Why is My Betta Fish Not Eating? What Are the Signs?

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Why is My Betta Fish Not Eating? What Are the Signs?

This article will discuss why is my betta fish not eating?

This may be a very serious problem for many betta owners and breeders.

I know how frustrating it can be when you can’t figure out why your fish is not eating!

These days betta fish have a very sensitive stomach and they are more than likely suffering from what is called “nitro” disease.

In fact there is no way that you should be trying to feed your betta again if you notice any of the following signs.

why is my betta fish not eating
Betta Fish Trying to Stay On Top While Feeding

Firstly when you are looking at why is my betta fish not eating, you will notice that your betta fish is losing weight.

This is because they are not eating at all and that is the first symptom of their condition.

Next of course you will notice that your betta is not making it through their food.

If they do not make it through their food then there is a very good chance that they are starving and this is the most common symptom of a very serious condition.

Finally, you will notice that your betta fish has an unusual smell.

If your betta fish has an unusual smell then this means that they are very dehydrated and that they are beginning to die.

If your betta has lost too much weight then this is a sign that they are not eating.

However if all of these symptoms are occurring at the same time then there is a very good chance that they are not eating and are starving.

So if you notice that all of these symptoms are occurring it is very important that you treat your beta as soon as possible and this means that you need to feed them again immediately.

Betta Fish Not Eating and Laying at Bottom

Fish that are left at the bottom for a long period of time will eventually stop eating and laying at the bottom.

This is just what happens to betta fish when they are kept in artificial water conditions.

It will not matter if your betta is housed in a fish tank, a rock, or a tank that you set up yourself.

They will continue to lay at the bottom if it is done consistently.

The only thing that can prevent this from happening is the proper setting up of the tank.

If the tank is poorly designed the fish may end up starving.

Proper fish tank design is essential for betta fish because they require higher concentrations of nitrates to survive.

betta fish not eating and laying at bottom

Most tanks on the market today will hold a minimal amount of nitrates, so a lot of fish in these tanks are not being properly cared for.

A problem with these tanks is that the fish won’t eat because they are not at the right depth to find food.

If the tank is a little deeper than what is needed to feed the fish, the fish may die of starvation.

You can easily fix this problem by simply raising the tank to the appropriate level.

It is also possible that the tank may have rocks that are too deep for the fish to reach, but again, if the tank is well designed, the fish will still be able to get food.

The only way to guarantee that the fish will eat is to provide them with the proper environment.

As a general rule, the smaller the tank, the more food the fish will eat.

The bigger the tank, the more time the fish spends at the bottom.

The food stores, the fish will normally use will also be located near the bottom of the tank.

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Why is My Betta Fish Not Eating and Hiding?

betta fish not eating and hiding

When your Betta fish is not eating and hiding it is a sign that something is wrong.

It may be due to lack of nutrition or illness.

Your Betta fish is very sensitive, especially to sudden changes in food.

If the Betta fish does not eat or hide for any reason you should not be alarmed.

I know because I have been there myself. I know what your fish is going through, but as a pet owner I cannot tell you exactly what to do.

Generally, my advice would be to feed your fish either frozen live food, or both, both foods needs to be alternately served and cycled on certain days.

I hope this information helps you determine the reason your Betta fish is not eating and hiding.

Many Betta fish have issues when they get older, even those that are fed frozen food.

This is due to the fact that when they get older, they become more finicky.

They will pick at things that they do not like.

I have even seen fish pick at their fins.

Sometimes these things are not as bad as other times.

However, if your fish is just sitting in front of the tank, or worse yet, just roaming around the tank without eating, it is a warning that something is wrong.

Why is My Betta Fish Not Eating and Floating Slideways?

After a few days in the aquarium I noticed that my betta fish is no longer eating and is now doing some strange movement, not only will he not eat anymore but now he is floating sideways.

Is there a reason for this?

The fish do seem to be in a much more agitated state than usual. Perhaps this will help explain the new behavior.

why is my betta fish not eating and floating sideways

First off, your fish are probably stressed, it might be caused by the over abundance of algae in the tank.

The fact that the food source in the tank is reduced may also play a role. The fact that they are so lively, alert and active should also contribute to the stress.

The other factor that may be contributing to the odd behaviour is probably stress caused by other fish in the tank.

I would recommend that you separate out any larger fish with the smaller ones and you’ll see a very different behaviour pattern.

If this doesn’t work, and I believe that it will probably never work, then I recommend that you quarantine your fish until they are settled down again.

If you can keep the tank at a similar temperature, then you may just be able to make them settle down and enjoy their surroundings.

As far as home quarantine tanks go, I would recommend taking your fish to your local pet store, or, if you have one, check in the fish aisle.

These tanks are very nice and most likely have been maintained very well, most likely for people who have fish.

Although, as is always best, do not put your fish in the same room with aquarium plants.

The reason is that the plants will soak up all the excess light from the fish, making them even brighter.

Also, too much light can be very stressful for your fish.

