I recently transferred my betta (along with the filter, etc from her old tank) to a new ten gallon and got her a few otos to keep her company. The betta has no interest in nipping at the otos but she helps herself to the seeded centers of their cuke slices until she bulges. No luck with algae wafers... she gorges on those too. Any ideas on how to feed -just- the catfish, and how to deal with the betta in the meantime?
betta likes her tankmates' cukes
- Thread starter snowandstars
- Start date
I have currently have two Betta fish. One has to kept in his own tank alone as he overeats like he was never fed before in his life. No self control! That led to a prolapsed anus for him. He has healed, but I don't risk his health with his eating habits.
The other is in a 10 gallon with corydoras and he'll eat well, but then stops.
So I guess you have to decide if he can be in a tank with others.
The other is in a 10 gallon with corydoras and he'll eat well, but then stops.
So I guess you have to decide if he can be in a tank with others.
BettaFishMommy
finkids make me happy :-)
make a 'feeding cave' for the otos that has a small enough opening that the otos can get in for their food but the betta can't. a terracotta pot with a little piece chipped out and turned upside down would work well. be sure to close up the hole on the bottom (which is now the top) of the pot so that your betta doesn't get his head stuck. a large pebble and some silicone should do it.
just be sure to monitor the feeding hut to ensure the otos are going in there and the food isn't just sitting and creating an ammonia source in the tank.
just be sure to monitor the feeding hut to ensure the otos are going in there and the food isn't just sitting and creating an ammonia source in the tank.
Update: I put the betta in a measuring cup and the problem was gone overnight. I'm going to try different veggies... hopefully there will be something the betta has no interest in.
I would agree with this. I don't think yoiu are neccessarily going to be able to provide a healthy, well balanced diet for the otos without the betta wanting to eat the foods as well. I think you will have to do some sort of separation like a cave or a divider. Just my opinion. Good luck.
BettaFishMommy
finkids make me happy :-)
the only problem with this is that bettas will eat quickly and otos tend to graze. so isolating the betta while the otos eat isn't going to work out too well. plus, it puts stress on the betta by being in the measuring cup.
IMO, problems never get solved overnight with bettas, regardless of the issue.
I was referring to the bulging belly by that, not the overfeeding as a long term issue. She probably pooped it all out so quickly because the bulge was so much fiber. The only reason for the measuring cup was that the stock pot and ramen/gravy pot were both in use, btw.
I'm going to try a couple different veggies before resorting to the cave. It was so hard to find a brand of food she liked, so why wouldn't her pickiness extend to a couple vegetables?
zucchini and leafy greens
you could try boiled zuchinni and any leafy greens. I have snails with my bettas, and the snails seem to like it a lot. the bettas are intrigued by it, but i've never once seen them nip at it.
you could try boiled zuchinni and any leafy greens. I have snails with my bettas, and the snails seem to like it a lot. the bettas are intrigued by it, but i've never once seen them nip at it.