Tips for picky betta

[TheAnglerAquarist]

Grover is looking really skinny and I think I can make out his Back bone. He spits and sucks back in flakes and pellets. I think he ate the frozen bbs and bloodworms but he wasn’t thrilled. Most of the time he likes looking at himself with the glass during the day but he is active and looks pretty healthy.

 

[bcfishtanks]

Do you have a picture?

I've had picky bettas in the past. I never found a good remedy for it, but it's good that you're trying various foods.

However, stress can cause strange behaviors in bettas. You said that he can see his reflection in the back of the tank? I would try to block the back wall as much as you can with decor. My current betta overflared his fins many times because of this same issue. His fins ripped because of it, and he got fin rot because of the stress of constantly seeing his reflection. Finally, he developed tail biting (may be related, may not be). He is now in a low light, blackwater tank with heavy decor (live and silk). It took a lot to destress him, but he's very happy now.

You may just have a high strung betta and need to get to the root of his stress. What size tank is he in?

 

[LadfromLondon]

Are the pellets small enough for him to eat? Usually, spitting out food can be associated with it being too big for the fish.

You could trying soaking the food in Garlic Guard, that should do the trick.

 

[TheAnglerAquarist]

Do you have a picture?

I've had picky bettas in the past. I never found a good remedy for it, but it's good that you're trying various foods.

However, stress can cause strange behaviors in bettas. You said that he can see his reflection in the back of the tank? I would try to block the back wall as much as you can with decor. My current betta overflared his fins many times because of this same issue. His fins ripped because of it, and he got fin rot because of the stress of constantly seeing his reflection. Finally, he developed tail biting (may be related, may not be). He is now in a low light, blackwater tank with heavy decor (live and silk). It took a lot to destress him, but he's very happy now.

You may just have a high strung betta and need to get to the root of his stress. What size tank is he in?

Right. I want to get a black background for the tank but my mom isn’t thrilled about the idea. He is extremely chill and doesn’t nip at himself or the tank mates. He is in a 29 gallon with 6 golden white cloud minnows

Are the pellets small enough for him to eat? Usually, spitting out food can be associated with it being too big for the fish.

You could trying soaking the food in Garlic Guard, that should do the trick.

He sucks in the pellets very easily and he munches for a few seconds and than spits. I might look into the garlic guard…

 

[BigManAquatics]

I kind of handle it like little kids. It is common for fairly new bettas to not eat much or at all, so instead of forcing it, i would try feeding every 3 days or so. Like a kid, they will eat if hungry enough.

 

[TheAnglerAquarist]

I kind of handle it like little kids. It is common for fairly new bettas to not eat much or at all, so instead of forcing it, i would try feeding every 3 days or so. Like a kid, they will eat if hungry enough.

Okay! The white clouds will have flakes still every day

 

[BigManAquatics]

Okay! The white clouds will have flakes still every day

But yeah, i would try garlic guard as well. Often times it takes fish a bit before some foods they even recognize as food.

 

[TheAnglerAquarist]

But yeah, i would try garlic guard as well. Often times it takes fish a bit before some foods they even recognize as food.

Thanks!

 

[Debbie1986]

soak food in garlic juice before giving it.

my late Koi was very picky and garlic juice works. Just make sure it's pure garlic, no fillers in luquid ( I purchased small jar of minced garlic) - keep in fridge.

 

[TheAnglerAquarist]

He ate really well today! He seemed to enjoy fluval bug bites flakes today! He has a nice round bet not too big belly!