5 Days, New Betta- Not Eating. :(

[Zaboo]

Sunday, I brought home a gorgeous crowntail, and he hasn't eaten since I got him.

Tank::
~2.5 gallon (I'm in a dorm room, I plan on upgrading him eventually)
~Not heated, but his water isn't cold.
~Gravel and decoration in the tank
~Just today took out 3 slow growing betta bulbs, in case they were messing with the water
~had a homemade background (just a folder), but it apparently acted as a mirror and he flared his gills when he saw himself- that is now removed.

Fish::
~Zaboo is an absolute spazz, and he just loves swimming around- there is plenty of room for him to swim, trust me. He seems very happy.
~Ignores food completely. He comes up to about an inch away, then swims away furiously; like he is scared of it or something.

Food::
I have tried Wardley Betta Food (pellets), Top Fin pellets, and Top Fin Freeze-dried bloodworms.


I don't think there is anything really wrong with the tank- my boyfriend is a betta horder (haha). He has up to 7 bettas at a time, and keeps them in little betta keepers, no heat. He hasn't had problems. One betta only ate bloodworms, but he ate them.


So. Should I try frozen bloodworms? Shrimp? What is likely to get him to at least start eating? I adore this fish, I fell in love when I picked him up in Petco- I couldn't put him down!

Suggestions? Experiences? I'm running out of time, and I'm worrying about him. I am terribly attached, and I don't think its fair to him to give up and bring him back to the store.

Here is my baby- when I first got him and I was setting the tank up. Now he's too fast for a photo!

 

[VaegaVic]

I'll start off the usual interogation.

Why isn't the tank heated?
Is the tank cycled?
Does the tank have a filter?
What was the pet shop feeding him?

I would perhaps try frozen and live foods as they are most betta's favourites.

 

[Zaboo]

I'll start off the usual interogation.

Why isn't the tank heated?
Is the tank cycled?
Does the tank have a filter?
What was the pet shop feeding him?

I would perhaps try frozen and live foods as they are most betta's favourites.

The tank is a 2.5, its too small to be heated- he'd fry. Instead, I leave the light on for a while at a time, and the temperature is fine.
Yes, and yes.
And I need to call them tomorrow, I know that I got him the morning when they restocked, so they probably didn't even feed him..

I was just now putting some more water in, and he actually ate a freeze-dried bloodworm that had been in the tank from a bit earlier! It had moved around from the water, and he ate it. I think I should try live.

 

[amyw2008]

No idea on any of the above but he is gorgeous

 

[loraxchick]

firstly he is beautiful!!!
second- above the filter he NEEDS a heater. they are tropical fish and in 2 gal of water the tank cools too quickly (even IF in a warmer climate...unless living near the equator or its summer time). change water with no filter at least 50% every third day.
if in the states get a 25 watt heater from walmart. they are preset to 78 degress. never had a problem with these and use them in all my tanks! i keep bettas in tanks that small and i will say heat is essential for any tropical fish. they are very small heaters and work quite well and are fairly cheap (around $10).
the heat will also stimulate appetite. colder water=slower metabolism. do not overfeed him or you are asking for digestive troubles. they are quite prone to consitpation from over feeding wrong foods. if using freezedried soak it first until it is soft then feed to the fish.
bettas are also notorious for having a "settling in" period where they refuse food. depending on the individual fish it could be a day or a week. just keep offering food and removing what he isnt eating. eventually he will eat when he is hungry enough.
thanks for sharing. he really is handsome. and welcome to the forum!
cheers.

 

[Zaboo]

firstly he is beautiful!!!
second- above the filter he NEEDS a heater. they are tropical fish and in 2 gal of water the tank cools too quickly (even IF in a warmer climate...unless living near the equator or its summer time). change water with no filter at least 50% every third day.
if in the states get a 25 watt heater from walmart. they are preset to 78 degress. never had a problem with these and use them in all my tanks! i keep bettas in tanks that small and i will say heat is essential for any tropical fish. they are very small heaters and work quite well and are fairly cheap (around $10).
the heat will also stimulate appetite. colder water=slower metabolism. do not overfeed him or you are asking for digestive troubles. they are quite prone to consitpation from over feeding wrong foods. if using freezedried soak it first until it is soft then feed to the fish.
bettas are also notorious for having a "settling in" period where they refuse food. depending on the individual fish it could be a day or a week. just keep offering food and removing what he isnt eating. eventually he will eat when he is hungry enough.
thanks for sharing. he really is handsome. and welcome to the forum!
cheers.

