Interested in food but not eating

[TigerLily]

Some of you might remember that I have recently adopted three super cute female bettas, and for now they're doing all right, however one of the girls is not eating like she should. My red female, Aerith, has been showing the usual interest in food but she does not actually eat it. She has been taking the food in her mouth and then spitting it back out almost immediately. I have tried giving her flakes, pellets, and blood worms. She'll take a bite of the blood worms but ends up leaving most of it while she simply spits out everything else.

If it makes any difference, after buying her I noticed she had the beginnings of ich which I'm currently treating and she is looking better every day. She seems energetic enough, all things considered. She's alert, active, interested in things going on around her..yet she treats her food like a kid treats broccoli. What gives? Do I need to try different brands, or will she eat when she gets hungry enough?

The other two are eating the flakes for now, because they didn't seem to like the pellets either, but they're still eating well. I'm concerned about this little girl, any advice on how to get her to eat a decent meal would be much appreciated.

[dramaqueen]

I would try a different brand. It couldn't hurt.

[okijapan]

Try soaking the pellets in garlic juice for a minute before giving it to them. It's supposed to stimulate their appetite.

[ChristinaRoss]

or just try soaking the pellets in a cup of tank water for about3 minutes then pour it in. i have severl small females that cant seem to eat the pellets when their hard. their mouths are too small

[TigerLily]

I've tried soaking the pellets, but it didn't seem to make any difference to her. I had hoped that if she didn't like them she would eat the flakes, but there was no luck there. I live in a pretty small town, and our stores don't carry a whole lot of variety. I hope I can find something she'll settle for.

[ChristinaRoss]

i think eventually shell eat, its like a toddler that you make 3 different dinners for and they dont want anything, but, the minute you stop doing that and only present one dinner eventually their hungry enough to eat. lol

[kelly528]

Fish spit food out to break it up. It's too big for her little mouth. Try crushing some pellets and see if she goes for them.

[oXsonriksXo]

my fish didnt want to eat so i fastened it for a few days and then after he ate the flakes like there was no tommarow. if your fish is hungry he will try to chew w/e u put in that tank.

[TigerLily]

Thanks for the tip about crushing the pellets up, Kelly. I'll give that a try tonight when I give them their dinner.