Is My Betta Going To Die?

[MrMarblesTI]

So, my betta hasn't eaten since I got him 2/11. I replaced the water today with spring water, and tried feeding him deshelled peas, but he completely ignores them, just like other foods I try to get him to eat. Am I doing something wrong? I don't want my fish to die, but I don't know how much longer he'll last without eating.

 

[diademhill]

So, my betta hasn't eaten since I got him 2/11. I replaced the water today with spring water, and tried feeding him deshelled peas, but he completely ignores them, just like other foods I try to get him to eat. Am I doing something wrong? I don't want my fish to die, but I don't know how much longer he'll last without eating.

What size tank is he in & what temperature & decor?
Have you tried a few defrosted bloodworms?

 

[wuvmybetta]

They can last an amazingly long time without eating. Try talking to him when you feed him,as corny as that sounds. Maybe wiggle the food a bit. What foods have you tried?

By the way, welcome to the board!

 

[MrMarblesTI]

He's in a 2 an a half gallon tank, by himself, with about half an inch of natural gravel as substrate. There's also a plastic plant in there, if that makes a difference. Water temp is usually kept at 75-82.

 

[LEB2006]

Does he look healthy? maybe hes sick? From what I have heard bettas can last up to 3 weeks without eating. I dont know much of anything about bettas but I would guess he might be sick. When mine was sick he was not eating well.... Goodluck! Let us know how it goes!

 

[MrMarblesTI]

I just put a pea in the tank, and it sunk right in from of him. He kid of flared at it a little bit; his fins are practically falling apart. Someone on this board said that that is usually a sign of crappy water, that's why I put him in the spring water today. I just don't see how his fins are going to get better, especially if he's not eating....

 

[wuvmybetta]

Have you tried anything besides peas?

 

[MrMarblesTI]

Have you tried anything besides peas?

Freeze dried blood worms and flakes, but he's refused them so far.

 

[wuvmybetta]

Do you have a good local fish store with a nice stock of frozen foods? Or a Petco, or Petsmart even.

For about 4.00 you can buy frozen bloodworms, they're well worth it and they'll last forever with just one betta (get the flatpack if possible), they'll be in a freezer at any of the mentioned locations. Just defrost some in a cup and then feed them to him one by one if you want. No betta can refuse bloodworms.

Or you could try to find live ones outside in pools of water if you have to.

 

[LEB2006]

If his fins are falling off it sounds like he could have finrot. I thought spring water was bad for them? do you have aquarium salt maybe putting some in will calm him..

 

[MrMarblesTI]

Someone on this board said that the holes in his fins was probably due to crappy water, so I figured the tap water here wasn't good enough. The little cup I got him in says to keep him in "spring or dechlorinated water."

 

[LEB2006]

I dont know much but I do know that if his fins are fallling of it sounds like fin rot..

 

[JoLtNbolt]

Check out this page...

http/www.bettatalk.com/betta_diseases.htm

It has a list of betta diseases and shows photos.

 

[liz2]

I hope he is ok. Is he very small and thin I have lost 2 lately that were like that I think it is a breeding fault. good luck

 

[BettaBum873]

I got a male betta about a week and a half ago who wouldn't eat anything. I tried everything, flakes, pellets, freeze dried brine shrimp and krill, frozen brine shrimp and blood worms and nothing worked. I was getting frustrated and a bit worried, but then this morning as I was feeding my other 2 males I noticed that the pellets that had fallen to the bottom of his tank were gone. So excitedly I gave him a couple and he gobbled them right up. I've found that it may take them awhile to become accustomed to new foods and new environments. My first betta, Alex, didn't eat for a week either.