Frozen food for betta- how to get to eat!

Been posting a lot of q's because I am slowly bringing my little betta back to life This one is pretty vital.. he needs to eat! He finally showed interest in food again. I already had stocked up on all sorts of things to try for him- live daphnia, frozen mysis shrimp , brine shrimp, frozen bloodworms, pellets, flakes, bug bites- I have whatever. Prior to sickness he ate betta pellets and freeze-dried bloodworms as treats. Anywho, he is showing interest in food again but still isn't eating it. Yesterday a pellet soaked too long and it was too big for him. I tried frozen mysis shrimp today and he got real excited when I put it in , he swam out of his hideout and was swimming around looking like mad. But swam right past it and they all just sank.. Could he be blind, could the salt from the shrimp been what caused he to swim a bit frantic, not hunger? I just don't get why he wouldn't eat it when he was acting like it was so exciting.. I have tried various frozen foods now but given his tank is uncycled and only 3.5g, I tend to baster grab them up after a little bit so they don't jack my ammonia levels.

Could he be wanting to eat off the gravel and I should leave longer? Or will he only eat things that float given betta nature in the wild? I just don't know if there is a better way. I tried to hand feed him a bloodworm before and he waited by it but when I let go, it just fell. I also am wondering if a fish feeder to keep it at the top may work? TIA!

 

Are you defrosting your frozen food in his tank water, in a container before feeding? If not it's a good idea to do so. Best way I've found is to use a little 1ml clear pipette to suck up the required amount and target feed him. They soon learn the pipette means something tasty is coming

 

Yep, the bloodworms I just let melted in a cup and then pipetted- did a hand grab once that worked better but not a success. Today the shrimp I defrosted in a cup with some of his water, tossed a bit of the water out and used the pipette to put a few in.. I swear he was dancing with glee and right past them. I think he saw them but not sure.. Guessing yours don't eat off the ground? {sigh}

 

Yep, the bloodworms I just let melted in a cup and then pipetted- did a hand grab once that worked better but not a success. Today the shrimp I defrosted in a cup with some of his water, tossed a bit of the water out and used the pipette to put a few in.. I swear he was dancing with glee and right past them. I think he saw them but not sure.. Guessing yours don't eat off the ground? {sigh}

Ah, sounds like you're doing it correctly then!
Mine certainly do pick them off the floor and plants. So you could definitely leave them in a little longer and watch him. They won't start noticably to foul your water immediately, but I wouldn't leave them in longer than an hour, personally. Not while your tank is cycling anyway.
Which water conditioner are you using? If you're using seachem prime , you can definitely get away with it

 

Ah, sounds like you're doing it correctly then!
Mine certainly do pick them off the floor and plants. So you could definitely leave them in a little longer and watch him. They won't start noticably to foul your water immediately, but I wouldn't leave them in longer than an hour, personally. Not while your tank is cycling anyway.
Which water conditioner are you using? If you're using seachem prime , you can definitely get away with it

Just switched to prime on last water change yesterday I will likely baster them up in a few hours to be safe. Thanks!

 

Hmm.. I have a blind fish, he eats from the surface and the floor by just circling around until he bumps into the food (he's fast so it's not a problem). He's quite good at it though - I'm also guessing he can smell where it is - so that shouldn't hamper their ability to feed. You could try some floating betta pellets soaked in garlic (bettas do tend to check out the surface first) or toss in some moving live food - that really tends to get their appetite going. You could also leave the food in a bit to see if he minds it as mentioned earlier.

 

Hmm.. I have a blind fish, he eats from the surface and the floor by just circling around until he bumps into the food (he's fast so it's not a problem). He's quite good at it though - I'm also guessing he can smell where it is - so that shouldn't hamper their ability to feed. You could try some floating betta pellets soaked in garlic (bettas do tend to check out the surface first) or toss in some moving live food - that really tends to get their appetite going. You could also leave the food in a bit to see if he minds it as mentioned earlier.

Thanks for the info! Glad to know if that is an issue he will survive I had minced garlic and tried that with the worms but I dont think it binded. I am also worried about salt in that, so I ordered some fresh garlic to smash and will try that- on my list LOL Thanks for the insight!

