My betta's weird eating journey concern

So I got Kevin this summer, I waited a few years to get another fish since I just needed a break. When I first got him, he was eating his pellets with no problem. After a month, he didn't eat his pellets anymore. I did lots and lots of research and found out bettas can eat turkey. He loves turkey so much. He ate the turkey for a few months, then I tried pellets again. Kevin is eating his pellets just fine now for about two weeks. Is this normal? Originally I was convince dad that he didn't like his pellets, but now he seems to love them. I'm just a bit confused and want to know if there's anything wrong with him.

 

Probably not. Bettas have a reputation for being fussy, picky eaters. Mine have never had that issue, but it does seem to be a thing for a lot of people.

 

Probably not. Bettas have a reputation for being fussy, picky eaters. Mine have never had that issue, but it does seem to be a thing for a lot of people.

Makes sense

 

He might like some good, meaty frozen foods...brine shrimp, daphnia, or something along those lines. Feeding a varied diet produces a healthy betta, in my opinion...

 

I have never heard of feeding a Betta turkey.

 

I have never heard of feeding a Betta turkey.

Yeah, that's a new one on me too, lol!!!

 

He might like some good, meaty frozen foods...brine shrimp, daphnia, or something along those lines. Feeding a varied diet produces a healthy betta, in my opinion...

I'll definitely look into some good frozen foods for him!

I have never heard of feeding a Betta turkey.

It's his favorite haha

 

Hi guys! I have a few questions about my betta.

- How do you guys deal with soaking pellets and them sinking? I soak Kevin's pellets for a few minutes before I give them to him, but he only gets half of them since they sink instantly. Is there a way to prevent this?

- Should I skip days of feeding him? How much exactly should I feed him each day? I get told different things when I ask this. I've been feeding him three pellets twice a day since his pellets are relatively small, but he's starting to get a little chubby and I would like to prevent that from happening.

- I'm trying to train him to jump, but he just stares at the food sitting above the water until I just drop it in. He doesn't even try to eat the food when I try hand feeding him in the water. Any tips on training?

- I have a bottle cap for him to play with, but he doesn't show interest in it. Are there any other toys that I can make or get that he might like?

- There's so many mixed messages when it comes to whether or not you should put a mirror in front of a betta for exercise. I'd like to exercise my fish, but I'm not sure if this I'd a good way to do that. If not, what are some other alternatives to exercise him?

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this! I wasn't exactly expecting to have this many questions when I made the post lol, but I failed with my last betta.. and I just want to get this right. I love Kevin so much and only want the best for my little man. I appreciate all the help I can get

 

Please ask any question you may have always! We want to help you and your fish!
- How do you guys deal with soaking pellets and them sinking?
I might feed one pellet at a time, so that he has time to find them.

-Hand feeding.
It is trick with food so small, eye dropper/pipet feeding might be easier. A pipet is a long eye dropper. Put the food in, hold the food in front of his face, and make him follow you up or wherever you want him, then squeeze out the food.

- Should I skip days of feeding him? How much exactly should I feed him each day?
You will always here different opinions on this. Its up to you to find out what works. You say your fish is fatter than you think he should be. Then go ahead and skip a day or 2 a week. I prefer to feed less everyday then skip feeding days. but either one or both is ok.

- I have a bottle cap...

I never really had a fish that wanted to play with toys. I have seen videos teaching you how to train a fish to do tricks for food and that is an option you may like to explore. I have occasionally encouraged my fish to chase a laser pointer light but I have never tried to train a fish to jump. That seems like a bad idea to me. I lost a $20 pleco that jumped out of my tank.
You could add a flat section of styrofoam and let it float or secure it in place, he will likely use it to build a bubble nest. Or you could get a 15-20 gallon tank and see if your betta does well with tank mates.

I Have heard many arguments about mirrors and using them to make your betta flare. I don't like the idea, Bettas flare when they are scared or angry, why scare or anger your fish? That's my 2 cents.

 

Please ask any question you may have always! We want to help you and your fish!
- How do you guys deal with soaking pellets and them sinking?
I might feed one pellet at a time, so that he has time to find them.

-Hand feeding.
It is trick with food so small, eye dropper/pipet feeding might be easier. A pipet is a long eye dropper. Put the food in, hold the food in front of his face, and make him follow you up or wherever you want him, then squeeze out the food.

- Should I skip days of feeding him? How much exactly should I feed him each day?
You will always here different opinions on this. Its up to you to find out what works. You say your fish is fatter than you think he should be. Then go ahead and skip a day or 2 a week. I prefer to feed less everyday then skip feeding days. but either one or both is ok.

- I have a bottle cap...

I never really had a fish that wanted to play with toys. I have seen videos teaching you how to train a fish to do tricks for food and that is an option you may like to explore. I have occasionally encouraged my fish to chase a laser pointer light but I have never tried to train a fish to jump. That seems like a bad idea to me. I lost a $20 pleco that jumped out of my tank.
You could add a flat section of styrofoam and let it float or secure it in place, he will likely use it to build a bubble nest. Or you could get a 15-20 gallon tank and see if your betta does well with tank mates.

