When you start feeding it again, feed it live food like brine fish or blood worms. Live food is always more nutritious and easy to digest and can be used till it recovers from the sickness.
Full Answer
How to keep a betta fish from getting sick?
The best way to keep your betta fish from getting sick is to keep them happy and healthy by following proper betta fish care. It’s always better to be proactive than reactive. Just like you wouldn’t want to be freezing or living in a dirty and cramped home, your betta fish doesn’t either!
What do betta fish eat in the wild?
Betta fish are classified as carnivores, and eat insects in the wild. The best betta food replicates these specific dietary needs without a lot of added and indigestible fillers. For most betta keepers it may not be possible to source or provide live foods as a betta fish’s main diet.
How much to feed a betta fish a day?
When feeding pellets to your Betta, give 2-3 medium-sized each time. This serving twice per day is more than enough for a Betta fish. If you’re feeding freeze-dried, live, or frozen food, give 2 pieces during each mealtime.
How do you feed a sick betta?
2 Steps to Quickly Help A Sick Betta FishStep 1: Put Your Sick Betta Fish in a Heated, Filtered Tank. Gone are the days of bettas in antiquated bowls, or even worse, vases. Or did I speak too soon? ... Step 2: Toss Your Ancient Betta Food and Feed them Appropriately. Betta food containers are WAY too big for all bettas.
What should I do if my betta fish isn't eating?
If you notice your betta is not eating, the first thing to do is test your water chemistry. If any of your parameters are off, especially temperature, take steps to correct it as soon as possible. Remember, any changes to pH or temperature should take place very slowly so you do not shock your fish.
How long can a sick betta go without eating?
Betta fish can survive up to 10 days without food, however, this is not recommended! It is possible they may even survive a few more days than this, however, this is merely surviving and you are actually slowly starving your betta fish which can cause them to die easily.
How do you save a dying betta fish?
2:0911:05How to Save Your Sick Betta Fish - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo in cases of immediate death make sure you remove any dead fish you find and then carefullyMoreSo in cases of immediate death make sure you remove any dead fish you find and then carefully examine their bodies for any symptoms you'll want to use that later to investigate the cause.
How do you know if a betta fish is dying?
0:332:4810 ways to tell if a betta fish is dying - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clip- fading color if your betta is suddenly losing color there is a good chance that your betta isMore- fading color if your betta is suddenly losing color there is a good chance that your betta is seriously ill on.
Will betta fish starve themselves?
Most aquarium fish can survive while fasting for a few days, but some handle it better than others. Betta fish can go 10 to 14 days without food, but there are a lot of factors that go along with this extended fasting period.
Why does my betta fish stay at the bottom of the tank?
Believe it or not, Betta fish sleep just like any other animal! They actually follow the same general sleep rhythm as humans. They like to rest at night and stay active during the day. If they don't get enough sleep at night, you might find them snoozing at the bottom of the tank!
What is the best food for betta fish?
Given that betta fish eat small insects, crustaceans, and other meaty foods in the wild, frozen bloodworms (the bright red larva of midge flies) are one of the best foods you can provide them.
Why does my fish not want to eat?
As such, fish can lose their appetite if there is a build up of fish wastes (e.g. ammonia, nitrite or nitrate), if the water temperature is too low or too high, if the dissolved oxygen is low, if the dissolved carbon dioxide is high, if the pH is wrong and if there are toxins in the water.
Do Bettas like light?
Do Betta Fish like Light? Yes, they won't like anything too intense, but a standard aquarium light is perfect. Bettas also love aquarium plants, which need an aquarium light to grow and survive.
Why do betta fish overeat?
Overfeeding and overeating can lead to constipation, bloating, obesity (that’s right betta fish can get fat), swim bladder problems, contracting diseases because of the bacteria feeding on the excess food breaking down, and even death.
Why won't my betta fish eat?
If your betta fish won’t eat or seems completely uninterested in food don’t worry. A lack of appetite may mean that they are not hungry or have recently undergone some type of stress (e.g. tank cleaning, new home, abrupt water temperature changes).
What is the best food for a betta fish?
Ranked in order, the best betta food is live, frozen, freeze-dried, pellets, and flakes. Feeding a variety of different foods will provide the array of nutrients a betta fish needs to thrive. How much to feed your betta fish can depend on their individual activity level, but 2-3 pellets 1-2 times daily is a safe amount.
What are the nutrients in betta food?
