my new betta wont eat

[mm_simb]

I just got a Betta from Walmart (don't worry, conditions there are actually better than any other store I've been to). He's in a 10 gallon tank with a filter, air pump (it's not on), and a heater. The water is at 78. I fed it pellets at around 10 but it doesn't want them. I don't know why he's not eating. He's swimming around and going up for air. He looks fine. Can anyone tell me why he wouldn't eat? What type of food to they feed them at walmart? I did buy the food from there.

 

[3fsh]

He's probably just a little stressed out. I wouldn't worry about it too much. My bettas (walmart rescue and petco rescue) wouldn't touch their pellets for a couple of days after I brought them home. So, of course, being the spoiled rotten bettas that they are, they got live bloodworms for the first week or so. You could try enticing him with some live food. That might spark his appetite.

 

[mm_simb]

Also, I've heard and read a lot of things about the air pumps. Do all Bettas hate does because of the vibrations they do to the water or do they get use to it? My betta stays by the top of the filter or under it. I don't want to turn the air pump on for about a week or two so he can get use to the tank but I don't know if it's good for him.

 

[rdd1952]

From my experience with our bettas, they like to have a place to hide. Ours stay under the leaf of a plant or behind the filter (there's about 3/4" between the filter and the glass). I'm not sure about the airstone but i read where someone said their betta loved it and tried to catch the bubbles. If you are feeding floating food (we use Hikari Betta Bio Gold) just leave them floating. He will eat when he gets aclaimated unless he is diseased or injured. I just rescued 2 from Walmart this week too. One took a couple days to start eating. Now he will take the Hikari food off my finger.

 

[mm_simb]

That's the food I'm feeding him. My brother fed him this morning and he's eating now. He does have a plant there that he goes into and camoflages (sp?). I guess I should've bought a plant that wasnt his same color because sometimes I have no idea where he is.

 

[tank212]

I've bought bettas from just about every pet store in my area including walmart. Most of em were pigging out that night when I would feed them but some would just ignore the food for a day or two. They will come around tho they have to eat sometime!

 

[Cheart99]

My betta didnt eat for the first 5 days after i bought him. As for the air stone I guess it is a matter of preference. Bettas dont need them to breath although they tend to like slow moveing water or even better still water. All you could do is try it and see how he reacts to it. I would definatly have something in the tank that the betta can hid in. "hidy hole" but becarful that he wount get stuck in it or tear his fins on it. In my betta thank there is a little pot and two plants. I find he rests on the plants at night.