I have a beta in with a school of Danios and he's just getting acclimated to the tank. But I can tell he prefers it to his cup and a half walmart bowl. When feeding time comes around he's not quite fast enough to get to the flakes so I was wondering what a good substitute sinking food would be to throw in for him while the danios were distracted with the flakes. Or if anyone else in a common situation has any ideas.
Beta in a 10 gallon community
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As I'm finding out with my betta, they can be picky eaters. Flakes aren't really a choice food for them any way.
A couple of companies make floating betta bites. These float on the surface so you could feed the danios at one end of the tank and the betta at the other. You can also feed them one at a time to make sure he's getting them.
Frozen (not freeze dried) bloodworms are a treat that both the betta and the danios should love as are frozen brine shrimp. these tend to fall through the water column so everybody should have a shot at them.
A couple of companies make floating betta bites. These float on the surface so you could feed the danios at one end of the tank and the betta at the other. You can also feed them one at a time to make sure he's getting them.
Frozen (not freeze dried) bloodworms are a treat that both the betta and the danios should love as are frozen brine shrimp. these tend to fall through the water column so everybody should have a shot at them.
That is one of the reasons I moved my betta from my 10 gallon. In his early days he was a much pickier eater and was much slower than the white clouds. Try some freeze dried blood worms. They float and are a good food to start most bettas on IMO.
If he was just recently put in, his muscles are probably still atrophied from being stuck in a cup. He never built them up to swim and so now being in a *big* tank with a filter/current is a lot to adjust to.
As far as him eating, he's also never had to chase his food around the surface before since there was no water movement in his cup. I bet he's having a hard time even figuring out how to get at his food. Many people turn the filters off during feeding time for newly acclimated bettas so that they can eat in peace while they build their muscles up to normal strength.
But yah, bettas shouldn't eat flakes. They much prefer betta bites...I like Hikaris Bio Gold or Wardleys Betta Micro Pellets...the latter of which is a lot smaller and seems to be easier to get down than some of the others. Mine absolutely adore frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp too.
And, I'd avoid feeding them sinking foods ...they're "top" feeders anyway
EDIT: if you use frozen bloodworms, they sink a little slowly, so while the other fsih are paying attention to the flakes, the betta would be able to eat the worms...
As far as him eating, he's also never had to chase his food around the surface before since there was no water movement in his cup. I bet he's having a hard time even figuring out how to get at his food. Many people turn the filters off during feeding time for newly acclimated bettas so that they can eat in peace while they build their muscles up to normal strength.
But yah, bettas shouldn't eat flakes. They much prefer betta bites...I like Hikaris Bio Gold or Wardleys Betta Micro Pellets...the latter of which is a lot smaller and seems to be easier to get down than some of the others. Mine absolutely adore frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp too.
And, I'd avoid feeding them sinking foods ...they're "top" feeders anyway
EDIT: if you use frozen bloodworms, they sink a little slowly, so while the other fsih are paying attention to the flakes, the betta would be able to eat the worms...
There is a floating betta flake made, my betta finally will eat some of it. Tetra makes it. Remember that bettas have there own nutritional needs so get a food made for them, but also get a couple of kinds of food. Variety will help keep him that much healthier.
Stupid Pet Tricks
I'm really lucky with my bettas. They try to eat just about everything that I put into the tank, including fingers, plants, flakes, pellets, and even sinking shrimp pellets. Sometimes when I am not dropping the food fast enough and they see my hand they even jump out of the water as if to say HURRY IT UP. Maybe I should go on Letterman.
I'm really lucky with my bettas. They try to eat just about everything that I put into the tank, including fingers, plants, flakes, pellets, and even sinking shrimp pellets. Sometimes when I am not dropping the food fast enough and they see my hand they even jump out of the water as if to say HURRY IT UP. Maybe I should go on Letterman.
I went ahead and purchased the Wardleys Beta Bites and tried feeding him. He went after them immediately but he had trouble eating them, it looked like they were too large for him. Should I try a smaller beta capsule or look into bloodworms? I also purchased squares of tubiflex worms hoping both varieties of fish would like them but neither has shown interest yet. The danios went after the wardleys bites but quickly realized they were too big for them, I do like that the danios can't eat the food but I hope the beta will be able to.
That is the problem i have with four of my bettas - they wont eat those pellets because they are too big (one of my other bettas will only eat these ones, go figure
). Thats why I recommended the micro pellets....they are really much smaller and easier to eat, especially for a little guy, which i presume yours is since he's new
Also, you can try boiled skinned peas...some bettas supposedly love 'em.
Either food you get, however, I would get some frozen bloodworms as well. A varied diet is a healthy diet...and all the fish would *greatly* appreciate such a yummy meal every now and then.
). Thats why I recommended the micro pellets....they are really much smaller and easier to eat, especially for a little guy, which i presume yours is since he's newAlso, you can try boiled skinned peas...some bettas supposedly love 'em.
Either food you get, however, I would get some frozen bloodworms as well. A varied diet is a healthy diet...and all the fish would *greatly* appreciate such a yummy meal every now and then.
You can crush the bigger food between 2 spoons. Don't crush down too hard, or you will have virtually powder. Pick out the bigger pieces for your betta; the other fish may enjoy the smaller residue.