This could have poisoned the fish.

It seems your on the right track now. When you test pH do you take a sample straight out of the tap or do you let it sit for 24 hours? Letting it sit for 24 hours will let the water adjust to its actual readings since water straight out of the tap has co2 in it which gives a false pH reading. Regardless if the level is 8 or 7.4, bettas can tolerate high pH. I would say 9.0 is the cut off.

The leaves may help lower pH but if not just leave the pH alone. The leaves will still provide benefits to the betta such as natural antifungal and antibacterial properties. If your not using the leaves for pH then disregard all of that.

 

[evonner]

If there was no filter and you were doing cleanings only once a week in an uncycled aquarium, then ammonia and nitrite definitely accumulated to unsafe levels by the end of the week. This could have poisoned the fish.

It seems your on the right track now. When you test pH do you take a sample straight out of the tap or do you let it sit for 24 hours? Letting it sit for 24 hours will let the water adjust to its actual readings since water straight out of the tap has co2 in it which gives a false pH reading. Regardless if the level is 8 or 7.4, bettas can tolerate high pH. I would say 9.0 is the cut off.

The leaves may help lower pH but if not just leave the pH alone. The leaves will still provide benefits to the betta such as natural antifungal and antibacterial properties. If your not using the leaves for pH then disregard all of that.

Assuming he did suffer poisoning. Will he get better and what should I do?

Tap water sample was straight from the tap. However, I do have a gallon of tap water in a jug that has been in there for a few days. I read somewhere that prepping your water changes with tap water that has sat for 24 hours.

The leaves were bought for the pH and its healing properties as I am not sure how sick but as I learn on this forum, I suspected poisoning and stress due to improper care could be the why.

I am attaching some pics of my tank and him after my attempt to feed him. There was something different about him today, as in a good way. A couple of days ago, I was sure he was going to die.

 

[Shrimp42]

Assuming he did suffer poisoning. Will he get better and what should I do?

Tap water sample was straight from the tap. However, I do have a gallon of tap water in a jug that has been in there for a few days. I read somewhere that prepping your water changes with tap water that has sat for 24 hours.

The leaves were bought for the pH and its healing properties as I am not sure how sick but as I learn on this forum, I suspected poisoning and stress due to improper care could be the why.

I am attaching some pics of my tank and him after my attempt to feed him. There was something different about him today, as in a good way. A couple of days ago, I was sure he was going to die.

The poisoning may cause permanent damage, but the fish can also recover completely. Give it a month of good treatment and see how he does. Everything you're doing seems correct, you could try 50% water changes for now to help heal the betta. Clean water can go a long way, and the almond leaves will also help. He looks pretty bad, but I believe he can recover.

The pH isn't a concern in my opinion, but If you want to see your tap water true pH you can test the prepped water.

Prepping water (called aging or seasoning) let's it get adjusted to the temperature and causes the chlorine to dissolve. I personally don't do it, and it's really only used by people with lots of tanks so they don't have to buy hundreds of dollars worth of dechlorinator.

 

[evonner]

The poisoning may cause permanent damage, but the fish can also recover completely. Give it a month of good treatment and see how he does. Everything you're doing seems correct, you could try 50% water changes for now to help heal the betta. Clean water can go a long way, and the almond leaves will also help. He looks pretty bad, but I believe he can recover.

The pH isn't a concern in my opinion, but If you want to see your tap water true pH you can test the prepped water.

Prepping water (called aging or seasoning) let's it get adjusted to the temperature and causes the chlorine to dissolve. I personally don't do it, and it's really only used by people with lots of tanks so they don't have to buy hundreds of dollars worth of dechlorinator.

How often should I do the 50% water changes (10 gal tank)? I just did a 30% yesterday cuz I had a trace of ammonia. I took the carbon out of his filter, my thought was I really need those almond leave to help him recover. Or should I have not done that?

 

[Shrimp42]

How often should I do the 50% water changes (10 gal tank)? I just did a 30% yesterday cuz I had a trace of ammonia. I took the carbon out of his filter, my thought was I really need those almond leave to help him recover. Or should I have not done that?

50% weekly. I don't use carbon either. Only use it to remove medicine from a tank. Instead I switch it out with mechanical filtration (sponges or polyfill) or bio media.

 

[evonner]

50% weekly. I don't use carbon either. Only use it to remove medicine from a tank. Instead I switch it out with mechanical filtration (sponges or polyfill) or bio media.

Yeah, I have to find somethings to replace it. So, I researched some sponges, what are the bio media? And I have great news. He ate tonight like someone going to take it away from him. Its been approximately a month in half since I have witnessed him actually consuming the food I offer.

 

[Shrimp42]

Yeah, I have to find somethings to replace it. So, I researched some sponges, what are the bio media? And I have great news. He ate tonight like someone going to take it away from him. Its been approximately a month in half since I have witnessed him actually consuming the food I offer.

Basically there are three stages of filtration. The first being mechanical (sponges, filter floss, foam, etc) which traps particles and keeps the water clean, second is biological (bio media which are sponges since they act as both mechanical and biological, ceramic rings, plastic bio balls, lava rock etc) and chemical (carbon, purigen, other forms of chemical filtration which isn't required but help in certain situations). You want mechanical to touch the water first so the biological doesn't get dirty.

Good to hear about the betta.

 

[FoldedCheese]

evonner the flow looks a little high for him. That could be why he is staying close to the bottom. I would try a baffle (even it doesn't address underlying issues) it may help.

 

[evonner]

evonner the flow looks a little high for him. That could be why he is staying close to the bottom. I would try a baffle (even it doesn't address underlying issues) it may help.

Hi again. He has an over the tank filter and I did make a baffle. On the other side of his tank is his bio foam filter hooked up to my air pump. It has an adjustable flow valve. I was told to open it up full blast. What do you think? There are not any strong currents since I baffled the OTT filter. I am attaching photos, hoping you can see the intricates of my tank. And I have been taking your previous advice in other posts and appreciate you.

 

[evonner]

Hi again. He has an over the tank filter and I did make a baffle. On the other side of his tank is his bio foam filter hooked up to my air pump. It has an adjustable flow valve. I was told to open it up full blast. What do you think? There are not any strong currents since I baffled the OTT filter. I am attaching photos, hoping you can see the intricates of my tank. And I have been taking your previous advice in other posts and appreciate you.

You have not responded yet. In the picture of the OTT filter is not water you see, its the baffle hack from cutting a water bottle to slow the flow and break the current. I was not sure if you knew that. Without knowing that, it does look like a large amount of water coming out of the output.