What to Do If Your Betta Fish Is Not Eating

what to do if your betta fish is not eating

Possible causes

A lack of appetite in a betta fish can be a sign of a more serious condition. This condition can be caused by several things. For example, your fish could have recently undergone a change in its diet or habitat. Regardless, this issue should not be ignored.

Chewy Online Pet Supplies


35% Off at Chewy.com

+ Free Shipping

Save Now

A change in diet could be the main cause of a lack of appetite in a betta. It could be due to the change in pellets or flakes or even freeze-dried food. If you’re not sure, try mixing up different kinds of foods and see what happens. You can also try increasing the amount of food slowly.

Another cause of betta fish not eating is illness. A betta may be too sick to eat, or it may not be getting enough food. If this happens, it’s important to consult a veterinarian. There are a variety of treatments available for the condition.

A change in water temperature may also cause a betta fish not to eat. Betta fish get energy from the water temperature, so it is important to monitor the water temperature regularly. If you live in a colder climate, you may want to consider adding a heater to the tank.

Nitrate poisoning is another common cause of a betta not eating. Nitrate levels over 20 PPM can make your fish feel weak and lethargic. They will prefer to lie on the tank bottom instead of moving around. Nitrate toxicity has also been linked to swim bladder disease in bettas. The symptoms of this disease include sideways swimming and lack of appetite.

Treatments

Your betta fish may not be eating, and this can be a sign that it is ill. Other symptoms may include lethargy, sores, and white spots on the body. Treatments will vary depending on the condition. You can use some home remedies, or you can visit a veterinarian.

First of all, make sure that your betta has clean water. Be sure to test it for spikes of chemicals. You can also offer more hiding spots and space. In severe cases, you may want to check for other diseases or stresses. If you suspect your fish has an illness, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Other symptoms include lack of appetite and fin rot. Some illnesses may go unnoticed for days or weeks. When combined with poor water quality, this can result in disease. A common bacterial infection called Dropsy can cause your betta to not eat.

Other causes of betta fish not eating are not having enough water, or not being able to consume their food. You may need to switch their food or diversify their diet. Sometimes a betta simply doesn’t know what he is eating, so he doesn’t eat. By making these changes, your fish should start eating again within a few hours or days.

The first thing you can try is changing the food your betta is eating. Many bettas have issues with new food, so switching their diet is a good idea. However, you must make sure that you don’t change your betta’s food too often. Be sure to give them a small portion of food every day.