Finicky, anorexic betta

[Elaine T]

I adopted yet another betta about a week and a half ago at my local
aquarium society auction. I bought him out of pity because nobody else
would even bid and I figured the fish needed a home.

He's a beautiful fish who seems healthy, but refuses to eat. He tried
Hikari Betta Bio Gold and spat it out. I've been patiently putting one
or two granules in the jar anyway at feeding time hoping he'll get
hungry and change his mind. He won't even taste flakes. He ate a bunch
of blackworms once but now they are considered a threat and he flares at
them and attacks rather than eating them. The only thing I have left in
the house that I haven't tried are frozen bloodworms, so I'll try that
tonight. I'm not hopeful because my other two bettas prefer Hikari
pellets and blackworms to thawed bloodworms.

Does anyone have any tips for feeding a finicky betta? I have another
fish from the same breeder who eats anything that lands in the jar so
I'm really puzzled.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[m]

I had a betta once that refused to eat betta pellets. After a while I
gave up on trying to get him to eat them and put some flakes in which
he devoured pretty quickly.
I'd say that if he gets hungry enough, he'll eat whatever you're
offering and eventually he'll start liking it.


On Tue, 19 Apr 2005 19:06:16 GMT, Elaine T >
wrote:

>I adopted yet another betta about a week and a half ago at my local
>aquarium society auction. I bought him out of pity because nobody else
>would even bid and I figured the fish needed a home.
>
>He's a beautiful fish who seems healthy, but refuses to eat. He tried
>Hikari Betta Bio Gold and spat it out. I've been patiently putting one
>or two granules in the jar anyway at feeding time hoping he'll get
>hungry and change his mind. He won't even taste flakes. He ate a bunch
>of blackworms once but now they are considered a threat and he flares at
>them and attacks rather than eating them. The only thing I have left in
>the house that I haven't tried are frozen bloodworms, so I'll try that
>tonight. I'm not hopeful because my other two bettas prefer Hikari
>pellets and blackworms to thawed bloodworms.
>
>Does anyone have any tips for feeding a finicky betta? I have another
>fish from the same breeder who eats anything that lands in the jar so
>I'm really puzzled.

[[email protected]]

You might try stimulating his appetite with garlic. Garlic can do a lot
of good and should never hurt. Good luck Elaine, later!

[Gill Passman]

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
. ..
> I adopted yet another betta about a week and a half ago at my local
> aquarium society auction. I bought him out of pity because nobody else
> would even bid and I figured the fish needed a home.
>
> He's a beautiful fish who seems healthy, but refuses to eat. He tried
> Hikari Betta Bio Gold and spat it out. I've been patiently putting one
> or two granules in the jar anyway at feeding time hoping he'll get
> hungry and change his mind. He won't even taste flakes. He ate a bunch
> of blackworms once but now they are considered a threat and he flares at
> them and attacks rather than eating them. The only thing I have left in
> the house that I haven't tried are frozen bloodworms, so I'll try that
> tonight. I'm not hopeful because my other two bettas prefer Hikari
> pellets and blackworms to thawed bloodworms.
>
> Does anyone have any tips for feeding a finicky betta? I have another
> fish from the same breeder who eats anything that lands in the jar so
> I'm really puzzled.
>
> --
> Elaine T __
> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
> rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

Hey, I know nothing about bettas but my new boy eats only bloodworm and
Daphinia with any relish....Oh and shreds the plants (earlier post). Turns
his nose up and pretty much anything else

[Derek Benson]

On Tue, 19 Apr 2005 19:06:16 GMT, Elaine T >
wrote:

>I adopted yet another betta about a week and a half ago at my local
>aquarium society auction. I bought him out of pity because nobody else
>would even bid and I figured the fish needed a home.
>
>He's a beautiful fish who seems healthy, but refuses to eat. He tried
>Hikari Betta Bio Gold and spat it out. I've been patiently putting one
>or two granules in the jar anyway at feeding time hoping he'll get
>hungry and change his mind.
>
>Does anyone have any tips for feeding a finicky betta? I have another
>fish from the same breeder who eats anything that lands in the jar so
>I'm really puzzled.

