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Chickadee · 06-07-2009, 09:12 PM

ANY shrimp will make a dinner for you betta but not a good idea as one shrimp is a way too big dinner for them and it would be ONE dinner make no mistake. The bettas do not know when to stop until the food is gone.

Now as far as the pellets go, I will warn you that the deciding factor on betta foods is actually the betta themselves. I have planned to feed many bettas many things based on my studies but the betta puts the brakes on and gets stubborn so be ready for the time of your life. Usually the best course of action is to find out what the betta of your choice is used to eating already. Unfortunately I have never found a betta who is used to one food and likes it that does the honorable thing and changes without a fight if at all. They can be the most stubborn of fish to the point of nearly bankrupting their owners finding the right food unless you are forewarned what they are used to. That is usually the winner if you cannot get them to try anything else. So before you purchase the little fellow be sure you get that information just in case. You can try the food you want to use and if it will not be acceptable to the little mite, you always have an ace up your sleeve. But if you are going the pellet route, I would not feed more than 5 or 6 pellets if they are micro pellets or 3 or 4 if they are larger like poppy seed sized. They swell up in the stomach you see. If you want to know the final size try taking a pellet and soak it for 10 minutes in some water and see what the size is going to be in the fish's stomach. Then look at your fish's eye and remember that most fish from the store are juveniles and not full grown yet. That means small meals 3 times a day instead of a couple larger ones for the first 5 to 6 months.

I also give them one pellet at a time and make them chew it up before giving a second. That way if they do not eat it you do not have a lot of them to fish back out of the tank or if they are gulpers and do not chew they learn to chew their food so they do not suffer stomach trouble. Don't worry they learn fast that the way to the next bite is to chew up the last one. They also will not starve if they do not eat a meal so don't be concerned and think you have to get them to eat something every time. Stubborn behavior is normal. But if you notice swelling or distention behind their dorsal fins or settling on the bottom and not wanting to move, they need help. That signals a tummy ache or something more serious. Changes in color like paleness or loss of color to a gray or whiteness is also a sign of distress.

The first thing to check is the tank temperature:

Needs to be kept 78 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit constantly. Fluctuation is dangerous with a betta. Funny they think the fish does not need a heater in the stores.

Next thing to do at that point is suspend all fish foods that are commercial and give no food for one feeding.

If no improvement then you give a pea treat meal and feed nothing but peas for a period of about 3 days with no commercial fish food given at all. Pea treats are as follows:

Take one frozen pea from the bag and put on a saucer in the microwave with no water for 20 seconds on high level just to defrost not to cook.
Remove the outer peel from the pea after all is cooled.
Take one of the pea halves and cut tiny chunks of it about one half the size of your fish's eye and when you have made sure your hands are clean put a tiny pea chunk on the tip of one finger and slowly slide it into the water in front of the fish.
He should grab at it as he will be hungry by this time and once they try them I have never known a fish that did not love them and would beg for them.

Don't give more than 2 to 3 chunks at a time and the pea will not hold over to the next meal. It dries out so one pea will make one meal even though you will discard most of it.

There is one other thing that I know of that is easy to come by that I know most bettas will eat that can be purchased at the grocery store but is not something most owners want to deal with and that is raw liver. I buy it and cut it in small cubes and and give my guy a little one or two times a month but it is not a staple food. The pieces have to be very tiny.

His staple food is Freeze dried Bloodworms from Hikari and Freeze dried Daphnia from Daphnia for the most part. He does eat pellet food from Ocean Nutrition..Atison's Betta Pro and Atison's Betta Formula alternated as he wants but mainly he eats the bloodworms. He gets pea treats routinely two times a week but they do not replace any meals. They become a third feeding on those days and he does the betta dance for them. He knows the signs of when they are coming and gets very excited and active. He has nipped my finger when I have given them a couple of times but it is not too painful. the only time it has ever gotten serious was when I teased him with a q-tip in the edge of the tank and he yanked it out of my hand. It made him mad!

Also one word of advice, I do not mirror my bettas. A lot of owners do it. I have done it when I take their pictures but as soon as I have the picture the mirror goes away. I do not think it is good for them. It is like making them feel their home is being invaded and they cannot defend against that intruder. The final decision remains with you on your fish but it is just my opinion.

Also I want to thank you for being wise enough to ask the questions first. Your little fellow will be a lot happier for it and you will too. Also I think you are quite right to give the fish a big tank. One of the most beautiful bettas I ever saw was the single fish in a 55 gallon and he was a king of his kingdom for sure. Be sure to post us some pictures when you have things the way you want them.

