My betta won't eat!

cherylmason323 · Member Joined: 13 Dec 2006 Posts: 24 Location: Indiana

I just bought a beautiful blue male betta that I have in a little one gallon tank by himself. He won't eat and hasn't since yesterday! He just sits on the bottom of the tank and sulks! What's wrong with him? I gave him freeze-dried blood worms and when he didn't eat that last night I gave him betta pellets this morning...but he still hasn't eaten!!

Fish Addict · Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2006 5:18 am Post subject:

betta's don't need to eat everyday i would only feed him everyother day and what are you feeding him

cherylmason323 · Member Joined: 13 Dec 2006 Posts: 24 Location: Indiana

I fed him freeze dried bloodworms and when he didn't eat them, I eventually picked them out, waited for about a day and then gave him betta pellets

t_chelle16 · Moderator Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 3437

How often are you changing the water and how much are you changing?

Does he look bloated? Has he been pooping normally? Freeze dried foods tend to cause constipation in bettas.

-Chelle

cherylmason323 · Member Joined: 13 Dec 2006 Posts: 24 Location: Indiana

Well, I've only had him since yesterday, and I believe the pet store I bought him from fed him flakes. I figured since the instructions for the freeze-dried bloodworms said a couple times a week, these weren't meant for the fish to have every day. However, he doesn't look bloated, he just kind of sulks on the bottom. I've tried pellets too, but he doesn't eat them. Also, he startles easily and jolts about the tank. I just put him in the tank yesterday but if he continues not to eat, I would love to be able to make him feel better asap!! Thank you for all your help!

t_chelle16 · Moderator Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 3437

He could just be sulking and getting used to the new environment.

-Chelle

tuttifrutti · Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2006 5:26 pm Post subject:

my bettas always sulk around their tanks for a little while after i have cleaned them. i have two betta tanks (1 with females, 1 with a male) and each gets a different food, then every week i switch the food because the male seems to get tired of eating the same thing. the females don't act like they do, because it's always a competition to see who eats first and therefore gets the most.

cherylmason323 · Member Joined: 13 Dec 2006 Posts: 24 Location: Indiana

Alright, I'll give it a few days and write again if he continues not to eat!