You keep bettas in jars? Maybe he's depressed because his previous
owner had him in an aquarium where he had a lot more room to move
around. I'm completely serious, not joking. I would try putting him in
a tank with other fish; he sees them eating, so goes after the food
that they're going after. Even if you can only do this temporarily, to
coax him back into eating.

Possibly more likely it may be that the previous owner fed him one
food exclusively, so he is spoiled on this food and doesn't want to
eat anything else?

-Derek

[Lisa]

Hey, Elaine -

I now have 3 bettas (2 divided and one in a 6-Gallon - all male), and
they all LOVE the bloodworms. I'll bet they will work for you. Mine
all enjoy dried bloodworms and also the betta pellets from Hikari. I
usually alternate. (If I am traveling on business, my 8-year-old feeds
the pellets while I am gone because he knows to count to 5 pellets per
fish - much more straight forward). I also feed "real" frozen
bloodworms 1-2 times per week - I float several for each betta and then
give the rest to the large community tank. Any attempts at veggies and
fiber are ignored by my triumvirate of male bettas.

Please post an update when and if the little guy decides to eat
something! I think bettas, angelfish and gouramis are some of the
greatest "personalities" in aquaria. Each betta really is his/her own
species.

- Lisa in Central Coast CA

[Elaine T]

Derek Benson wrote:
> On Tue, 19 Apr 2005 19:06:16 GMT, Elaine T >
> wrote:
>
>
>>I adopted yet another betta about a week and a half ago at my local
>>aquarium society auction. I bought him out of pity because nobody else
>>would even bid and I figured the fish needed a home.
>>
>>He's a beautiful fish who seems healthy, but refuses to eat. He tried
>>Hikari Betta Bio Gold and spat it out. I've been patiently putting one
>>or two granules in the jar anyway at feeding time hoping he'll get
>>hungry and change his mind.
>>
>>Does anyone have any tips for feeding a finicky betta? I have another
>>fish from the same breeder who eats anything that lands in the jar so
>>I'm really puzzled.
>
>
> You keep bettas in jars? Maybe he's depressed because his previous
> owner had him in an aquarium where he had a lot more room to move
> around. I'm completely serious, not joking. I would try putting him in
> a tank with other fish; he sees them eating, so goes after the food
> that they're going after. Even if you can only do this temporarily, to
> coax him back into eating.
>
> Possibly more likely it may be that the previous owner fed him one
> food exclusively, so he is spoiled on this food and doesn't want to
> eat anything else?
>
> -Derek

The best I can offer this fellow at the moment is a jar and generous
water changes. Your point that he may be used to better accomodations
is well-taken, although most breeders jar males once they get aggressive
from simple space constraints. I'm working on a DIY tank divider so he
can have roomier accomodations but he was a mercy buy and I wasn't
really prepared for him.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Elaine T]

Lisa wrote:
> Hey, Elaine -
>
> I now have 3 bettas (2 divided and one in a 6-Gallon - all male), and
> they all LOVE the bloodworms. I'll bet they will work for you. Mine
> all enjoy dried bloodworms and also the betta pellets from Hikari. I
> usually alternate. (If I am traveling on business, my 8-year-old feeds
> the pellets while I am gone because he knows to count to 5 pellets per
> fish - much more straight forward). I also feed "real" frozen
> bloodworms 1-2 times per week - I float several for each betta and then
> give the rest to the large community tank. Any attempts at veggies and
> fiber are ignored by my triumvirate of male bettas.
>
> Please post an update when and if the little guy decides to eat
> something! I think bettas, angelfish and gouramis are some of the
> greatest "personalities" in aquaria. Each betta really is his/her own
> species.
>
> - Lisa in Central Coast CA
>
So far no eating. He didn't even look vaguely interested in the thawed
bloodworms. Another betta, Splash, practically knocked the pipet out of
my hand to get his. I guess he likes bloodworms better than I thought.
Splash knows the look of the yellow tupperware blackworm container
too, and starts to go nuts the moment I walk up with it. I don't have
time to go to LFS for live brine (my last trick to tempt a finicky
eater) until this weekend. The new betta - thus far unnamed - is
bubblenesting at the moment so he can't be too upset.