Rose

06-07-2009, 09:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
Chickadee Banned Chickadee's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1,323 Name: Rose Location: Nebraska, USA My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 426 Times Said "Thanks" 707 Times Was Thanked 678 Times in 466 Posts	Re: do bettas eat live plants? ANY shrimp will make a dinner for you betta but not a good idea as one shrimp is a way too big dinner for them and it would be ONE dinner make no mistake. The bettas do not know when to stop until the food is gone. Now as far as the pellets go, I will warn you that the deciding factor on betta foods is actually the betta themselves. I have planned to feed many bettas many things based on my studies but the betta puts the brakes on and gets stubborn so be ready for the time of your life. Usually the best course of action is to find out what the betta of your choice is used to eating already. Unfortunately I have never found a betta who is used to one food and likes it that does the honorable thing and changes without a fight if at all. They can be the most stubborn of fish to the point of nearly bankrupting their owners finding the right food unless you are forewarned what they are used to. That is usually the winner if you cannot get them to try anything else. So before you purchase the little fellow be sure you get that information just in case. You can try the food you want to use and if it will not be acceptable to the little mite, you always have an ace up your sleeve. But if you are going the pellet route, I would not feed more than 5 or 6 pellets if they are micro pellets or 3 or 4 if they are larger like poppy seed sized. They swell up in the stomach you see. If you want to know the final size try taking a pellet and soak it for 10 minutes in some water and see what the size is going to be in the fish's stomach. Then look at your fish's eye and remember that most fish from the store are juveniles and not full grown yet. That means small meals 3 times a day instead of a couple larger ones for the first 5 to 6 months. I also give them one pellet at a time and make them chew it up before giving a second. That way if they do not eat it you do not have a lot of them to fish back out of the tank or if they are gulpers and do not chew they learn to chew their food so they do not suffer stomach trouble. Don't worry they learn fast that the way to the next bite is to chew up the last one. They also will not starve if they do not eat a meal so don't be concerned and think you have to get them to eat something every time. Stubborn behavior is normal. But if you notice swelling or distention behind their dorsal fins or settling on the bottom and not wanting to move, they need help. That signals a tummy ache or something more serious. Changes in color like paleness or loss of color to a gray or whiteness is also a sign of distress. The first thing to check is the tank temperature: Needs to be kept 78 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit constantly. Fluctuation is dangerous with a betta. Funny they think the fish does not need a heater in the stores. Next thing to do at that point is suspend all fish foods that are commercial and give no food for one feeding. If no improvement then you give a pea treat meal and feed nothing but peas for a period of about 3 days with no commercial fish food given at all. Pea treats are as follows: Take one frozen pea from the bag and put on a saucer in the microwave with no water for 20 seconds on high level just to defrost not to cook. Remove the outer peel from the pea after all is cooled. Take one of the pea halves and cut tiny chunks of it about one half the size of your fish's eye and when you have made sure your hands are clean put a tiny pea chunk on the tip of one finger and slowly slide it into the water in front of the fish. He should grab at it as he will be hungry by this time and once they try them I have never known a fish that did not love them and would beg for them. Don't give more than 2 to 3 chunks at a time and the pea will not hold over to the next meal. It dries out so one pea will make one meal even though you will discard most of it. There is one other thing that I know of that is easy to come by that I know most bettas will eat that can be purchased at the grocery store but is not something most owners want to deal with and that is raw liver. I buy it and cut it in small cubes and and give my guy a little one or two times a month but it is not a staple food. The pieces have to be very tiny. His staple food is Freeze dried Bloodworms from Hikari and Freeze dried Daphnia from Daphnia for the most part. He does eat pellet food from Ocean Nutrition..Atison's Betta Pro and Atison's Betta Formula alternated as he wants but mainly he eats the bloodworms. He gets pea treats routinely two times a week but they do not replace any meals. They become a third feeding on those days and he does the betta dance for them. He knows the signs of when they are coming and gets very excited and active. He has nipped my finger when I have given them a couple of times but it is not too painful. the only time it has ever gotten serious was when I teased him with a q-tip in the edge of the tank and he yanked it out of my hand. It made him mad! Also one word of advice, I do not mirror my bettas. A lot of owners do it. I have done it when I take their pictures but as soon as I have the picture the mirror goes away. I do not think it is good for them. It is like making them feel their home is being invaded and they cannot defend against that intruder. The final decision remains with you on your fish but it is just my opinion. Also I want to thank you for being wise enough to ask the questions first. Your little fellow will be a lot happier for it and you will too. Also I think you are quite right to give the fish a big tank. One of the most beautiful bettas I ever saw was the single fish in a 55 gallon and he was a king of his kingdom for sure. Be sure to post us some pictures when you have things the way you want them. Rose Last edited by Chickadee : 06-07-2009 at 09:19 PM.