Betta Fish Not Eating
Should you be worried if you find your betta fish not eating the food that you feed it?
You can probably let it go if your fish doesn't immediately stop what its doing and rush up to the surface to eat right away. Most betta fish will just swim about merrily until it "happens upon" the food, at which time it will eagerly chomp away.
But what should you do if you find your betta fish not eating at all, ignoring the food, even though it knows that it is there? Perhaps your fish is spitting up the food right after chewing on it. Perhaps it just looks at the food and swims right past it.
If that happens once in a while, you could probably just let it go.
But if your fish continues to ignore food for more than just a couple of feedings, then it may definitely be a cause for concern.
And obviously if your fish is spending most of its time docile, idling at the bottom of the fish tank, and not bothering to come up for food, then something is definitely wrong.
A healthy, active fish should be able to recognize that food is coming whenever it sees a human being shaking the food container over the surface of the water, and immediately swim up to the surface, if it is hungry. Some betta fish owners have even managed to train their fish to jump out of the water at the sight of their food.
You can probably let it go if your fish doesn't immediately stop what its doing and rush up to the surface to eat right away. Most betta fish will just swim about merrily until it "happens upon" the food, at which time it will eagerly chomp away.
But what should you do if you find your betta fish not eating at all, ignoring the food, even though it knows that it is there? Perhaps your fish is spitting up the food right after chewing on it. Perhaps it just looks at the food and swims right past it.
If that happens once in a while, you could probably just let it go.
But if your fish continues to ignore food for more than just a couple of feedings, then it may definitely be a cause for concern.
And obviously if your fish is spending most of its time docile, idling at the bottom of the fish tank, and not bothering to come up for food, then something is definitely wrong.
A healthy, active fish should be able to recognize that food is coming whenever it sees a human being shaking the food container over the surface of the water, and immediately swim up to the surface, if it is hungry. Some betta fish owners have even managed to train their fish to jump out of the water at the sight of their food.
Immediate Actions To Take If You Have a Betta Fish Not Eating
So if you find your betta fish not eating at all, then it's time to take some immediate action:1. Completely clean and sterilize your fish's tank to kill any bacteria or fungus.
2. Remove or replace any plants that show signs of deterioration.
3. Clean or replace the rocks.
4. Purify the water with water treatment solution made especially for bettas.
5. Observe your betta's physical appearance for any discoloration, deterioration, fading, or unusual protrusions, or anything that could be an indication of poor betta fish health.
How To Get Your Fish To Start Eating Again
Based on the observations that you make, you should follow the guidelines in this betta care guide on how to identify and cure most betta fish ailments. Perhaps your fish has developed an infection caused by the water, the rocks, the plants, or even in the food that you are feeding it. (If you feed your betta live worms or frozen foods these might potentially harvest parasites which are harmful for your fish.)Remember that if you remain vigilant about your fish's behavior and stay proactive on keeping its environment clean and making sure that you are feeding it a healthy diet, then you can keep your fish healthy, happy, and active for many years.
Follow the advice in this betta care guide, and you should be able to get your fish to start eating again!
Further Information About Your Betta Fish Not Eating
Further Reading (continued...)
Betta Fish Illness Information
Examples of Betta Fish Illnesses
Betta Fish Illness Examples (continued...)
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Erica Bowman is a student of marine biology and an avid betta fish enthusiast. Ms. Bowman shares her insights on betta fish care, having bred and raised... more »
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