I'm offering reasonable food with some of it live so I don't know what
else I can do except hope he changes his mind.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Gill Passman]

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
...
> Lisa wrote:
> > Hey, Elaine -
> >
> > I now have 3 bettas (2 divided and one in a 6-Gallon - all male), and
> > they all LOVE the bloodworms. I'll bet they will work for you. Mine
> > all enjoy dried bloodworms and also the betta pellets from Hikari. I
> > usually alternate. (If I am traveling on business, my 8-year-old feeds
> > the pellets while I am gone because he knows to count to 5 pellets per
> > fish - much more straight forward). I also feed "real" frozen
> > bloodworms 1-2 times per week - I float several for each betta and then
> > give the rest to the large community tank. Any attempts at veggies and
> > fiber are ignored by my triumvirate of male bettas.
> >
> > Please post an update when and if the little guy decides to eat
> > something! I think bettas, angelfish and gouramis are some of the
> > greatest "personalities" in aquaria. Each betta really is his/her own
> > species.
> >
> > - Lisa in Central Coast CA
> >
> So far no eating. He didn't even look vaguely interested in the thawed
> bloodworms. Another betta, Splash, practically knocked the pipet out of
> my hand to get his. I guess he likes bloodworms better than I thought.
> Splash knows the look of the yellow tupperware blackworm container
> too, and starts to go nuts the moment I walk up with it. I don't have
> time to go to LFS for live brine (my last trick to tempt a finicky
> eater) until this weekend. The new betta - thus far unnamed - is
> bubblenesting at the moment so he can't be too upset.
>
> I'm offering reasonable food with some of it live so I don't know what
> else I can do except hope he changes his mind.
>
> --
> Elaine T __
> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
> rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

I'm not sure that any living creature will actually starve itself to death
unless ill(IMHO) - hopefully he will eat soon....my oldest son (and I know
it's not the same thing) used to drive me and the ex nuts with not eating
until we found what he actually liked - and it was very bizzare (then it
just drove the ex nuts because of the limited diet) - now coming up 13 and
eating us out of house and home everything and anything...on the other hand
my youngest stopped eating but she was seriously ill (a long time past and
well recovered now - eats us out of house and home now as well). I know kids
aren't the same but when they are very young they work on pretty basic
instincts....so could be a valid comparison.

It sounds to me like the people who had him before you didn't hit it right
on the food either otherwise he wouldn't be in the state he is now...but if
he looks happy maybe he is...perhaps he has a small appetite....My newbie
doesn't eat as well as the one I recently lost - maybe a good thing in some
ways....but he does love brine shrimp and freeze dried daphinia...eats the
odd bit of frozen bloodworm but not too keen...hates flake...can be
persuaded occasionally with pea....

Just keep plugging...I know you will get there unless there is some
underlying cause (in which case I wouldn't rule it out either)

[Vicki PS]

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
. ..
> Does anyone have any tips for feeding a finicky betta? I have another
> fish from the same breeder who eats anything that lands in the jar so
> I'm really puzzled.

I've got a juvie at the moment who doesn't seem to want to eat. He's the
only male of a spawn of turq SDs who carry the doubletail gene.

This guy is a HM with a severely kinked spine (unfortunately not uncommon in
DTs), and he is steadily losing ground: his growth rate has slowed right
down and he seems to only play with food, whatever I offer. I'm reaching
the conclusion that his congenital defects are interfering with the
development of his digestive tract. He's still lively and full of attitude,
though.