Each is covered below. Providing the best nutritional value focuses on a betta’s need of protein, fat, fiber, phosphorus, carbohydrates, calcium, and vitamins (A, D3, E, K, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, C, H, M ). Make sure your betta food is natural and contains protein as the first ingredient. Do not purchase or feed flakes made for goldfish ...
What are fruit flies?
Also known as the vinegar fly, the common fruit fly is something you are probably very familiar with. Have you ever left bananas, apples or other fruit out in your kitchen, and all of a sudden there’s swarms of little bugs flying around them? Those are fruit flies and betta fish love them because they are insectivores. While you can technically drop them in for feeding, you don’t know what diseases they may have and they may fly out. Instead, there is a wingless and flightless variety that is ideal for feeding betta fish and can even be bred and harvested in a small container inexpensively.
How long can a betta fish go without food?
Extra feeding will lead to overeating or they may not eat the excess at all. If you want to know how long betta fish can go without food too, it’s actually 14 days. Therefore, it’s always better not to feed your betta over the weekend or for a day or two than it is to feed them extra.
What is brine shrimp?
Brine shrimp are an aquatic crustacean that betta fish love. The photo above is zoomed in, from the University of Utah, they only grow up to 1 centimeter as adults. Brine shrimp are packed with the nutritional needs that betta fish need to thrive on (proteins, vitamins, and amino acids), and they’re easy to raise too.
How do you know if a betta fish is sick?
If our Betta fish’s eyes are protruding from its head, then they may be swollen and indicate a sign of sickness. If the fish is not able to close its gills completely while breathing, then they are swollen too. You need to get a quick check on its health condition if so. These are all the indications to know that your Betta is sick ...
How to keep parasites out of fish tank?
Change the water and treat the tank. Water needs to be changed immediately and treated with aquarium salt and water conditioner before placing the fish back into the tank to keep the parasite from coming in contact with your fish again.
What does it mean when a betta has white spots?
The main portion of the spots is on the head and mouth. It is a clear indication of a parasite attack.
How to clean a fish tank before replacing water?
Keep the fake plants and other decorations in the bleach mixture too. Clean the rocks separately by baking them at 450 degree Fahrenheit . Let them cool down before placing them back in the tank.
Why do fish's fins get ripped?
Changes in fins. In a healthy fish, the fins will always be whole but as it gets sick, its fins may start getting ripped or have holes in it. Also, the fins look clamped downward towards the body and are not fanned properly.
How long does it take for a popeye to cure?
Popeye can be cured by cleaning the tank and changing the water every 3 days. In addition, put aquarium salt and water conditioner to maintain the water condition for at least one week.
What to do if fish have a fungus?
Use medication for the fish. If it is a fungal infection then only the fungus eliminator will be sufficient to keep the growth out of the water. If it also has tail/fin rot disease, then use tetracycline or ampicillin to treat the fish. Instruction will be given on the packets of the medicines.
What do betta fish eat?
Brine shrimp provide Betta fish with lots of vital nutrients, including proteins and vitamins. In the wild, Betta fish prey on brine shrimp a lot, so it’s a wise idea to bring them to the tank water.
Why do bettas float in the water?
Constipation in Bettas may lead to swim bladder disorder. This condition makes it hard for your fish to balance in the water. Due to this, they may prefer to remain at the bottom of the tank or float near the surface of the water.
How to tell if a betta is constipated?
A constipated Betta will show signs such as bloating, spine curvature, bulged eyes, and stringy poop. Constipation can be dangerous to a Betta and may lead to death if not addressed promptly. If your fish is constipated, put them on a fast for a couple of days or more, depending on the severity of their condition.
What does an underfed betta fish look like?
An underfed Betta fish will look bony, with a head that appears larger than the rest of the body. Their sides will be concaved, and the fat usually stored near their tail will be absent.
What is the easiest fish to keep in an aquarium?
Bettas are some of the easiest pet fish to keep in a home aquarium. They’re easy to maintain, beautiful, and active. Despite their simple maintenance needs, it’s crucial that you find out everything there is to know about Betta fish feeding. The right food will keep your Betta happy and healthy.
How long can a betta fish go without food?
Don’t worry about starving them – a Betta can stay for up to two weeks without food! A one-day fast gives their digestive tract a break to process food fully. This practice can also help minimize the effects of overfeeding your Betta. Once the fast is over, you can go back to feeding your fish twice per day.
What happens if you overfeed a betta fish?
