Whenever a beloved pet stops eating, it’s not only frustrating – it’s concerning. Fortunately, most reasons your betta fish quit eating are fixable and do not cause permanent issues.
Regardless, this situation can be distressing, as bettas are typically food-motivated and never miss the opportunity for a meal. We’ll go over everything from their appearance to their demeanor to help you decipher why your betta fish are on a hunger strike – and how to get them back to their spritely selves.
Read on for more information on why your betta fish may have stopped consuming its food, warning signs, concerning habits, and how to remedy them.
When Did Your Betta Stop Eating?
As you can imagine, the longer your betta fish goes without food, the more concerned you should be – but if your betta goes hungry for a day or two, that’s usually nothing to worry about.
Most experts suggest letting your betta go without food for 3 days, although they can survive up to 10 without a meal. If your betta is on day 3, don’t panic, but try to find the root of the problem.
If you have no idea what the issue could be, we’ll provide you with 11 common issues betta owners face when feeding.
11 Reasons Why Betta Fish Don’t Eat
Whether your betta fish stopped eating yesterday or hasn’t eaten in a week, resolving this pesky (but worrying) problem is probably at the forefront of your mind. Below are the top 11 reasons why your betta may not have the appetite you’re used to – and how to get its groove back!
1. New Fish
Moving is stressful for everyone (even humans!), so if you’ve recently gotten your betta a new tank or brought it home, it may not have a ravenous appetite for the first few days. If you know your betta well and what foods it likes, try to feed it its favorite treats to encourage eating.
However, if your betta fish is new and needs to adjust to its tank, temperature, and surroundings, getting it to eat may not be as simple. Sometimes, pet stores feed bettas live food to get them to grow faster and sport brighter colors. Getting them off the live food can be challenging if this is the case – contact the person you purchased the betta from to see if they fed the fish living food.
So, how do you solve this problem? The best way to go about this situation is to get them used to their new environment. Use the recommended acclimation techniques and keep a close eye on them to monitor any signs of stress.
2. Picky Eater
Believe it or not, betta fish can be picky eaters – even more so if they’ve only been fed a specific type of food before becoming your pet.
It’s crucial to keep things interesting when feeding your betta, as they don’t like plain food and instead want an interesting grub that tastes good. You may assume all fish food tastes the same, but your betta fish most likely disagrees!
Figuring out what your betta likes can be challenging, but it’s also one of the most fun aspects of fish ownership. In general, betta fish love frozen bloodworms, crustaceans, tiny insects, and meaty food. Test out new foods with them and see which ones they enjoy most.
Keep a list of foods they like and dislike. You can usually tell if they dislike the food if it sits in the tank for ten minutes. After you have a substantial list, ensure you switch up their weekly menu to keep them happy!
3. Improperly Thawed Food
While this sort of falls into the picky eater category, it also affects the overall health of your betta. Ensure you thaw frozen food before feeding time, as it needs to be soft for their palates and teeth. If your food stays frigid, your betta won’t eat it.
Thankfully, the solution is quite simple – defrost your betta food before dinnertime. Note, though, that you should not refreeze food you’ve taken out of the freezer. It may have faced exposure to potentially harmful bacteria to your betta. Only take out what you need!
If defrosting sounds like too much legwork, you could stick to freeze-dried, live, flake, or pellet food.
4. Bad Quality Food
No, you don’t need to feed your betta filet mignon bits every day, but you need to ensure their food has plenty of protein and some form of meat, as betta fish are primarily carnivores.
Unfortunately, low-quality food runs rampant in pet stores, and it can be tricky to spot unwanted ingredients. Before purchasing betta food, check for the following:
- Natural food with protein as the first ingredient
- Vitamins (A, K, E, etc.)
- Carbs
- Calcium
Natural food will likely have higher levels of vitamins and protein. Low-quality food will use fillers or powders instead of authentic ingredients.
5. Overfeeding
Unfortunately, it can be easy to overfeed your betta. These fish love food and you want your betta to be happy, so feeding them too much can be tempting. But before you reach for the treated bottle, below are some reasons you want to avoid overfeeding.
Bettas have a natural tolerance system that signals them when to stop eating. This system has receptors that alert them when they’ve had enough to eat. On top of this, they naturally have small stomachs, so you only need to feed them between four and six pellets daily.
Signs you may be overfeeding your betta are increased lethargy, diarrhea, constipation, and swim bladder problems. If you notice any of these issues, contact your vet.
6. Bad Water Conditions
Awful water conditions don’t just affect appetite – they affect nearly every aspect of the wellbeing of your betta.
A few factors to keep in mind when it comes to water conditions are temperature, changes in pH, chemicals, and filtration. The ideal pH for your betta is 6.5 to 8. If pH levels fall below or above those points, your betta will likely stop eating. You can fix this by adding crushed coral to the tank.
That said, the primary symptom of water issues related to loss of appetite is temperature shock.