So, I'm wondering if your finicky fish may have some kind of congenital
defect that inhibits his eating -- a G-I tract blockage perhaps? Does he
pass stools normally? Another possibility is intestinal parasites.

The suggestion of putting him with other fish is a good one -- if you've got
a large enough tank you can make a temporary jar out of a big soda or juice
bottle and put him in alongside others. Might be worth a try.

Vicki PS

[Elaine T]

Vicki PS wrote:
> "Elaine T" > wrote in message
> . ..
>
>>Does anyone have any tips for feeding a finicky betta? I have another
>>fish from the same breeder who eats anything that lands in the jar so
>>I'm really puzzled.
>
>
> I've got a juvie at the moment who doesn't seem to want to eat. He's the
> only male of a spawn of turq SDs who carry the doubletail gene.
>
> This guy is a HM with a severely kinked spine (unfortunately not uncommon in
> DTs), and he is steadily losing ground: his growth rate has slowed right
> down and he seems to only play with food, whatever I offer. I'm reaching
> the conclusion that his congenital defects are interfering with the
> development of his digestive tract. He's still lively and full of attitude,
> though.
>
> So, I'm wondering if your finicky fish may have some kind of congenital
> defect that inhibits his eating -- a G-I tract blockage perhaps? Does he
> pass stools normally? Another possibility is intestinal parasites.
>
> The suggestion of putting him with other fish is a good one -- if you've got
> a large enough tank you can make a temporary jar out of a big soda or juice
> bottle and put him in alongside others. Might be worth a try.
>
> Vicki PS
>
>
He's full grown, large, and has healthy finnage so I doubt a congenital
defect. He's by far the most beautiful betta I've ever had and I'm
wondering if he's an older show or breeding fish who is a bit freaked
out by the new home. I haven't seen him poop enough to know about
intestinal parasites, since he's refusing to eat. He's not in the least
bit thin, though. Maybe he's living on java moss. ;-) I'm still
completely amazed he won't eat blackworms.

I wish I could put him with other fish, but my only tank that has room
is full of baby show guppies. They're betta food sized, but NOT food!
I'd also be concerned about a confrontation between the betta and adult
male guppy.

He now has half of a cycled 2 gallon quarantine, so he's got better
water and a bit more space. After the Endler's come out of quarantine
in another week he'll get the whole tank. It's bare bottomed too, so
maybe seeing the blackworms wriggling for a while will get him to eat
some again.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[NetMax]

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
. ..
>I adopted yet another betta about a week and a half ago at my local
>aquarium society auction. I bought him out of pity because nobody else
>would even bid and I figured the fish needed a home.
>
> He's a beautiful fish who seems healthy, but refuses to eat. He tried
> Hikari Betta Bio Gold and spat it out. I've been patiently putting one
> or two granules in the jar anyway at feeding time hoping he'll get
> hungry and change his mind. He won't even taste flakes. He ate a
> bunch of blackworms once but now they are considered a threat and he
> flares at them and attacks rather than eating them. The only thing I
> have left in the house that I haven't tried are frozen bloodworms, so
> I'll try that tonight. I'm not hopeful because my other two bettas
> prefer Hikari pellets and blackworms to thawed bloodworms.
>
> Does anyone have any tips for feeding a finicky betta? I have another
> fish from the same breeder who eats anything that lands in the jar so
> I'm really puzzled.
>
> --
> Elaine T __
> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><


Try a couple of drops of garlic oil in the tank.

don't ask ;~)
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Bill Stock]