When you overfeed your Betta, it’s likely that some of the excess food will settle at the bottom of the aquarium. These particles will produce toxins and encourage the growth of bacteria as they break down, exposing your fish to diseases.
How to treat a sick betta fish?
Steps to Treat a Sick Betta Fish. 1) Shine a light on your betta fish and observe his or her behavior. Try to determine if your betta is stressed from water conditions or suffering from a disease. 2) Place your betta in a quarantine tank (your betta’s normal tank should be drained and cleaned). 3) Make sure the quarantine tank has a heater.
Why do betta fish get sick?
Why Betta Fish Get Sick. Betta fish become sick for two main reasons, i) poor tank conditions and ii) invisible bacterial or fungus growth. Poor tank conditions are fixable, and invisible bacterial or fungus growth can be managed with frequent water changes and adding live plants.
How often should I change my betta cup?
Cups that small probably should receive a water change at least 2 times a day, but I suspect that these bettas don’t receive a water change more than once a week because it’s a pain for an employee to dump out and then add water to 20 different betta cups.
What is the best oil for betta fish?
Malaleuca or Tea tree oil actually has antibacterial and antifungal properties making it a natural and potent alternative for treating your betta fish. The Melafix label states: “A safe, all natural way to treat bacterial fish infections. Also recommended for treating newly introduced fish to reduce risk of disease outbreak.”.
Why do aquarists battle with bettas?
This is something we all face as aquarists because the water in our tanks is confined rather than free flowing, as you would find in nature. So, we aquarists battle to keep our aquarium ecosystem in balance. If your water shifts in a way that is stressful for your betta, he or she may develop a disease.
Is aquarium salt food grade?
But, I assume, aquarium salt is manufactured to add the appropriate amount of salinity to your tank while grocery store salt is not. And aquarium salt is not food grade (haven’t tried it) and should not be used for anything other than treating your tank. API manufactures the aquarium salt that I used in my betta tank.
Does salt help with fish disease?
According to API, aquarium salt provides freshwater fish with electrolytes that promote fish health, improve gill function, and promotes disease recovery. I have no reason to doubt that aquarium salt helps fight fish disease and aid in recovery and it seemed to help Marbles so I’m a fan.
Step 1: Put Your Sick Betta Fish in a Heated, Filtered Tank
Gone are the days of bettas in antiquated bowls, or even worse, vases. Or did I speak too soon? The best home for your betta is a 5-10 gallon tank with a low flow filter and a HEATER. Yes, bettas NEED HEAT. We never see 90% of our betta calls because they are “magically” fixed by making these two changes.
Step 2: Toss Your Ancient Betta Food and Feed them Appropriately
Betta food containers are WAY too big for all bettas. We have NEVER seen a betta actually finish a container of food in a timely manner. After 6 months of opening your container of betta food daily, you have lost a significant proportion of the water-soluble vitamin content, mainly Vitamin C.
Additional Considerations for Sick Betta Fish
Most betta diseases originate from poor husbandry (see step 1 & 2 above). The most common of the betta fish diseases our clinic sees is “fin rot,” which really isn’t what you think it is (see below). The second most common betta fish disease we see is a “fat” or “bloated” betta. This is where things get tricky.
Dealing With a Sick Betta Fish
Bettas can exhibit many different forms of sickness such as hypoxia, physical parasites, or even internal infections. Every sickness has symptoms that allow them to be grouped into different forms of problems that have their treatments.
10 Ways to Tell If Your Betta Fish is Sick
Usually, the first symptom of sickness in betta fish is the loss of their vibrant coloration. When a betta is feeling stressed or under the weather then it is common for them to lose a bit of their color. They will appear as a washed-out version of their original color.
What to Do if You Think Your Betta Fish is Sick
If you think that your betta fish may be sick, the first step is to compare the symptoms your fish is experiencing to the possible diagnosis. Isolate the fish from other tank mates and place them in a 5-gallon treatment tank with the appropriate medication.
How to Prevent Your Betta Fish from Getting Sick
Prevention is better than cure and providing them with the right conditions and diet is the first step in ensuring your betta fish remains healthy and happy.
Conclusion
There are plenty of signs that your betta fish is sick. You should expect your betta to develop a few minor sicknesses during their lifetime unless you ensure that the conditions are perfect, and you do not add in tank mates that could potentially be harboring a disease. If you catch the sickness early on, then treatment will be more effective.