Sorry forgot to ask- what live food do you suggest? I tried daphnia but they were too fast and small I think.

 

Just switched to prime on last water change yesterday I will likely baster them up in a few hours to be safe. Thanks!

Oh, excellent!
Then I'm sure you know it detoxifies ammonia and nitrite up to 1ppm for up to 48 hours. So with vigilant testing , water changes and all that good stuff, you shouldn't have any problems leaving the food for a bit . Good luck! I'm sure he'll eat it once he's familiar with it

 

Oh, excellent!
Then I'm sure you know it detoxifies ammonia and nitrite up to 1ppm for up to 48 hours. So with vigilant testing , water changes and all that good stuff, you shouldn't have any problems leaving the food for a bit . Good luck! I'm sure he'll eat it once he's familiar with it

Thanks! I hadn't committed the 48 hours to memory yet, so thank you- great reminder. Keeps me on my every other day schedule if testing good

 

Thanks! I hadn't committed the 48 hours to memory yet, so thank you- great reminder. Keeps me on my every other day schedule if testing good

No problem, at all!
So long as you're still testing every day to make sure the level doesn't rise above the 1ppm safety mark in the form of a spike for whatever reason you're golden!
And also, just incase you're unaware. It is a full tank volume dose of prime every time to detox

 

Thanks for the info! Glad to know if that is an issue he will survive I had minced garlic and tried that with the worms but I dont think it binded. I am also worried about salt in that, so I ordered some fresh garlic to smash and will try that- on my list LOL Thanks for the insight!

Sorry forgot to ask- what live food do you suggest? I tried daphnia but they were too fast and small I think.

Oh yes, if using anything on your tank also use the fresh, unprepared products. So for garlic, buy fresh and cut+bruise, put in water and soak the food in that. If you have a garlic/ginger press that's even better.

Artemia/brine shrimp are a good live food, very healthy and not too fast. Always make sure when buying live food to rinse it well before feeding, don't toss the liquid in the bags in your tank. it's best to get a sieve (only used for your tanks) or a very fine fish net and pour the contents in that, then put under the running tap for a minute. I actually use artemia sieves that they sell on most fish store sites for your own culture (but they are perfect for rinsing live foods in general). Only costs a few bucks.
Live white mosquito larvae if you can find them are also good, healthier than blood worms and they will stay at the surface and wiggle around.

 

Oh yes, if using anything on your tank also use the fresh, unprepared products. So for garlic, buy fresh and cut+bruise, put in water and soak the food in that. If you have a garlic/ginger press that's even better.

Artemia/brine shrimp are a good live food, very healthy and not too fast. Always make sure when buying live food to rinse it well before feeding, don't toss the liquid in the bags in your tank. it's best to get a sieve (only used for your tanks) or a very fine fish net and pour the contents in that, then put under the running tap for a minute. I actually use artemia sieves that they sell on most fish store sites for your own culture (but they are perfect for rinsing live foods in general). Only costs a few bucks.
Live white mosquito larvae if you can find them are also good, healthier than blood worms and they will stay at the surface and wiggle around.

ooh, I don't know where I can find those two options, especially right now, but will look into! I have been looking for mosquito larvae and failed locally. Good tip on the sieve- will order that when I can! thanks!

 

ooh, I don't know where I can find those two options, especially right now, but will look into! I have been looking for mosquito larvae and failed locally. Good tip on the sieve- will order that when I can! thanks!

To be honest daphnia really shouldn't be too quick for betta, perhaps the particular ones you have are too small to make for attractive snacks? I've seen some betta leave seed shrimp alone, but I don't think they would skip on adult dahnia.

 

To be honest daphnia really shouldn't be too quick for betta, perhaps the particular ones you have are too small to make for attractive snacks? I've seen some betta leave seed shrimp alone, but I don't think they would skip on adult dahnia.

That may be why then.. I will try again now that his is eating! He took a frozen mysis shrimp at lunch - was hunting when I came down so I tried and he ate them No floating needed! I can try the adult daphnia later or tomorrow...before all the adult ones die off. I am mostly down to just the new culture of babes right now. Thanks!