Temperature shock occurs when your betta does not go through the acclimation process in a new (or uncared for) environment. In humans, it’s comparable to hypothermia. Cold water is the worst for your betta, as they’re tropical species and thrive in warm temperatures.
Regarding appetite, temperature shock causes the organs to shut down. So, if your betta eats while experiencing this issue, they physically will not be able to digest the food – which can be fatal.
Another factor that affects appetite is the presence of nitrates in the water. Nitrates stunt growth and oxygen levels and increase if you overfeed your betta. They appear in fish waste, and excessive excrement almost guarantees an unhealthy nitrate level. You can fix this issue by not overfeeding your betta and cleaning your tank regularly.
7. Mating Season
Bettas participate in bubble nesting, a mating process that appears as foam floating on the surface. When male bettas are ready to mate, they begin to create a nest. Upon spawning with a female betta, they collect the eggs with their mouths and place them onto the bubble nest, where they later hatch.
Male bettas guard their bubble nests relentlessly in the wild and appreciate not being disturbed throughout the process. Your male betta will build a nest without a female in the tank.
Bubble nests are a good sign that a Betta is healthy and prepared to start breeding. However, if it’s coupled with not eating, it could mean they are likely stressed. It could also mean you are feeding them too much.
If you know you are not overfeeding your betta, you can disrupt the bubble nest. Your male-finned friend may not be too pleased for a few days but will eventually return to its standard eating routine.
The best thing to do in this situation (if you suspect overfeeding is the predominant problem) is to cut back on food and see if they begin eating again. If it does not start eating, it may be a water temperature issue or an increase in nitrates.
8. Old Age
One reason a Betta won’t eat is that they are getting old. Even humans do this as we age – the elderly tend to have smaller appetites than those with high metabolisms.
Vision loss begins to set in, and this issue can cause them to become unable to see the way they used to. They may not eat because they simply cannot see the food around them.
Bettas are prone to cataracts as they age, which may lead to blindness. Additionally, they may feel lethargic or generally unwell, causing them to not want to eat as much as before. Their energy levels decrease naturally, so they don’t need as much fuel.
There’s no solution to this, as aging is natural. The best thing you can do is feed your betta fish its favorite snacks and watch for any other concerning behaviors.
9. They Are Sick
A betta not eating is a sign that they might be sick. However, sick bettas usually eat to receive energy and resources that aid healing. So, if they aren’t eating, it could mean they have been ill for a while, and the illness has worsened.
It’s always best to double-check their tank water and filters to ensure no bacteria have made a new home in either one. Clean their tanks and closely inspect them for any physical signs of sickness. Some of these symptoms include:
- White spots on their body
- They aren’t eating or dragging their bodies onto objects in the tank (gravel, plants, etc.)
- The appearance of shredded fins or tail
These are all symptoms of Ich, velvet, and fin rot. All these come about due to bettas living in poor water or consuming a bad diet. However, it’s best to talk to your vet about proper treatment.
10. Stress
If your betta feels stressed, it usually traces back to something in its environment. Several symptoms let you know your betta is distressed, and not eating is one of them.
Other signs include:
- Odd swimming patterns
- Swimming against the side of their tanks
- Rubbing their body against the gravel
- Locking their fins
Some things that can cause a betta to become stressed are a poor diet and, if prescribed medication to heal the ailment, adding the medicine to their tanks. When sick, they need to be appropriately quarantined and treated with medication.
Your betta also needs a balanced healthy diet. Too much or too little of anything will cause it to get sick, thus, leading to stress.
Lastly, ensure they are getting along with other bettas if more than one is in the tank. If they cannot get along, this will easily stress both fish out and lead to loss of appetite.
You also want to make sure there is an adequate amount of space. Make sure the tank isn’t stuffed full of gravel and plants but just enough of everything to ensure a fresh, clean, yet spacious environment.
11. They Don’t Know It’s Their Food
If your betta isn’t noticing their food, it could mean they don’t realize it’s theirs. It might seem odd, but if they’re living amongst other fish (and they’re new to the tank), their food could simply go ignored.
One solution to this frustrating problem is to feed them the same food they had at the store or with the breeder. If you supply them with different food, they may not recognize it as a meal.
Another option is to try feeding them their favorite foods and away from other fish, if possible. Once they have their first nibble, chances are you’ll never have this problem again!
Final Thoughts
When it comes to taking care of betta, feeding is one of the most essential processes. If they are not eating, don’t assume they are okay (but don’t panic). Take the proper steps to investigate and ensure you’re following suitable care practices daily.
Even though they are small, keeping your betta fish healthy can be challenging. Ensure their tanks remain safe by consistently checking chemical levels and keeping their diets balanced and their stress levels low.
These things will help them live long while thriving in good health. Comment below with how you got your betta to start eating after a reluctant period – and let us know if you’ve ever experienced this issue!
