Is your betta fish refusing to eat? Are you often left asking, “Why isn’t my betta fish eating?” without a proper answer as to what’s going on?
This is a serious concern fish owners have and it’s important to take action right away.
Before you start making changes, focus on what the root cause is. If you don’t know what the cause is, how are you going to make sure your betta fish eats enough?
This article is going to take a deeper look into the question, “Why isn’t my betta fish eating? and try to pinpoint what the cause is in your situation. You will also get an opportunity to learn about the best fish food for betta fish.
Table of Contents
Best Fish Food For Betta Fish (EDITOR’S CHOICE)
- aquarium DIET SUPPLEMENT Freeze-dried blood worms are a nutritious supplement to boost energy and conditioning in your...
- FOR FRESHWATER & SALTWATER FISH Perfect for bettas and ideal for small- to medium-sized tropical and marine fish
- SPECIALLY PROCESSED Minimizes any undesirable organisms found in live bloodworms
Last update on 2023-09-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Tetra Blood Worms are an exceptional option for feeding your betta fish. It is packed with high-quality nutrients and is scientifically proven for working with a betta fish’s taste buds. These freeze-dried worms are a perfect addition to your fish’s diet and will go a long way in getting them to eat again.
These specially processed freeze-dried worms are easy on the fish’s digestive system and offer comprehensive value for their long-term health. It’s a must when it comes to getting your betta fish to eat more.
Why Isn’t My Betta Fish Eating?
Wrong Type of Fish Food
You could have a fully functional fish tank and it still won’t be enough to keep your fish happy.
In some situations, it will come down to the type of fish food you are giving to the betta. If it isn’t getting a nutrient-dense, well-processed diet, the fish isn’t going to be inclined to eat.
This can be seen as a refusal to eat food that doesn’t taste good or isn’t easy to digest.
What can a fish owner do when their betta refuses to eat?
The best course of action is to look for better fish food for bettas. They like specific food like freeze-dried worms, which is why you should be aiming for something along these lines. If your fish doesn’t eat enough then making a change like this is worthwhile.
It’s also important to note, each situation is going to be different.
This means you have to be well-prepared and go with multiple fish foods to see which one works. This is the best way to make sure you don’t end up making the wrong choice and worsen the situation.
Even when you do invest in the best fish food for bettas, you have to account for other issues that may be transpiring inside the fish tank. For example, something as simple as a dirty fish tank can become a major problem!
Keep your eye out and don’t assume the problem will go away on its own.
Excessively Large Portions
To the surprise of many fish owners, it is possible to overfeed your fish.
The average betta isn’t going to eat what you are feeding it due to the portions. In the beginning, it’s going to eat as much as it needs, but that is only going to last for a few days or weeks.
After it reaches a tipping point, the fish is going to refuse to eat!
But why would it refuse to eat?
It comes down to the water quality inside the fish tank. Most fish owners will start to notice a stench spread throughout the water due to the fish food and that is going to have an impact on the water quality.
As a result, you will have to stop overfeeding your betta fish!
This is the only way to make sure your betta continues to eat and the water inside your fish tank doesn’t get spoiled.
If it is already too late and there’s too much fish food inside the water, it’s time to clean everything out. You will want to separate the fish from the water, change the water, and then set up a high-quality filtration system moving forward.
If you don’t do this, the problem will continue to arise heading into the future.
The Stress of a New Tank
A new fish tank can be incredibly stressful environments for bettas.
You may assume the transition is going to be smooth but it may take a few days or weeks. This is why you have to be wary during those initial days after the tank has been changed or a new fish has been brought in.
If this situation is similar to the one your betta fish is in then it’s recommended to wait things out.
Of course, you should always keep an eye out on other issues that are lingering under the surface. For example, is the water not as clean as it needs to be? Is the fish tank not set up properly leading to major concerns about oxygen levels?
These are important questions to ask.
If your betta fish is feeling stressed, you will need to keep an eye out on what’s going on inside the aquarium. This is the only way to make sure the betta fish doesn’t end up passing away.
If the problem persists after a few weeks, you will have to start considering changing the fish food and/or seeing what additions can be made to the tank.
Dirty Tank
Is the water inside your fish tank cloudy or dirty?
Well, this is generally the main reason bettas stop eating!
They don’t want to consume fish food inside a dirty tank because it won’t simulate what’s happens in their natural environment. In fact, it can often end up simulating toxins that can do a tremendous amount of damage to your fish’s health.
As a result, you have to take a step back and focus on cleansing the fish tank using different solutions including a high-powered water changer.
If the water hasn’t been changed for a long time or the fish tank hasn’t been thoroughly cleaned (i.e. removing algae) then it’s time to get started right away. Otherwise, this problem is going to persist for as long as your betta lives.
If you are someone that is wondering, “Why isn’t my betta fish eating?” then it’s often going to come back to the fish tank and how well it’s maintained. A poorly-maintained fish tank isn’t going to get the job done.
After you have changed the water inside a betta fish tank, it’s also important to consider implementing preventative solutions. These can include items such as a high-grade filtration system and an air pump.
Lack of Oxygen in the Tank
What happens when there isn’t enough oxygen inside a fish tank?
Well, your fish is going to have a hard time surviving.
This is why it is recommended to continually monitor the oxygen levels inside a fish tank. This goes for all types of fish including bettas.
If the water isn’t clean or there isn’t enough oxygen, the betta fish’s natural environment will become polluted and that’s when the eating problems occur. Your betta isn’t going to want to eat when the water’s conditions have changed.
You have to make sure the water is clean, set at a good temperature, and healthy.
If you aren’t capable of doing this, the betta fish isn’t going to want to eat. It doesn’t matter what type of fish food is being dropped into the fish tank, they still won’t eat.
The goal has to remain to concentrate on making the living conditions inside the fish tank as organic as possible. This should including setting up regular checks to see whether those oxygen levels drop at any point of the month.
Over time, you will start to see patterns develop if these concerns are environmental. Otherwise, the oxygen levels will remain steady and your betta fish will continue to eat naturally.
Unfortunately, a lot of fish owners ask “Why isn’t my betta fish eating?” but don’t realize the importance of a healthy living situation for the fish. They aren’t going to sustain themselves and will start reacting differently to the slightest of changes to the water.
This can even be something as simple as a change in water temperature by a few degrees!
Continue to monitor everything and ensure the temperature and conditions remain steady. If they do, the betta fish is going to remain healthy too.
Final Thoughts
Why isn’t my betta fish eating?
This is a question many fish owners ask and rightly so. You are going to want to get to the bottom of what’s going on and why your betta fish refuses to eat its food.
In general, the answer is going to vary but it’s recommended to take action.
Whether it’s changing the type of fish food your betta is eating, adding a better filtration system for your tank, or including a brand-new air pump, it is these subtle changes to your fish tank that will have a long-term effect on your fish’s eating habits.
While making these changes, also focus on removing cloudy water inside a fish tank and getting rid of algae.
These changes will make sure your betta fish continues to eat what it is fed.