New Betta Doesn't Understand He's Being Fed

Is it common for some betta to need a couple of days after being moved into a new aquarium to start eating? I bought a betta two days ago, and he seems clueless about feeding time. I've had two other bettas, and they ate right away. They seemed to know instinctively to come to the surface when the lid was lifted, and the pellet hitting the surface got their attention immediately. Not this new betta. He's oblivious to the lid being lifted, and a pellet hitting the surface doesn't get his attention. The only way I've gotten him to eat is if I wait for him to swim to the surface, then drop a pellet in front of him. They're semi-floating pellets, and he does eat when he finds one. But at this rate, many of the pellets are eventually going to stop floating and fall into the gravel before he gets them.

 

Have you tried feeding him bloodworms, or live foods like mosquito larvae?

 

Not yet. I have freeze-dried bloodworms, so I'll try one of those and see if he eats it. They'll float longer than the pellet, so I won't be concerned about it dropping into the gravel. Thanks for the tip.

 

We've had my son's betta for a few weeks now, and it took her about a week to finally come when the lid opens. Give it time and I think yours will learn!

 

I had this problem with my new betta first time I tried to feed him he ran and hide behind a log. Even now when I tried to feed him he start ranging but at least he turns around and see the surface.

 

Maybe he doesn't understand that those pellets are food because he was fed something else at whatever place you got him from. Also do an action every feeding, so he can associate that with food. I tap the top of the lid, people turn the tank lights on, or something like that.

 

Yes it's common for bettas to do that and also their SUPER picky for example my female LOVES brine shrimp and when the toothpick comes and I hover it over the water she'll jump for it! My male on the overland HATES brine shrimp and will flare at the toothpick

 

Thanks, everybody. Thinking more about it, he might just be adapting to his big new space. He went from a cup where everything was right by him, to a 5.5 gallon tank with lots of space all around. I'll use a consistent feeding routine to help him figure it out.

I'm feeding him New Life Spectrum betta formula. He seems okay with it when he finds it. He just needs to learn to recognize when it's being offered and to come and get it.

 

I trained my betta to come to the surface, I bang my food container and shake it up and down, then he sees it and gets REALLY excited and comes to the top

 

try flakes if you have any, maybe that's what he was being fed where you got him from.

 

Usually, it's not uncommon for a new betta to refuse to eat on the first or second day, it takes them some time to adjust to their new home.
I don't think you would feel like a meal if you were moved from a closet, and into a mansion, would you?
So, you can continue offering him food, eventually, he will accept it. I always go for frozen brine shrimp or bloodworms, with the pellet staple food.

My bettas despise flakes, they don't see them as food.

 

I recently had this issue with my newest betta. I started flipping the feeding hatch repeatedly to get his attention. Now he immediately swims up to get his meals!