The Betta fish is also known as the Siamese Fighting Fish. Basically, they are these spectacularly colorful small marine animals with large fan-like fins. These fishes are very popular with fish hobbyists who have home aquariums. It happens with a betta, as well as with many other fish. Which are very sensitive and have needs with quite particular care. Which, if not taken into account, are directly reflected in the diet. This means that they can eat less or stop eating. Therefore, this could affect their health to the point of putting their lives at risk.
Your Betta doesn’t like their food.
Who wants to eat when they don’t like their food? Your betta fish may have stopped eating because it simply doesn’t like the food you put in the tank. It seems like an obvious reason but it is not so much. Maybe those pellets or flakes you have chosen is the cheapest product, with few nutrients, that has less flavor, and that is why your fish is rejecting it.
There are better foods than others, try some a brand of better quality and with more protein. Remember that the betta fish is a carnivorous animal. You can give them foods based on dried or live salted shrimp that they love. For more information on their diet, read this article.
Environmental Stress
Typically, a Betta fish can get stressed for many reasons. If your fish is not eating, it may be an indicator that it is going through a stress phase. This could be due to the environment where your aquarium is located. If you are stressed, it’s normal that you will not feel like eating.
For example, a new tank, no matter how big and cute it is, will cause anxiety for your betta. Simply because it is in an unknown space. Give it time to get used to it. Fish rarely get sick unless they are under stress. So if you can reduce stress as much as possible, it will be the best option. That is, try not to constantly change it in the aquarium. Choose one that is suitable for your fish, from day one. If you want more information regarding Betta Aquarium Tanks, especially for Betta Sororities, read this article.
It also happens that even though they’re inside the tank, they still get stress from movement in your environment. Your home. A good solution is to bring a bit of darkness and calm to the aquarium. Cover it with a blanket so that the betta fish doesn’t have to witness and attract all the movement that happens outside your home. Never hit the glass of the tank and teach children to come to your house not to. Darkness will help you adapt more quickly to your own environment. However, don’t leave it in the dark all the time, most fish feed during the day and need light to be more active and therefore want to eat.
Small Stomach
The betta fish’s stomach is about the size of its eyeball … very small. It is understandable that they do not get much food and therefore does not eat as much as we can believe. So think that it will be enough to put a very small amount of food to feed your fish. Occasionally, many times, it will eat when you are not exactly observing it. Do not overfeed a betta fish, they have very common digestion problems that later translate into other diseases. Remember that to prevent your betta fish from eating the formula is little food but of good quality.
Aquarium Conditions
If you are still wondering why your betta fish does not eat, you should know that betta is cold-blooded fish. Whose metabolism is directly related to the water temperature of the place where they live. Normally, it is required that it should be stable between 24-26 °C. As the water is somewhat warmer, they metabolize their food faster. Also needing to eat more to maintain their own temperature and body energy. Despite being cold-blooded, when betta are kept in colder water, their metabolism slows down and the need to eat will be less. Also, make sure the water parameters are in order. Reasonable nitrates and ammonia and nitrite at a very low level.
Expression of some disease
Last but not least, the possible presence of some disease in the body of the betta fish must be ruled out. Since lack of hunger is one of the most common symptoms. If you have tried to correct the above reasons and still do not know why your betta fish does not eat, pay attention to a general picture of alternate symptoms. Such as lethargy and heaviness, loss of color, fins stuck instead of open, swelling in its stomach, torn and bloody fins, parasites, and fungi. If any of these symptoms occur, it is best to go to the vet urgently. It may be jeopardizing not only the health of your fish but also its own life.