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
. ..
>I adopted yet another betta about a week and a half ago at my local
>aquarium society auction. I bought him out of pity because nobody else
>would even bid and I figured the fish needed a home.
>
> He's a beautiful fish who seems healthy, but refuses to eat. He tried
> Hikari Betta Bio Gold and spat it out. I've been patiently putting one or
> two granules in the jar anyway at feeding time hoping he'll get hungry and
> change his mind. He won't even taste flakes. He ate a bunch of
> blackworms once but now they are considered a threat and he flares at them
> and attacks rather than eating them. The only thing I have left in the
> house that I haven't tried are frozen bloodworms, so I'll try that
> tonight. I'm not hopeful because my other two bettas prefer Hikari
> pellets and blackworms to thawed bloodworms.
>
> Does anyone have any tips for feeding a finicky betta? I have another
> fish from the same breeder who eats anything that lands in the jar so I'm
> really puzzled.

Sorry to hear about your fish. I'm working on my first Betta, so I can't
help much. So far mine hasn't met any food it didn't like (pellets,
gammarus). But it's having a little trouble with the size of the food, I'll
have to buy 'her' some flakes.

I'm surprised that these fish are so personable/curious. I'm keeping it in
the office and it always comes to check things out when I come into the
room. It even checks out the cat (no flaring) when she decides to
investigate the fish. :)

[Elaine T]

NetMax wrote:
> "Elaine T" > wrote in message
> . ..
>
>>I adopted yet another betta about a week and a half ago at my local
>>aquarium society auction. I bought him out of pity because nobody else
>>would even bid and I figured the fish needed a home.
>>
>>He's a beautiful fish who seems healthy, but refuses to eat. He tried
>>Hikari Betta Bio Gold and spat it out. I've been patiently putting one
>>or two granules in the jar anyway at feeding time hoping he'll get
>>hungry and change his mind. He won't even taste flakes. He ate a
>>bunch of blackworms once but now they are considered a threat and he
>>flares at them and attacks rather than eating them. The only thing I
>>have left in the house that I haven't tried are frozen bloodworms, so
>>I'll try that tonight. I'm not hopeful because my other two bettas
>>prefer Hikari pellets and blackworms to thawed bloodworms.
>>
>>Does anyone have any tips for feeding a finicky betta? I have another
>>fish from the same breeder who eats anything that lands in the jar so
>>I'm really puzzled.
>>
>>--
>>Elaine T __
>>http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
>
>
>
> Try a couple of drops of garlic oil in the tank.
>
> don't ask ;~)

How do I get garlic oil? Just squeeze a clove? I'll give it a whirl.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[NetMax]

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
...
> NetMax wrote:
>> "Elaine T" > wrote in message
>> . ..
>>
>>>I adopted yet another betta about a week and a half ago at my local
>>>aquarium society auction. I bought him out of pity because nobody
>>>else would even bid and I figured the fish needed a home.
>>>
>>>He's a beautiful fish who seems healthy, but refuses to eat. He tried
>>>Hikari Betta Bio Gold and spat it out. I've been patiently putting
>>>one or two granules in the jar anyway at feeding time hoping he'll get
>>>hungry and change his mind. He won't even taste flakes. He ate a
>>>bunch of blackworms once but now they are considered a threat and he
>>>flares at them and attacks rather than eating them. The only thing I
>>>have left in the house that I haven't tried are frozen bloodworms, so
>>>I'll try that tonight. I'm not hopeful because my other two bettas
>>>prefer Hikari pellets and blackworms to thawed bloodworms.
>>>
>>>Does anyone have any tips for feeding a finicky betta? I have another
>>>fish from the same breeder who eats anything that lands in the jar so
>>>I'm really puzzled.
>>>
>>>--
>>>Elaine T __
>>>http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
>>
>>
>>
>> Try a couple of drops of garlic oil in the tank.
>>
>> don't ask ;~)
>
> How do I get garlic oil? Just squeeze a clove? I'll give it a whirl.
>
> --
> Elaine T __
> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
> rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

I think we bought it at a health food store. One of my full-timers was a
Discus nut and he would use it for his 'babies'. You would need to
research the concentration though. It was something like a teaspoon per
50g.
--
www.NetMax.tk