My betta keeps spitting out his pellets!

I got my crown tail male betta about 8 or 9 days ago and I'm starting to get really concerned. I'm trying to feed him every other day, 3 pellets. The day after I got him, I tried to feed him, but he just spit them out. He grabs the pellet, nods his head, swims around for a minute, and then spits it out. Sometimes he spits it out immediately. Once it comes out it starts sinking to the bottom, and he'll chase it for a bit and then loses interest. 2 days later, I tried feeding him again, and he actually did well, he spit one out but I kept offering food until he was able to hold down 3 pellets. Ever since then, he's eaten maybe one or two pellets. Some pellets are pretty big and some are tiny, so I tried offering just the small ones and he spits those out too! At first I wasn't too worried, but now that I've had him for over a week, I'm getting concerned. He's still very active so I don't think it's harming him yet, but he must be starving! My last betta always gobbled up the Top Fin pellets from petsmart but this guy just won't have it. I know petsmart feeds the Aqueon pellets to the bettas in the store, should I try those next? And if he keeps refusing the Top Fin pellets and won't eat the Aqueon ones, what should I try next?

 

Maybe try changing foods? I feed my Betta wafers and frozen blood worm. The flakes float a little longer. I feed literally one flake at a time so I don't overfeed and it doesn't end up on the floor of the tank as he's not very good at cleaning up. I will stand at his tank for up to 10 minutes feeding him, but I know once he starts spitting it out and not chasing it then he's done. I do this twice a day.

With the blood worm I use a small amount of tank water and soak them until the worms start coming apart. I have to make sure he's paying attention when feeding these else they will just go straight to the bottom. A whole frozen bloodworm cube is far too much for one better so I use a tea spoon to put a small amount in a time.

I've not yet tried live food - that's next

It could just be your Betta isn't used to eating pellets, definitely worth trying him on something different

Edit: Sorry, you did say the store feed pellets. Still worth trying something else. Don't worry too much though as these fish can go a little while without eating. He could still just be settling in.

 

Bettas play with their food. In nature they hunt live insects and such, so he's just doing what comes naturally. Or, is possible he's not used to eating pellets, he may have been on flakes. In which case, fish may have to adjust.

If he gets stubborn about it, switch foods. Frozen brine shrimp, bloodworms or a blended food like Emerald Entree all go over well with my fish.

 

Try splittling the pellet, maybe it's too big?

 

I was going to try crushing the pellets next and see how that goes over. It's hard to actually split it since they're already really small.

 

I was going to try crushing the pellets next and see how that goes over. It's hard to actually split it since they're already really small.

Is your betta eating?

 

I feed my Betta the below food and he LOVES it. Maybe it's worth a shot? Yes, it's a bit on the pricey side but it's good quality and I have seen improvements on my Betta's color.

 

I have two betta fish. One eats a larger pellet (omega one I believe is the brand) and the other eats a tiny little pellet. They just have different preferences. I'd buy some other food and try it out. Is there a reason you only feed him every second day? I've been under the impression that they should eat daily and then fast for one day.

 

I hope you're betta has started eating again! I know my betta is really picky when it comes to pellets and he got to a point where he just wouldn't eat them anymore, I ended changing him to flakes and he would sometimes eat them, I now give him bloodworms he absolutely loves them and gets really excited during feeding time. I feed my other fish in my tank frozen brine shrimp and my betta loves chowing down on those to, (just don't give a full cube to or betta or he will over eat) I think it's pretty normal to see them spit their food out as well, both my bettas do it but they end up eating their food in the end !

 

HI all, sorry for the extremely late response!! I'm the OP. Yes my betta is eating now and doing fine. I don't think it was the size of the pellets, I think he was just being picky! Now he can't wait for feeding time and quickly gobbles everything up