I Have heard many arguments about mirrors and using them to make your betta flare. I don't like the idea, Bettas flare when they are scared or angry, why scare or anger your fish? That's my 2 cents.

Thank you so much for the help, I'll definitely start feeding him one by one. The eye dropper is a really good idea! I think I'll start skipping certain days of feeding him each week til he's back to being my small boy ( I think I got a little too excited feeding him haha ) and once he's not got the little belly that he's forming, I'll feed him less each day. he's definitely not interested in toys or following fingers. I think I'll talk to my family about getting a bigger tank and some tankmates, seems like a good idea to me I'll refrain from putting a mirror in front of him since I don't wanna stress him out.
The advice means soooo much to me, thank you a ton!

 

Hey

maddiegrace,​

here are my answers based on my experience and personal opinions!

- How do you guys deal with soaking pellets and them sinking? I soak Kevin's pellets for a few minutes before I give them to him, but he only gets half of them since they sink instantly. Is there a way to prevent this?
I make sure the fish is stimulated (exitted-knows i'm about to feed), then I allow the pellet to stick to my finger. When I dip my finger, my bettas attack it and grab the food before it sinks.

- Should I skip days of feeding him? How much exactly should I feed him each day? I get told different things when I ask this. I've been feeding him three pellets twice a day since his pellets are relatively small, but he's starting to get a little chubby and I would like to prevent that from happening.
I suggest giving him two pellets in the morning. If you have other options of food or want to buy some, what I do is I give them bug bites at night and an occasional blood worm instead.

- I'm trying to train him to jump, but he just stares at the food sitting above the water until I just drop it in. He doesn't even try to eat the food when I try hand feeding him in the water. Any tips on training?
Try getting him used to your hand. Try putting your finger in him water for a few seconds throughout the day or hand feed his favorite foods.

- I have a bottle cap for him to play with, but he doesn't show interest in it. Are there any other toys that I can make or get that he might like?
Bettas don't really "play". If you want him to be more stimulated, try a zoo med betta mirror. It's great exercise, and it comes with instructions with a cost of roughly 7 dollars. I personally love this mirror along with betta hommocks (found in almost every pet store!). Live foods also get them excited and "playful"!

- There's so many mixed messages when it comes to whether or not you should put a mirror in front of a betta for exercise. I'd like to exercise my fish, but I'm not sure if this I'd a good way to do that. If not, what are some other alternatives to exercise him?
As said earlier, a zoo med betta mirror is great. It keeps them from being injured, and it's great exercise. You leave the mirror in for about 5 minutes (allowing him to flare), and when you take it out, you can imagine he feels like he has won a battle with a rival male. It will bring up his "confidence".



Hope this could help!

 

Hey

maddiegrace,​

here are my answers based on my experience and personal opinions!

- How do you guys deal with soaking pellets and them sinking? I soak Kevin's pellets for a few minutes before I give them to him, but he only gets half of them since they sink instantly. Is there a way to prevent this?
I make sure the fish is stimulated (exitted-knows i'm about to feed), then I allow the pellet to stick to my finger. When I dip my finger, my bettas attack it and grab the food before it sinks.

- Should I skip days of feeding him? How much exactly should I feed him each day? I get told different things when I ask this. I've been feeding him three pellets twice a day since his pellets are relatively small, but he's starting to get a little chubby and I would like to prevent that from happening.
I suggest giving him two pellets in the morning. If you have other options of food or want to buy some, what I do is I give them bug bites at night and an occasional blood worm instead.

- I'm trying to train him to jump, but he just stares at the food sitting above the water until I just drop it in. He doesn't even try to eat the food when I try hand feeding him in the water. Any tips on training?
Try getting him used to your hand. Try putting your finger in him water for a few seconds throughout the day or hand feed his favorite foods.

- I have a bottle cap for him to play with, but he doesn't show interest in it. Are there any other toys that I can make or get that he might like?
Bettas don't really "play". If you want him to be more stimulated, try a zoo med betta mirror. It's great exercise, and it comes with instructions with a cost of roughly 7 dollars. I personally love this mirror along with betta hommocks (found in almost every pet store!). Live foods also get them excited and "playful"!

- There's so many mixed messages when it comes to whether or not you should put a mirror in front of a betta for exercise. I'd like to exercise my fish, but I'm not sure if this I'd a good way to do that. If not, what are some other alternatives to exercise him?
As said earlier, a zoo med betta mirror is great. It keeps them from being injured, and it's great exercise. You leave the mirror in for about 5 minutes (allowing him to flare), and when you take it out, you can imagine he feels like he has won a battle with a rival male. It will bring up his "confidence".


Hope this could help!

This helps out a lot! I don't have time to reply to each thing since I'm having to go in a few minutes, but I'm DEFINITELY going to keep a lot of this in kind! Thank you sooooo much, it helps a ton