Betta Not Eating and Lethargic? Check For Parasites

betta not eating and lethargic

Can your Betta not eat and lethargic cause his death?

That is what most people ask before they resort to putting him to sleep.

The truth is that this type of bacterial infection that makes your fish go lethargic can actually be fatal.

Even though Betta not eating and lethargic can be a serious problem, you should know that you can cure it and save your fish’s life by giving him the right medication.

If you notice that your Betta is not eating or is lethargic after a water change, then this is an indication that he has a bacterial infection in his mouth.

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The first thing that you need to do to check for this is to look at the color of his gills.

Betta will eat live or frozen food but will not usually eat if his gills are yellow.

If your Betta is lethargic after a water change, then the first thing that you need to do is to give him a high-potency probiotic supplement that is made specifically for Bettas.

The probiotic supplement will stimulate the salivary glands to produce more saliva, which in turn, will help keep his mouth properly hydrated.

In addition, it will also reduce the lethargy that you may have observed in your Betta.

Another sign that your Betta is sick is if he is having trouble swallowing.

There are some types of parasites that are completely dependent on eating to survive.

Once your Betta starts to vomit up food, it is time to put him to sleep.

There are a few medications that are safe for use on Bettas, but if he is currently vomiting up his food, he should not be given these medications.

Many of the medications used for fish parasites are highly toxic to Bettas, so don’t try to use them as an alternative.

If your Betta does have a bacterial infection, then you should definitely take him to the vet and get him treated immediately.

I Just Got a Betta Fish and It Won’t Eat

When you first get a betta fish, you probably won’t have much luck with it in the kitchen.

The fish will be a cute little creature but once it matures into the adult fish, its little personality can turn into a problem in your life.

You will have to try different things to make sure that it will eat.

You may have to learn how to catch it with your hand or you may need to get some sort of food in order to teach it what to eat.

i just got a betta fish and it wont eat

You should remember that fish that are not raised in the wild and have bad habits will always be difficult to train.

This is why it is important that you choose the right tank for your betta.

A tank that is too large for your betta will only make it difficult for it to survive.

The tank should also be one that has plenty of hiding places and it should be an environment that is quiet and dark.

This way, your betta will have no problem with adapting to its new surroundings.

I know that some people think that they can get a betta fish and then grow it into a fish that they can live in the house.

This is a mistake that you should avoid at all costs.

While it is possible to get a betta fish and then grow it into a larger fish, this will be very hard on your budget.

It is also difficult to raise the fish to adulthood because of their small size.

You will need to have them in a pet store if you want to have fish that are ready to be sold.

The fish that you get from the pet store will not be ready to be sold, so you should go ahead and buy one if you are sure that it is not a problem.

Why My New Betta Fish is Not Eating Or Swimming Properly?

new betta fish not eating or swimming

There are plenty of reasons why a new betta fish is not eating or swimming properly.

First and foremost, poor diet is the biggest culprit.

A new betta’s diet should consist of foods that are high in protein and is low in carbs, fat, and other dangerous substances.

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Its best to find fish that are “live” rather than frozen so that they can hold their own bacteria and parasites.

Fresh, frozen, and smoked fish all have different levels of nutritional value.

As well, there is a theory that fish that do not eat the correct types of food, will tend to pick up these bad traits, and eventually become weak and unhealthy.

Second, a new betta fish might be sick.

Like humans, bettas can get sick from the right type of virus, or a wrong type of virus.

This can happen when your fish has been swimming for too long without eating, or when it has gotten into a tank that is in poor condition.

These two situations, poor diet and poor water quality, are the most common causes of betta sickness.

You should try to keep your tank clean, and make sure it is not getting extremely hot during the summer.

There is a chance that if your fish has gotten sick, it might be worse than it first appears.

As well, if your fish is swimming too much or swimming erratically, then it might be under a high level of stress, which can result in a fish that is ill or dead.

My Betta Fish Won’t Eating and Almost Doesn’t Move

There are many factors that may cause your Betta fish won’t eat and barely moves to die.

First of all, it’s important to know that Betta fish don’t have the same thoughts as we do.

This means they’re not wired in the same way.

If they felt hungry, they would just want to eat and get rid of any extra slime left in their mouth.

my betta fish wont eat and barely moves

Most people do not understand that appetite is not a biological necessity. It’s actually not even a conscious process.

You cannot force a fish to want to eat. A fish’s eyes, or sonar sense, does not work like ours, either.

The fish’s movements and hearing are simply a result of its genetics.

If you’re trying to figure out why your Betta fish won’t eat and barely moves, there is one major factor that is contributing to this problem.

That factor is a bacterial infection, specifically anaerobic gram negative bacilli.

They can be present in an environment which is too warm, as is the case with aquarium water, or they can be present in the aquarium itself.

They thrive in both conditions, so by keeping the water temperature constant, the bacteria can stay in place and become too warm to live.

This is the reason why fish tend to die when they’re suddenly put into a cooler tank.

Keeping the water temperature constant is the best way to combat these infections.