Fasting Fish? Good? Bad?

[05Apollo]

Hello, I’m new to the Betta community so I have a question. I’ve seen around multiple sites and things that you should fast your fish one day a week to aid in their digestion. Does this actually work? Should I actually do it? And is it actually beneficial? Thank you!

 

[kleon33]

It is. I do it maybe once a week, once every two weeks, and it definitely is beneficial. They eat more, and they're more active.

 

[05Apollo]

It is. I do it maybe once a week, once every two weeks, and it definitely is beneficial. They eat more, and they're more active.

Okay thank you! Also I love your profile picture!

 

[Repolie]

A lot of people do fast their fish because it is a way to prevent constipation by giving them time to defecate and clear their digestive system. It's optional whether you want to do it or not, I don't see the need to for me because I'm careful when I'm feeding and my fish are passing waste on a normal basis.

 

[05Apollo]

A lot of people do fast their fish because it is a way to prevent constipation by giving them time to defecate and clear their digestive system. It's optional whether you want to do it or not, I don't see the need to for me because I'm careful when I'm feeding and my fish are passing waste on a normal basis.

Okay, thank you so much for the feedback. Apollo generally eats 5-8 pellets per feeding, but I guess he’s shy when passing waste because I’ve never seen him do it so far. I was thinking of maybe doing a compromise of just feeding him like 2 pellets on the fasting day?

 

[Repolie]

Okay, thank you so much for the feedback. Apollo generally eats 5-8 pellets per feeding, but I guess he’s shy when passing waste because I’ve never seen him do it so far. I was thinking of maybe doing a compromise of just feeding him like 2 pellets on the fasting day?

I don't know what kind of pellets you have, but 5-8 sounds like quite a bit. A good rule of thumb is to feed as big as their eye as that's how big their stomach approximately is. If you want to feed him less on the fasting day, that's fine.

 

[05Apollo]

I don't know what kind of pellets you have, but 5-8 sounds like quite a bit. A good rule of thumb is to feed as big as their eye as that's how big their stomach approximately is. If you want to feed him less on the fasting day, that's fine.

I feed him Omega One Betta Buffet pellets website says they are about (1.5mm). He eats all of them up quickly, I feed him what he wants to eat in a minute twice a day about 12 hours apart (usually 8 am and 8 pm). I had actually posted a thread earlier on how much I should feed him, and people mostly whatever he wants to eat. But I don’t know exactly as I’m new, usually it’s more towards 5-6 pellets. But I would love your feed back, and I’m completely open to corrections as I’m not a pro.

 

[Repolie]

I feed him Omega One Betta Buffet pellets website says they are about (1.5mm). He eats all of them up quickly, I feed him what he wants to eat in a minute twice a day about 12 hours apart (usually 8 am and 8 pm). I had actually posted a thread earlier on how much I should feed him, and people mostly whatever he wants to eat. But I don’t know exactly as I’m new, usually it’s more towards 5-6 pellets. But I would love your feed back, and I’m completely open to corrections as I’m not a pro.

I would actually disagree with the other people that suggested that because bettas are opportunistic feeders and will eat as much as they can whenever food is available, which can easily lead to digestive issues. I have those pellets and to feed as big as their eye you would only need 2 or 3 pellets.

 

[05Apollo]

I would actually disagree with the other people that suggested that because bettas are opportunistic feeders and will eat as much as they can whenever food is available, which can easily lead to digestive issues. I have those pellets and to feed as big as their eye you would only need 2 or 3 pellets.

That’s actually what I had been feeding him at first, and he seemed fine but one of my friends insisted I fed him more, so I made that thread.

That’s actually what I had been feeding him at first, and he seemed fine but one of my friends insisted I fed him more, so I made that thread.

I’m actually pretty conflicted on what to feed him, because I had seen before the big debate on the eyeball rule vs. eat in an indicated amount of time rule. Do you know which one is actually correct?

 

[Debbie1986]

The fish are very, very small. Please do not use a time method as way to feed but size of food as they have small stomach.

As someone who had to fast my sorority tank for 3 days, 1 day fed, 3 days fast to get girth off my fish, I can testify that the eye size feeding is the way to go. They are now normal size and get fed 1x a day (but for last night when they got fluval bug bites as a treat)

 

[05Apollo]

The fish are very, very small. Please do not use a time method as way to feed but size of food as they have small stomach.

As someone who had to fast my sorority tank for 3 days, 1 day fed, 3 days fast to get girth off my fish, I can testify that the eye size feeding is the way to go. They are now normal size and get fed 1x a day (but for last night when they got fluval bug bites as a treat)

Okay thank you for this, what would you recommend as the feeding serving then?

 

[kallililly1973]

I have 2 betta and I feed between 4-6 Omega pellets a day. and one day a week I feed them 2

 

[05Apollo]

I have 2 betta and I feed between 4-6 Omega pellets a day. and one day a week I feed them 2

So 2-3 pellets per feeding?

 

[kallililly1973]

So 2-3 pellets per feeding?

That sounds like a good routine.

 

[05Apollo]

That sounds like a good routine.

Would 4 be pushing it too much? My fish seems like a huge eater

 

[chichi1296]

Would 4 be pushing it too much? My fish seems like a huge eater

I don't think you will starve them by pushing back on your feeding a bit. You can always try and see how he responds to 2-3 pellets.

 

[05Apollo]

Would 4 be pushing it too much? My fish seems like a huge eater

I will be

I don't think you will starve them by pushing back on your feeding a bit. You can always try and see how he responds to 2-3 pellets.

okay thank you!

 

[Scretiree47]

Can I fast my Harlequin Rasboras & Panda Corys one day a week like I do my Betta?

 

[AcornTheBetta]

Can I fast my Harlequin Rasboras & Panda Corys one day a week like I do my Betta?

Yes. You can fast most every fish for a day or two once a week.

 

[Burdigala]

Yep.

 

[NotSoAggressiveAquatics]

that’s what I do. I fast my fish every Sunday but it doesn’t matter when you do it

 

[Scretiree47]

Thanks

Yes. You can fast most every fish for a day or two once a week.

Thanks for the reply.

that’s what I do. I fast my fish every Sunday but it doesn’t matter when you do it

Yep.

Thanks

 

[smee82]

Also remember the fish don't actually fast there is plenty in your tank for them to feed on.

 

[Scretiree47]

Also remember the fish don't actually fast there is plenty in your tank for them to feed on.

Your right, and that's exactly what I told my wife. The Panda's and shrimp are not going to starve in one day because there is enough on the substrate and biofilm everywhere. They will probably not even notice not being fed.

 

[tomiyama]

I fast my fish once a week: the day I do a partial water change. I feed them the day before, then I do the partial water change the following morning. That water change day, no matter how much they beg (my pearl gouramis), I ignore them and let their systems adapt to the slight change in water chemistry. They still love me the next day when I feed them, haha.

 

[Scretiree47]

I fast my fish once a week: the day I do a partial water change. I feed them the day before, then I do the partial water change the following morning. That water change day, no matter how much they beg (my pearl gouramis), I ignore them and let their systems adapt to the slight change in water chemistry. They still love me the next day when I feed them, haha.

Thanks for the reply. That schedule makes sense, thanks for the information.

 

[QCAquaholic]

All of my fish (harlequin rasboras included) fast on Wednesday and Sunday.

 

[PenguinTetra38]

Fasting fish is a common thing to do especially with predator fish or fish that usually have one very large meal every once in a while as opposed to fish that are constantly eating small amounts of food.