I have a weird betta...

[FalconStorm]

I have a crown tail betta named Damien. He lives in a community tank and, well, from all the research I've done, from what I understand, he shouldn't like flake food. Okay. No problem.

When I got him, I got a pack of food that looked like dried worms (not freeze dried) that were supposed to be for bettas. I drop some in with the flake food when I feed them. He eats the flakes and ignores the others. After a little research, I realize that this might be pellet food and he might not eat that. Fine.

Next, I get freeze dried bloodworms. They're supposed to like these, right? Next feeding, the betta ignores the blood worms and eats the flakes. Okay...

Next, I pick up some tubifex worms. Everyone in my tank is supposed to like these. I'm a little worried everyone else will eat everything and he won't get any. I pop a cube in and smush it to the side of the tank like the instructions say. Five minutes later, I take out the soggy (now floating) cube because nobody has even touched it, not even the betta. I feed flakes and everyone eats.

Most recently, I got frozen white mosquito larva. I feed a little bit of that with the flakes. Everyone ignores the larva and eat the flakes. WHAT?? Even the betta! What in the world is going on? Am I doing something wrong? I think I'm going to try live brine shrimp next. My LFS sells them, but isn't it weird that the betta is rejecting all of these other options for the flakes? Any ideas?

 

[RandomWiktor]

I don't think you need to worry. Its possible the store fed him flakes, and since he's used to that, its what he likes to eat. Just make sure whatever flakes he is eating is formulated for a carnivorous diet so he doesn't get deficient in anything.

 

[Kiarra]

If the Betta likes the flakes, more power to him! As long as they are high in protein, they should be really good for him. The reason people don't generally recommend flakes is because many Bettas won't take them, not because they are nutritionally deficient.

Variety is a good thing, but at least he eats something.

(Hint on the tubifex: shave the cube so it powders. Rare is the fish (at least at my house) that will eat off the cube, but they will usually take the powder.)

 

[FalconStorm]

Okay. My main concern has been the protein content in the flakes since I do know they're carnivores...and just wondering if something might be wrong for him to *reject* the other foods. I mean, I know bettas can be snobs but come on!

Also, I've only had him about three weeks, and I made the mistake of getting him before this tank was cycled and ended up cycling it with a full load of fish. None died, and they've all been healthy and active for the most part, but I'm wondering if he might have been a little off his feed while the ammonia and nitrite were cycling out. He ate fairly well, so I don't think he's sick, and he's been moving about the tank happily and flaring occasionally.

I think I'll try that trick with the tubifex. What should I use to shave it? Just a fingernail?

 

[Kiarra]

Fingernail, razor blade, whatever. It shaves into powder really easily.