Feeding a betta

[ral]

I got a betta a few days ago, his name is Max. I feed Max 4-5 small pellets every 12 hours. But I always catch him foraging for food at the bottom on the tank and nipping at the leaves of plants so occassionally, I can help myself and throw in another pellet after whic he seems satsified.

Am worried though because I have read that over-feeding them is bad. How do I know how much food he needs?

I don't think he was fed too well in the Petshop where I bought him. He ws the smallest ofthe lot. That's kind of why I took him home.

Sorry for all the questions. Never had a fish before.

I gotta find something better than pellets to feed him. Some brine shrimp or red worm maybe (they gotta have those somewhere here).

Successfuly change his water too, and he seemed to like it. I am going OT. Sorry. Can't help myself

 

[Kittycat]

I think bettas will always eat if you feed them, even if they are supposed to be "full." So it's up to you to control how much food intake they get, I just follow directions of the food. With Hikari pellets, I give about 3-4 once or twice a day. I think some people here feed only once a day, and most fast their bettas one day a week.

 

[White Whale]

At least the foraging keeps them active. If they are hungry, then they are alert.

 

[ral]

Thanks, will curb my tendency to feed him when he looks hungry. Four (4) tablets twice a day. Got it.

 

[Teelie]

Overfeeding is something to be careful of. I had a female over eat, not get overfed, because she would eat sinking food pellets I was giving my cories to eat. My other female wouldn't eat them. Eventually I ended up having to take both out of the 30 gallon and seperate them into vases to force them on diets. The over eater got bloat though and died.

 

[D Chia]

Overfeeding can often result in Swim Bladder Disorder (SBD).

This condition causes the fish to lose control of its buoyancy, as well as its ability to swim normally because the swim bladder organ is being compressed by an overfilled stomach.

So, do be careful.

 

[fourplayfishy]

most bettas are gluttons its better to have them hungry because they will eat themselves to death if given the oppertunity

 

[D Chia]

I saw this interesting post by a lady member from my club forum.

My bettas always seem to be sooo... hungry, but I've learnt to be more assertive and not to give in to their "Feed me... Feed me..." demands.

Saw the "Cat in the Hat" movie and I totally agree with the Cat when he pointed to the Fish and said...

"You're gonna listen to him? He drinks where he pees!"

So, listen to the Cat and not the Fish.