Thank you so much for the suggestion of the 25 watt, I've been suggested to not get a heater before. I will go out over the weekend and get him a heater!!
I've actually gotten him to eat! He is fond of moving food, so presoaking freezedried bloodworms and letting them drop into the tank to sink and rise has interested him enough to eat. It was actually by accident that I found this out- I was replacing some water and a bloodworm at the bottom was flushed up. Miracle. He's stubborn, but I have him figured out. <3

Again, thank you. Now I can stop worrying about him, and start getting my vet-tech homework done! Kidding, of course; I do my homework.

No idea on any of the above but he is gorgeous

Thankya~ I got him to eat, so he'll be healthy and happy!

 

[keithp]

Instead of freeze dried foods try frozen, that got my bettas to eat. They enjoy frozen bloodwlorms and brine shrimp, but most often bloodworms. Your betta is handsome!

 

[loraxchick]

he seems to be coming out of his mopiness if hes started eating. just make sure to presoak those freezedried bloodworms if you continue to feed those. they should be soft before he eats them (or could lead to digestion problems like constipation or bloat).
all the best!
cheers

 

[Zaboo]

Instead of freeze dried foods try frozen, that got my bettas to eat. They enjoy frozen bloodwlorms and brine shrimp, but most often bloodworms. Your betta is handsome!

He absolutely won't touch the Hikari pellets I just bought- He eats the freeze dried bloodworms now (And I bought a heater- HE LOVES IT), so I was planning to go out soon to get the frozen. But I heard that frozen/freeze dried foods all the time isn't good for bettas. That they don't get enough from them. Maybe once he eats for a while I should try pellets later? I'd rather not starve him yet to get him to eat pellets after going nearly a week without food..

he seems to be coming out of his mopiness if hes started eating. just make sure to presoak those freezedried bloodworms if you continue to feed those. they should be soft before he eats them (or could lead to digestion problems like constipation or bloat).
all the best!
cheers

Don't worry, I've been presoaking them.
Thank you!

 

[zophie]

I'll start off the usual interogation.

Why isn't the tank heated?
Is the tank cycled?
Does the tank have a filter?
What was the pet shop feeding him?

I would perhaps try frozen and live foods as they are most betta's favourites.

The tank is a 2.5, its too small to be heated- he'd fry. Instead, I leave the light on for a while at a time, and the temperature is fine.
Yes, and yes.

Actually, tank that our under two gallons can still be heated, you just have to be careful.
And I need to call them tomorrow, I know that I got him the morning when they restocked, so they probably didn't even feed him..

I was just now putting some more water in, and he actually ate a freeze-dried bloodworm that had been in the tank from a bit earlier! It had moved around from the water, and he ate it. I think I should try live.

 

[Gizaroo2]

You can definitely heat a 2.5 gallon just fine. I have a heater in Fin's tank, and will be getting one for Big Red's as well. (Levi too when I upgrade his tank)

This is the one I have for Finneus' tank: http/pets.dealfinderonline.com/heater-mini-7-5w-up-to-5-gal_26197.html It works pretty well and keeps his tank between 78 and 80 degrees.

You can always try live Brine shrimp to get him to eat too. My bettas love them

Gorgeous betta by the way!

 

[zophie]

Hi!

Pellets are fine betta foods- but they don't have very much yummy smells/taste I reccomend you try live food- like a bloodworm. I'm your squemish, try frozen food- its very yummy. By the way, it's pretty normal for bettas not to eat for a few first days- so many new things can take away there appitite

Well, good luck with your beutiful boy

Zophie