A question about detritus worms

[biscuitbetta]

Hi all

I've recently started to get a bunch of detritus worms swimming around my 6.5gal betta tank. They don't bother me as there aren't that many. I think they came in the water with my shrimp (I couldn't get them out of the damn bag without emptying it into my water).

My question is about my Betta. He likes to eat these worms as they wiggle past him and I just want to make sure that this isn't a problem. I know it probably is fine but I'm an anxious new betta mum and therefore just want to double check its not something I need to sort out

 

[Rocky998]

Hi all

I've recently started to get a bunch of detritus worms swimming around my 6.5gal betta tank. They don't bother me as there aren't that many. I think they came in the water with my shrimp (I couldn't get them out of the damn bag without emptying it into my water).

My question is about my Betta. He likes to eat these worms as they wiggle past him and I just want to make sure that this isn't a problem. I know it probably is fine but I'm an anxious new betta mum and therefore just want to double check its not something I need to sort out

Their fine. My gudgeons eat them all the time when their in the water column.
So no need to worry

 

[biscuitbetta]

Their fine. My gudgeons eat them all the time when their in the water column.
So no need to worry

Glad to hear, I never noticed them before in my previous (thanks to my poor eyesight) and my husband pointed them out the other day

 

[Rocky998]

Glad to hear, I never noticed them before in my previous (thanks to my poor eyesight) and my husband pointed them out the other day

Yah their tiny. But no need to fear! Their perfectly natural and it's live food so it's almost like an enrichment for them.
Cool little worms

 

[JuiceBox52]

I agree, totally fine, extra protein, and gives environmental enrichment to your betta

 

[jaylach]

I had some of these worms until I got my dwarf cichlids; sigh, I also had bladder snails but they are now also gone. Now that I think about it I'm going to have to do a search for a source of these worms as they are totally harmless and a good food source. LOL! Only problem is that I'll probably forget before I get around to doing a search...

 

[GaryE]

You only really see them if you overfeed, and if your fish prefer them to the food you (over) offer, it kind of works out.

 

[biscuitbetta]

Glad to hear that they're just a tasty snack for the betta! He seems to have already eaten most of them

You only really see them if you overfeed, and if your fish prefer them to the food you (over) offer, it kind of works out.

I'm certain they came in water from the shrimps as my betta eats all the food I give him. We sit and feed each pellet/worm individually. We sometimes let a couple bloodworms fall to the bottom for the shrimps but those get eaten up fast.

 

[Rocky998]

Glad to hear that they're just a tasty snack for the betta! He seems to have already eaten most of them

Oh trust me, he most likely didn't eat most of them. There are probably a lot more in the substrate

 

[Slaphppy7]

How often and how much do you feed the betta?

 

[biscuitbetta]

How often and how much do you feed the betta?

We give him breakfast and dinner, and we just feed him until he's no longer interested. It's how I was told to.

 

[JuiceBox52]

We give him breakfast and dinner, and we just feed him until he's no longer interested. It's how I was told to.

It’s how most bottles and pet stores will say to (so you did nothing wrong, you just followed instructions) but it usually causes great amounts of waste, hence the high amounts of detritus worms. I would cut down to once daily, in the morning, and just a small amount. It will improve the water quality, the levels of the worms, and prevent obesity in your betta
Fish don’t need very much food, most are over fed

 

[biscuitbetta]

It’s how most bottles and pet stores will say to (so you did nothing wrong, you just followed instructions) but it usually causes great amounts of waste, hence the high amounts of detritus worms. I would cut down to once daily, in the morning, and just a small amount. It will improve the water quality, the levels of the worms, and prevent obesity in your betta
Fish don’t need very much food, most are over fed

Thank you! I'll start doing that from tomorrow.

 

[Ed Pursell]

I am far from an “expert” but have a couple Bettas for a few years, not my main focus, I have a community tank and Fire Belly Toads, but I believe the rule of thumb was a few pellets of food every couple days, they have very tiny stomachs and don’t need to be feed daily. Google on care on these pretty fish. They definitely don’t need twice a day feeding. I use Omega One Betta pellets. A few tiny pellets every couple days. Google Betta feeding… Something about their stomach is as big as their eye balls from what I recall? Feeding until a fish isn’t interested is really not good.

 

[JuiceBox52]

I am far from an “expert” but have a couple Bettas for a few years, not my main focus, I have a community tank and Fire Belly Toads, but I believe the rule of thumb was a few pellets of food every couple days, they have very tiny stomachs and don’t need to be feed daily. Google on care on these pretty fish. They definitely don’t need twice a day feeding. I use Omega One Betta pellets. A few tiny pellets every couple days. Google Betta feeding… Something about their stomach is as big as their eye balls from what I recall? Feeding until a fish isn’t interested is really not good.

I feed once every other day, that is generally a good rule. Once daily with just a couple pellets is also fine. You’re correct, feeding so much until they can’t eat anymore is unhealthy, but unfortunately that’s what pet stores and food companies tell you to do