Skipping meals or going days without eating is a serious concern for betta fish. It might indicate that your fish isn’t feeling well.
As an experienced betta fish owner, I have cherished their presence for years. I would be so concerned whenever they stopped eating until I understood the reasons behind this behavior.
Why Is My Betta Fish Not Eating
These are some of the common reasons why your betta fish sometimes stop eating:
Water Quality
The number one reason for your betta fish’s behavior is poor water quality.
Buildups from uneaten food or waste materials can cause the fish to become stressed and stop eating.
Ensure your tank water has the right temperature, pH, and chemical levels. Invest in a good water test kit for your aquarium and commit to routine water changes to keep your betta’s home clean and healthy.
Poor Betta Fish Diet
Poor diet is most likely why your pet fish may stop eating.
Bettas are carnivorous fish, meaning their food should be protein-based. Always get your Betta fish to eat fresh food as it uses its sense of smell to find their food.
Old food loses its strong scent and can be difficult for your betta to find. Avoid buying food in advance.
Inappropriate Temperature
Bettas are tropical fish that need warmer waters to thrive.
When water temperatures drop below their preferred range of 72-82 degrees Fahrenheit, food tends to build up in their GI tract, causing your betta to stop eating.
It’s important to provide your betta with right temperature and ensure your fish has a water heater.
Picky Eaters
Another reason your betta fish may not be eating food is an inappropriate diet. They are refusing to eat because they don’t find what you’re feeding appealing.
Make sure to feed your fish what they like to eat. Giving them treats can encourage them to start eating again.
Stressed Out
One reason you notice your betta is not eating is they become stressed. All you have to do is look for things in betta’s tank, stressing them out.
According to my experience, the things causes stress in betta fish are:
Tank mates
New environments
Changing water conditions
Too much light
Lack of hiding places
Breeding
Breeding can place extra stress on your fish, which cause them to loose appetite.
Not only female bettas, but male bettas can also become extremely protective of their bubble nests and may ignore food to defend it.
You should continue to provide them with regular feedings and consider giving them treats or new food to encourage eating. Handle them with care and make sure you’re feeding your betta to eat their favorite food during this period, especially male betta.
New Pet
A new home for a betta can be a reason for their lack of eating.
When a betta fish is not eating, it’s generally advisable for new betta owners to monitor them closely rather than panicking and jumping to conclusions.
They may require time to adjust to their new surroundings or might be temporarily disinterested in the type of food being offered.
Betta Is Sick
If you have checked off all of the above points and can still not figure out why your fish isn’t eating, it’s time to consider a vet for your sick betta fish.
Especially if you see other serious signs of illness, such as fin rot, swim bladder disease, strange swimming patterns, change in color, rips or tears in the fins, it means the affected fish requires medication,
What Is the Best Betta Food?
I would recommend feeding your betta fish live food such as daphnia, bloodworm brine shrimp, etc.
If arranging live food is not possible for you, you can also consider giving freeze-dried food or healthy betta pellets. Make sure frozen food is completely thawed, betta fish may not eat it otherwise.
Feed your betta fish once or twice a day, providing an amount of food they can consume within a few minutes. Betta fish should be fed 7-8 fish pellets per day.
Wrapping Up: Causes Of Betta Fish Not Eating
As you see, betta fish stops eating due to various reasons.
I hope you found my insights helpful. Give them the best care possible to ensure they are happy and healthy in your aquarium!
